Councillor Matlow's City Hall & Community Update: February 2025

Taking Action to Improve Toronto’s Response to Major Snow Incidents

Toronto is a winter City. Over this past week, Torontonians endured extreme weather and heavy snowfalls with areas in our city receiving up to 50cm of accumulated snow. When it snows, our sidewalks need to be safe and accessible. The TTC needs to be operational, and our city needs to work.

Under the previous two mayors (Ford and Tory), I was successful in advocating for the expansion of sidewalk snow clearing for every Toronto neighborhood. However, I could not convince them to prioritize extreme weather responses. I wont stop pushing until this is done, and done properly.

Read more below...

After the recent major snowfall, while some patience was reasonably expected given the enormous volume of accumulation, I’ve heard from residents from across Toronto about the poor quality of snow clearing service. Too often, plows will shove back large piles of snow back onto sidewalks that residents had just cleared themselves - leaving many people unable to reach appointments, access public transit, walk their kids to school or safely walk around their neighbourhood. This has been especially impactful to people with disabilities and other mobility challenges.

Toronto’s snow clearing contracts are some of its largest, worth $1.5 billion dollars over the next decade. Taxpayers should feel assured that their money for these vital services are being used efficiently, effectively and with the highest standard of performance. However, I am not convinced that Toronto has the oversight and control it needs with its contractors, and in fact, I was never supportive of the contract Mayor Tory allowed to be hastily approved. We should be exploring bringing some public services in-house.

To address this, I am requesting that the General Manager of Transportation Services report to City Council with:

A costed list of best practices and technology used in other winter cities in Canada and internationally we could consider adopting in Toronto
A review of our winter equipment’s state of good repair, and the cost of equipment modernization
Prioritizing locations such as crosswalks, school zones and transit stops
What actions the City can take to ensure contractors mitigate adverse impacts including plowing snow onto sidewalks and damage to municipal and private property, along with the viability of bringing winter services in-house to ensure greater oversight and accountability

Over the weekend, transit riders experienced a number of major disruptions to TTC service due to the extreme snow conditions. While some disruptions are to be expected, there are many ways that the TTC can improve its preparedness and ensure it responds effectively to weather incidents. For instance, I heard from many residents about the lack of plowing along major transit stops and the significant hazard this created for transit users. That’s why I am moving a motion requesting the TTC Board to prepare a proactive extreme weather incident preparedness strategy, which includes:

A plan to support the functioning and steady operation of the system during extreme weather incidents, including on the above-grade portions of lines 1 and 2
Directing TTC staff to collaborate with Transportation Services to improve snow clearing around TTC surface route stops
Directing TTC staff to work with Transportation services to review and increase fines for drivers that block TTC surface route operations during snow events

Rally to Save the Ontario Science Centre!

On February 22nd, join me, Save Ontario Science Centre, and community members for a rally at Thorncliffe Park Public School to save the Science Centre. We are calling on all provincial candidates running to support our calls to reopen, renew and reinvest in the Ontario Science Centre. In this upcoming provincial election, vote for the Science Centre!

Creating a City of Toronto Museum at Old City Hall

Toronto is one of the only major cities in North America without a city museum. New York, Chicago, and Montreal, along with cities around the world, all have incredible spaces to share and celebrate their stories with residents and visitors alike. Toronto sadly has thousands of remarkable artifacts hidden away in a warehouse collecting dust.

Beloved Mayor David Crombie identified Old City Hall as an ideal location for a city museum over 50 years ago. The last remnants of the provincial court services that have occupied the building for decades will be leaving in just a couple months with no succession plan in place. This is unacceptable.

I moved a motion requesting City staff develop a plan to deliver a museum at Old City Hall almost a decade ago anticipating this opportunity. Unfortunately, very little work appears to have been done. While it should not have been necessary, I’m pleased that my colleagues at Executive Committee and full Council supported a renewed direction to finally deliver not only a museum, but a new library branch and reception facilities. I have also asked staff to explore leveraging opportunities for philanthropic contributions to support the viability of this initiative.

Far too often, Toronto has a defeatist attitude. This sentiment stops us from even trying bold, city-building projects that improve our quality of life and enhance civic pride. I believe that if the City presents a clear vision for a city museum, Torontonians will step up and support it. I will be working closely with City Staff and community leaders to ensure this project keeps moving forward.

The City’s Budget and Fighting Trump’s Tariffs

The “strong mayor” powers recently imposed on Toronto by Doug Ford have drastically altered the City’s budget process. Previously, property tax increases were voted on by Council separately from service and infrastructure investments, and it was "Council's budget". Now, due to the strong mayor powers, it has become “the Mayor’s budget” – where essential service investments on roads, transit, and housing are delivered by the mayor – and Council no longer is able to vote on the budget itself. This "Strong Mayor" power was a decision by Premier Ford that I believe is fundamentally wrong. While there are some aspect’s of the mayor’s budget that I support such as investing in the TTC, affordable housing, and libraries, I am not happy about the inability to vote on these service improvements separately from the tax rate.

We are undoubtedly living in unprecedented times. The cost of living has been persistently high, with too many Torontonians struggling to afford basic necessities like food and housing. With the imminent threats of U.S. tariffs, Canada faces the real risk of having prices for basic goods rise even further.
During times of uncertainty, it’s critical to be strategic, thoughtful, and purposeful. That’s how I want Toronto to respond to Trump’s reckless threats, to ensure that we have a robust plan meaningfully support our economic sectors and residents who will be most affected.

That’s why I moved a motion that will protect for a “tariff reserve fund” to allow the City to provide future strategic investments and supports to both businesses and residents who would be most affected. I know it is critical that the City provide financial relief to those who need it most, ensure that every tax dollar is spent thoughtfully and invest in the services and infrastructure people rely on.

Remembering the Aga Khan

My Heartfelt condolences to our City’s Ismaili community on the passing of the Aga Khan, His Highness Prince Karim Al-Hussaini – a champion for peace and bridge building, human rights, and understanding. I’m grateful Toronto hosts a remarkable Aga Khan Museum that is forever a testament to his legacy, which demonstrate the meaningful contributions of Muslim civilizations to our society.

Click here to watch my remarks on the passing of the Aga Khan.

Fixing Traffic Chaos at the Allan and Eglinton

The residents and businesses along Eglinton Avenue West and in the residential communities surrounding the intersection of Eglinton Avenue West and the Allen Expressway have endured traffic chaos, now into its 14th year of the ongoing Metrolinx Eglinton Crosstown construction boondoggle which is billions of dollars over budget, more than four years late with still no opening in sight.

Tens of thousands of vehicles a day use this intersection to commute to and from work in an extraordinarily unique situation where a major expressway empties out into the middle of our city creating congestion in what is in fact, a regional transportation asset that serves as the on-ramp to the Greater Toronto Area’s entire network of 400 series highways for commuters from Brampton, Mississauga, Vaughan and beyond.

This intolerable congestion has also resulted in unprecedented traffic infiltration on local residential streets as these thousands of daily commuters seek short cuts from Eglinton Avenue or are being directed by Waze and Google Maps. The result has been dozens of drivers queued up on the local roads experiencing road rage and engaging in dangerous behaviors putting pedestrians and cyclists at risk as evidenced by the increased number of accidents.

Furthermore, tens of thousands of desperately needed new homes and jobs will be created over the next 25 years in the Allen corridor at Downsview, Yorkdale, Lawrence Heights, the Glencairn study area and into the 905 regions.

That's why, alongside my colleague Mike Colle, I moved a motion that looks to address the root causes of traffic chaos. The motion directs Transportation Services to expedite the study of options to redesign the intersection which continues to be the main bottleneck and source of traffic congestion now that the Crosstown surface construction is complete, and the operation of the intersection has been handed back over to the City after more than a dozen years of Metrolinx control.

Eglinton LRT: Still Nowhere in Sight!

Doug Ford says he know how to get things done. But the Eglinton LRT has been delayed for years, is over budget, while businesses and residents have been treated like collateral damage. Please join me in calling for a public inquiry to demand transparency, accountability, and to actually get transit projects built in Toronto. As a part of this provincial election, I am calling on all provincial candidates to support real transparency and accountability for Metrolinx and the Ford government so that the failures are not repeated in future transit expansions like the Ontario Line and Scarborough Subway extension.

Click here to watch my video about the Eglinton LRT construction delays.

Little Jamaica Budget Announcement

Residents of Little Jamaica have been waiting for far too long without seeing the results they deserve from their government. Promises were not being kept in the 2025 budget, including funding for a plan to protect Black owned businesses, to preserve the cultural heritage of Little Jamaica, and to invest in the social services and housing that are so integral to community wellbeing. This was unacceptable.

Thanks to our persistent efforts, I am happy to announce that we successfully convinced the mayor to secure $150,000 in this year’s budget, from the $3 million set aside by the Mayor's budget for Council priorities, to finally help move the Little Jamaica Cultural District forward. I am very grateful for the many community leaders and advocates who continue to support this critical work, and who make Little Jamaica the vibrant place that it is.

Putting the Brakes on Auto Theft: Taking Immediate Action to Keep our Neighborhoods Safe

The surge in auto thefts and home invasions has even led to some residents hiring private security at their own expense- personally spending tens of thousands of dollars in enhancing security measures for their properties and those of their neighbours. That’s not acceptable and concrete actions must be taken to protect our communities.

While there have been increased measures at our national borders and ports, and additional funding to help curb auto theft, there is much more that needs to be done.

This is why I moved a motion at City Council, that received unanimous support, on the following recommendations to senior levels of government:

Update current and mandate new technological standards and security features for all vehicle manufacturers.
Eliminate the ability for any citizen to register a vehicle on another person’s behalf without power of attorney.
Prohibit anyone from relying on a New Vehicle Information Statement to register a vehicle, limiting this registration mechanisms to only licensed dealers.
Expedite outgoing screenings at all ports.

The way to combat auto theft is to prevent it from happening in the first place by screening our ports, using technology and cracking down on fraud, along with bringing the perpetrators of these crimes to justice.

While I’m pleased to continue to work with our Toronto Police Service, every level of government needs to take concrete actions to support national, provincial and local police services’ efforts to protect our residents. This is a serious and all too common problem affecting cities across Canada -and will take an all hands on deck approach to get results.

City Charter Motion Passes

I am happy to announce that my motion, seconded by Jamaal Myers, to advance a City Charter for Toronto, successfully passed Council this month.

I am very grateful to all of those who signed our petition, wrote to their local Councillor, and showed up to speak in favor of this critical effort to achieve real autonomy for Toronto. For far too long, our City has been subject to the whims of the provincial government, who has interfered in decisions from our local elections, to transportation, to public health. While I have no misgivings that Doug Ford would support this effort, he will not be in power forever. That's why my motion looks to put infrastructure in place by establishing a 'Program Advisory Body' at the City, made up of experts in municipal governance, so that when the time finally comes, we have a clear plan and path forward for how how to finally address Toronto's lack of autonomy once and for all!

Click here to watch my video about advocating for a Charter City.

The City of Toronto Wants to Hear from You! Shaping the next Toronto Seniors’ Strategy

Your experience matters! Are you a senior or an older adult living in the Toronto? If so, we would like to hear from you. The City of Toronto is developing its third Toronto Seniors Strategy and would like feedback on how to better support seniors and older adults.

There are two ways to participate – online and in-person

Share your feedback through an online survey. The survey will take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete and is available in English, French, Greek, Italian, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Tagalog, Tamil, and Traditional Chinese.

You can also join us in-person at a community workshop in your area. Share your experiences and priorities and help us to better understand how the City can improve programs and services for seniors and older adults.

Registration for the workshops is not required. Live language interpretation in select languages and ASL interpretation will be available. Email [email protected] to request additional accommodation.

Visit toronto.ca/SeniorsStrategy to learn more about the Toronto Seniors’ Strategy. For more information, contact [email protected].

Learn4Life Opens February 12th

Looking for something fun to do this Spring? The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) offers a wide range of Adult General Interest and Seniors Daytime classes through the Learn4Life program. These classes provide an excellent opportunity to learn new skills, stay active, and connect with others in your community. Led by expert instructors, Learn4Life offers courses in Arts, Business, Computers, Cooking, Crafts, Dance, Finance, Fitness, Languages, Music, Sports, Sewing, and much more! Registration opens on February 12th. Visit learn4life.ca to learn more.

You're Invited: Community Skating Party

On Sunday, February 23rd, I will be holding a community skating party at the Casa Loma Parkette, from 1-3pm. Come out to skate, and enjoy free hot refreshments at this fun community event. I look forward to seeing you there!

Celebrating Chinese New Year!

Kung Hei Fat Choi! Chinatown is a very special part of our city. Thank you so much to the Chinatown BIA for inviting me to celebrate the lunar new year with the community. I wish everyone a happy, healthful and prosperous year of the snake!

Canadian Youth Climate Action Award

After two successful years, Pivot Green will again be presenting the Canadian Youth Climate Action Awards in partnership with the Small Change Fund. The awards recognize the extraordinary contribution our younger generation is making in the fight against climate change. Across Canada, youth are organizing, influencing policymakers, and creating impactful programs in their communities.

Pivot Green has increased the first-place prize money to $7,500 to recognize this contribution and show their support. Two secondary prizes of $3,500 each will be given out, and up to eight additional $1,000 prizes. Pivot Green will amplify and share the stories of these successful initiatives with the hope that they can be replicated across the country.

Applications are now being accepted until March 17, 2025. The winners will be announced on April 15, 2025. The guidelines and details of the award program can be found on this site.

Pivot Green is a recently created not-for-profit formed by a group of six individuals who helped pilot and launch the first blue box recycling programs in Canada over 40 years ago and haven’t stopped making positive changes since. They share a strong belief that minor lifestyle changes can often blossom into major societal changes. Their goal is to connect and celebrate businesses and communities with stories and ideas to inspire restorative climate action and social justice. There has never been a better time for Canadians to Pivot Green.

Small Change Fund helps people and communities improve the environment, reduce poverty, and support reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. Pivot Green does this by providing expert advice and an award-winning crowdfunding platform, as well as through their own community and communications projects.

Hillcrest Village Community Players "Little Women"

Your local community theatre group, Hillcrest Village Community Players, are back for their fourth season! They will be performing Little Women the musical at St.Matthew's (729 St.Clair Ave West) from February 27 to March 8. This limited-time production showcases some of our community's most talented local artists. By attending, you’re not just enjoying a wonderful night out —you’re also supporting your community’s thriving arts scene.
Get your tickets here: https://www.hillcrestvillageplayers.ca/

Over 100 members of the community have come together to volunteer in the cast, crew, orchestra and production team to make this production possible. Invite your friends, family and neighbours. This beloved tale of love, dreams, and family comes alive on stage in a beautifully reimagined musical filled with unforgettable songs, heartwarming moments and timeless charm.

Message About the Ike Justin Kaja Memorial Scholarship

As we approach nearly three years since the tragic loss of our beloved classmate and friend, Ike Kaja, we are reminded of the profound impact he had on each of us. Ike was a proud alum of the Rotman Class of 2008, whose life was cut short by a senseless act of violence, yet his spirit continues to inspire us.

In honour of him, the Rotman community has come together to create the Ike Justin Kaja Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship is dedicated to supporting aspiring students who embody Ike's remarkable leadership, generosity and unwavering commitment to Rotman and the broader community. Through this award, we aim to empower future leaders who reflect the values Ike championed throughout his life.
So far, we have raised nearly $70,000 toward this endowed scholarship, ensuring that Ike’s legacy will thrive in perpetuity.

We are embarking on an ambitious goal—in tribute to Ike’s memory and the principles he championed, our aim is to raise an additional $20,000 by month’s end.

Please consider donating to the Ike Justin Kaja Memorial Scholarship. If you’ve already donated to the scholarship, we hope you will consider making an additional gift. Your contribution will make a significant difference for generations to come.

Please visit the online page or contact [email protected]. Every dollar counts and brings us one step closer to our goal.

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