Streetscape Improvements Coming to Oakwood Village

Saving Affordable Grocers in Davisville

Both of our local neighbourhood grocers that closed last year, Fruit Baskets and Fresh Buy Market, are returning to the neighbourhood and will continue serving the affordable fruit and veggies that so many of us rely on.

When notified of the upcoming demolition, my office and I immediately reached out to the business owners directly to offer our support. We contacted nearby property owners to identify new space opportunities and advocating to ensure that these businesses were able to remain.

We are grateful to everyone who worked together to ensure that these businesses were able to find nearby retail space in the neighbourhood - and in both cases - to secure even larger space, which allows more people to access more affordable food.

Planning for a Safer Merton Street

I am pleased to announce that Council has approved my motion to move forward with a plan for streetscape improvements along Merton Street, between Yonge Street and Mount Pleasant Road. Residents have raised concerns about narrow sidewalks, limited sightlines, unsafe mid-block crossings, and a need for better wayfinding, all made worse by concentrated construction activity in the area. Transportation Services will consult with the Merton Street community and report back in 2027 with improvements that can be delivered through quick-build installations, capital projects, and future development applications.

City Charter – Empowering Toronto’s Future

Toronto is Canada's largest city, yet it lacks the autonomy to govern its own municipal affairs without constant overreach from Doug Ford’s provincial government. I have been advocating for a City Charter - a legal framework that would give Toronto the authority to make its own decisions on critical issues like housing, transit, and budgeting without constant provincial interference. This is a necessary one for strengthening democracy, transparency, and accountability. While a Charter requires provincial cooperation, laying the groundwork now will help build the case for a more empowered and responsive city government. That’s why I moved a motion in Council to start the work on a new arrangement with senior levels of government that ensures we have the independence necessary for 21st century cities to thrive and achieve results for residents.

This working group has now reported back with recommendations for a public participation process on Charter stewardship. You can read the full report here.