E-Newsletter

City Hall and Community Update for March 31, 2017

Groundbreaking Tenant Protection Legislation Passes Final Hurdle

As Chair of the Tenants Issues Committee, I am very pleased to report that my colleagues supported our new Tenant Protection by-law to provide much needed protection for Toronto renters. The provisions in the by-law will be in force by July of this year.

This success was the result of years of hard work with local tenant advocates and city-wide organizations, including the Federation of Metro Toronto Tenants’ Associations, ACORN, Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario, and community legal clinics.

At present, far too many renters live in sub-standard housing.  The City’s Multi Residential Audit Building (MRAB) program has found over 58,000 deficiencies in approximately 1000 buildings since Building Audits began.  Leaking roofs, stained carpets, non-functioning elevators, and pest infestations are far too common.  And these violations are mostly from just the shared areas in buildings and don’t capture the serious problems tenants face inside their units.

Some landlords have ignored City orders to fix their properties for years with little consequence; they treat the small fines as the cost of doing business, drag out performing the repairs through court appeals, and are even granted time extensions.

The system certainly doesn’t give tenants the same leniency when their rent is due.

This comprehensive new by-law includes several motions I moved to address some of these concerns, including:
  • A “Rentsafe” rating program for buildings modelled off of the “Dinesafe” program for restaurants that requires landlords to post a colour-coded sign that displays the City's rating in a prominent, publicly identifiable location, along with posting the same information on the City's website
  • Requesting that the Province grant the City the power to fine landlords for property standards violations
  • Establishing guidelines for when the Property Standards Committee can grant time extensions on work orders for violations and to limit those criteria to situations that are only extraordinary circumstances
  • Developing standard operating procedures for City enforcement officers which provide targeted timelines by violation category to bring landlords into compliance with City by-laws from the date an order is issued, and make the standards available to the public on the City website
  • Ensuring that landlords will not be able to rent vacant units if they have outstanding property orders in the building for vital services such as heat or water
These measures, and many others contained in the program, were the result of extensive consultation with tenants across the city.

For more information on this ground-breaking legislation, please see this article.
Council Ignores Evidence and Chooses 1-Stop Subway Over 24-Stop LRT Network for Scarborough

As many of you have heard by now, Council has opted to continue work toward a 1-stop extension of the Bloor-Danforth subway to the Scarborough Town Centre instead of a 2-line, 24-stop network. I wrote extensively about the options in my previous newsletter to you.

It is unfortunate that, yet again, Council decided to not ask for relevant and important information by voting against my motion to have Staff finally provide a Business Case Analysis comparing the 1-stop subway with a 7-stop LRT in the McCowan corridor. This is especially disappointing in light of the answers to my questions on transit options for Scarborough ahead of the vote which, among other things, stated that:
  • The briefing note provided by the TTC in 2016 claiming that the cost of the LRT was the same as the subway was based on incorrect assumptions
  • Funding sources and amounts for the 1-stop subway extension have not yet been finalized
  • The LRT plan is at a far more advanced design stage than the 1-stop subway
In addition, a new study released before the vote found that most Scarborough residents will spend more time on the bus with the 1-stop subway plan.

Despite this setback, I will continue to advocate for honest and evidence-based transit. For more information on what this vote means going forward, please see this article.
Unprecedented Meeting on Tenants and Housing Affordability Next Week

On Monday, April 3 I will be co-hosting an unprecedented joint meeting(s) of the Tenant Issues Committee, which I Chair, and the Affordable Housing Committee with my colleague, Councillor Ana Bailao.  

Toronto's rental housing market has become increasingly unaffordable for many people.
The challenges of finding and keeping a decent and affordable place to live are affecting people across the rental spectrum in all areas of the city, including Midtown.

Rents are rapidly rising beyond the rate of inflation and, on the turnover from one tenant to the next, units newly on the market are drawing bidding wars. Due to historically low vacancy rates and a lack of new purpose-built rental supply, more and more residents are finding themselves precariously housed by renting condominiums.

Despite the ongoing construction of new condominiums, there remains a critical shortage of homes that people can afford. As a result of market pressures and a lack of protection for any rental unit built after 1991, some tenants in condominiums have recently reported annual rent increases between 10% and 50%.

Residents in purpose-built rental buildings that supposedly have protection from rents rising above inflation are also at-risk. Landlords are allowed to increase rents substantially for basic maintenance, including balcony replacements and new boilers, due to unfair provisions in the provincial Residential Tenancies Act. 

This meeting will look at housing affordability in a holistic manner and request the provincial government and City Staff to move forward with concrete measures to help ensure that all Torontonians have access to a safe, clean, and healthy home.

The meeting will take place at 3pm in Committee Room 2 on the 2nd floor of City Hall.
Proposal to Increase Fines for Speeding in School Zones

I was very pleased to support a motion by Councillors Mark Grimes and Mike Layton to request the Province to allow the City the ability to double fines for speeding in designated school zones. This is an important issue in our community and I will be advocating for this important measure as it moves to the Ontario government.
Community Meeting: Next Improvements to June Rowlands Park and Sharon, Lois & Bram Playground

On Monday, April 3 at 7pm, please join me to discuss your vision for an improved and expanded Sharon, Lois & Bram Playground and other enhancements at June Rowlands (Davisville) Park. City staff from Parks, Forestry & Recreation will be in attendance to present design concepts and receive your feedback.

The meeting location is Greenwood College (443 Mount Pleasant Road), Room 174. I hope to see you there!

To view the event flyer, please click here.

SAVE THE DATE: Councillor Josh Matlow's Community Environment Day

On Thursday, June 1 from 4-8pm, I will be hosting my annual Community Environment Day. The event will take place in the parking lot of North Toronto Memorial Arena (174 Orchard View Blvd). Please drop off any unwanted art supplies, books, toys, and used sports equipment. Facilities will be available to dispose of computers and other hazardous household waste, or even replace your damaged green bin.

Toronto-St. Paul’s Summit: Working Together for a Better St. Paul’s

Please join me and my colleagues representing all levels of government at this year's St. Paul's Summit on Sunday, May 7 at Christ Church Deer Park (1570 Yonge Street), 3-5pm.

Together with the St. Paul's community we will be talking about key issues affecting our country, province, city, school boards and neighbourhoods.

I am honoured to be joining federal MP, Dr. Carolyn Bennett, provincial MPP, Dr.Eric Hoskins, my local colleagues at City Hall and school trustees in this important conversation with our residents.

Deer Park Residents Group Annual General Meeting

Please join me for the Deer Park Residents Group (DPRG) Annual General Meeting on Tuesday, June 6 at Calvin Presbyterian Church (26 Delisle Avenue). The membership desk will open at 6:30pm and the meeting will commence at 7pm.

The annual meeting of the DPRG is an opportunity for residents of our neighbourhood to learn about activities during the past year. The agenda will include a summary of actions taken by the DPRG, events in our district and an election of members of the Board for the coming year. I will be speaking to attendees about developments in Ward 22 and beyond that have an impact on all of us. Any persons attending who are not already members of the DPRG will be encouraged to join.

The DPRG welcomes members who have an interest in participating in its activities and serving on the Board. Please feel welcome to email [email protected] for more information.
South Eglinton Ratepayers' and Residents' Association Annual General Meeting

The South Eglinton Ratepayers’ and Residents’ Association (SERRA) is constituted for the purpose of furthering and protecting the common interests of its members relating to real estate, zoning, municipal planning and any other matter touching on or relating to real property within the membership area, bounded by Yonge Street, Bayview Avenue, Eglinton Avenue and Merton Street.

SERRA will be holding its AGM this year at 7pm on Monday, May 8 at Greenwood College School (443 Mount Pleasant Road). I hope to see you there!
Clean Toronto Together Registration is Now Open

It's time for some spring cleaning! Gather your friends, neighbours, co-workers and classmates to clean a park, laneway or any other space that needs your help. Friday, April 21 is the Corporate & School 20-Minute Makeover; Saturday, April 22 and Sunday, April 23 are the Community Cleanup Days.

Registration is now open. Individuals, community groups, schools and businesses can register their cleanup events online or by calling 311. Registration helps the City arrange for special litter and recycling pickups and helps to reduce duplicate cleanups. Learn more and find out when and where to get free GLAD® garbage and recycling bags for your cleanup online or by calling 311. 

To learn more and to register your event, please click here.

If you are planning to hold a community clean-up, please let me know and I'd be happy to drop by and help out!
Celebrating National Caregiver Day

Twenty-nine percent of Canadians and Torontonians are family caregivers to someone in need. The majority of them are seniors. On January 31, 2017 City Council passed a motion to recognize Family Caregiver Day annually on April 4.

In recognition of Family Caregiver Day we will be holding an event in the Council Chamber at City Hall, co-hosted by City staff involved in the Toronto Seniors Strategy, the Toronto Seniors Forum, ENRICHES and twelve other stakeholder organizations, to recognize the valuable contribution of family caregivers to our community and to express our support.

Family caregivers often assume this role with no training or additional resources and are facing challenging and stressful situations on a daily basis. The latest report of the ‘Change Foundation’ suggests that the majority of caregivers succumb to physical and psychological illness as a result of their caregiving responsibilities. Despite that, they are often not recognized for their role and are not perceived as a population in need of support in the health care system and the community at large.

This event promises to be a wonderful opportunity for Toronto to come together in support of this often invisible and vulnerable group of individuals that is such a crucial component to the well-being of our Toronto community. As the City's Seniors Advocate, I am delighted to be speaking to attendees at 1pm on Tuesday, April 4.

For full event details, please click here.
Toronto Seniors Strategy 2.0: Have Your Say!

In my capacity as the City's Seniors Advocate, I'm actively working with City staff and community partners to develop the next phase of the Toronto Seniors Strategy, to improve City services for older Torontonians and make Toronto a more age-friendly city. We would also love to hear from you! I encourage you to participate in our online survey by April 15. 

Please click here to access the questionnaire.
Toronto Seniors Helpline

WoodGreen Community Services, Toronto Central CCAC, and Toronto Central LHIN are pleased to launch the Toronto Seniors Helpline (TSH)!

The Toronto Seniors Helpline is a single phone line that streamlines access to community, homecare and crisis services for seniors, their caregivers and their health care providers. Through this initiative, CNAP, Seniors Crisis Line and TC CCAC information and referral staff have unified as a single team with a shared focus on information and referral, supportive counseling and service navigation services. As a result, seniors will experience the ease of one access point, more streamlined care, and warm transfers to the services that best meet their needs. TSH is for seniors, caregivers, and health care professionals.

TSH can be reached at 416-217-2077. The number is TTY-compatible; interpretation services are available.

TSH is answered by certified staff who connect people to the care they need, including CCAC home care services, crisis outreach teams, and other services in our community that support seniors’ safety, health and well-being. The team is comprised of information and referral staff from the TC CCAC and WoodGreen staff, all of whom have been cross-trained in service offerings across the home and community sector, including crisis services.
Low Income Retirement Workshops at Toronto Public Library

Planning for Retirement on a Low Income workshops will be offered again this spring at 9 library branches in Toronto, thanks to generous funding from The Rotary Club of Toronto. The goal of this workshop is to provide low-income attendees, in plain language, with a complete picture of benefits available to them, explain how these benefits interact, and outline best strategies for long term retirement planning on a very limited income. John Stapleton, Metcalf Foundation Fellow and social policy expert, is the presenter.

The impact of the series cannot be overstated. Mainstream financial advice is in most cases, inappropriate and detrimental to low-income earners. For example, advising a low-income person to save within an RRSP, can be very bad advice as it reduces their Guaranteed Income Supplement. Simply put, this information is not readily available elsewhere, and fills a real need. The 9 workshops in the fall 2016 series attracted 523 attendees – mostly disadvantaged persons in need of any available assistance, or someone attending on their behalf.
North Toronto Memorial Community Centre Temporary Closure

The City is enhancing North Toronto Memorial Community Centre to improve facility operations and services to the community. The centre will close for state of good repair renovations in September 2017 for approximately 18 months. For more information, please click here.

While the community centre is located outside of my ward, many Ward 22 residents use the facility and will be impacted by this closure. I encourage you to attend an upcoming community meeting hosted by City staff to learn more about the renovations and program relocation. The meeting will be held at North Toronto Memorial Community Centre at 6:30pm on Wednesday, May 17.
Open Call for Jane's Walk Leaders

May 5th, 6th, & 7th Jane's Walk Festival

If you have a fun, informative, unusual way of looking at your neighbourhood, then Jane’s Walk wants you to host a walking conversation in your community!

Jane’s Walk is a global movement of free, community-led walking tours inspired by Jane Jacobs. The walks get people to explore their cities and connect with neighbours. Organizing a Jane’s Walk is easy. It simply involves planning a route, thinking through the stories, places, people and ideas you want to hear and talk about, and then posting it online atjaneswalk.org/toronto. Learn more at www.janeswalk.org.

Jane’s Walk is a great way to personally connect with with other residents, share stories of the neighborhood, and discuss important issues in your community. New walks are posted here every day.
City of Toronto's Proposed Stormwater Charge

Currently, stormwater management is being paid for from the water rate, which means the amount homeowners pay for stormwater management is based on how much water they use. The Stormwater Charge proposal is to remove the portion that homeowners currently pay for stormwater management (currently embedded in the water rate), and show it as a separate charge on the water bill. The water rate would decrease and the stormwater charge would be added. The amount paid for stormwater would be based on property size and the average amount of hard space on properties of a similar size.

More information is available at toronto.ca/stormwatercharge, including:
  • Full details and information about the proposed stormwater charge
  • An online survey to allow for public feedback
  • Examples of how the proposed stormwater charge could impact water bills
  • A full list of the categories and tiers for the proposed stormwater charge
  • A full listing of the public consultation dates and locations
Wheel-Trans Public Meetings: 10-Year Strategy Update and Next Steps

As a follow up to the public meetings held last summer, TTC will be hosting another round of consultations in April to update current and prospective customers on the Wheel-Trans 10-Year Strategy.

Participants will be provided details on the recently implemented Wheel-Trans eligibility and policy changes, as well as information on the Family of Services Pilot Program, Mobility Transfer Hubs and the proposed Community Bus Routes. The presentation will be followed by a Q&A period and an opportunity to provide input on each of these initiatives.

Details on the public meetings can be found on the TTC Wheel-Trans Public Consultations page.
Public Invited to Debate, Collaborate and Create as Consultation on City of Toronto's Long-Term Financial Plan Continues

The City of Toronto is launching Phase 2 of its public consultation on the renewal of its Long-Term Financial Plan. Information about the consultation, including background reports and engagement opportunities, a public workshop and an upcoming online survey, is available athttp://www.investinginTO.ca/. The public is also invited to participate in the conversation on social media, using the hashtag #InvestinginTO.

For the second phase of consultation, the City is inviting members of the public to City Hall for a conversation about how it makes decisions and balances priorities that have a long-term financial impact.

An interactive afternoon of workshops and discussions will be held at Toronto City Hall, 100 Queen St. W., on Saturday, April 22 at 1-5pm. The open house will begin at 12:30pm.

This is an opportunity for the public to:
  • debate how City Hall can balance both its books and its long-term priorities
  • collaborate with community organizations, other members of the public and the City
  • create a financial path that brings us closer to the city we want
More information about the workshops and discussions is available athttp://www.investinginTO.ca/. The workshops will be available via webcast for those who wish to participate online.  An online survey will also be open from April 22 to May 14.

The first consultation, which took place last fall, focused on how the City manages expenses, raises revenue and could maximize its assets. The City heard about the need to balance the priorities and budgets while also supporting the most vulnerable Torontonians. The public was also clear about keeping the City's commitments to innovation, economic health, infrastructure investments and the environment while finding ways to pay for them. The City also heard about the need for information that helps the public understand and contribute to the City's budgets, plans and decision making.

The findings from the consultation process will provide advice for Council and the City Manager as the City sets out to develop its Long-Term Financial Plan. The plan will guide financial decision-making over the long term and put Toronto on a path to financial sustainability. It will also help address structural financial issues as expenditures continue to rise faster than revenues, and help ensure that the City continues to run well, spends public money wisely and delivers the programs and services residents need and want over the long term.

44 Jackes Avenue Public Meeting

The City has received an application to amend the Zoning By-law to permit a new high-rise residential building in the northwest corner of a 1.26 hectare site with two existing high-rise rental apartment buildings. The new building is proposed to be 29-storeys high with a 4-storey podium base.

Please join me at 7pm on Thursday, April 13 in the Cameron Room at Yorkminster Park Baptist Church (1585 Yonge Street), for a meeting to discuss the proposed development. City Planning staff will be in attendance to answer any questions you may have.

390 Spadina Road Development Update

The South Forest Hill Residents Association (SFHRA) has asked that I share the following message with you regarding this inappropriate development proposal: 

Forest Hill Village is Under Attack!

More than 60 local residents attended the pre-OMB hearing on March 1st forcing the OMB to move the proceedings to their largest room. South Forest Hill Residents Association (SFHRA) was well represented by lawyer, Peter Carey, who was successful in securing our "party" status at the OMB.

No date has been set for the OMB hearing itself.  Instead, a second pre-hearing date has been set for August 8th to review any revisions to the developer's plan and determine next steps.  In order to prepare for this meeting, SFHRA needs to hire their own experts to counter the aggressive and well-financed attack by the Armel Corporation and their partners.

We have our work cut out for us!  Did you know the OMB rules 64% of the time against communities and only 36% in favour of communities?  The community can only win this with the support of each member of the community.

Fundraising has begun with a goal to raise $65,000 to prevent the destruction of the Village.  You can help by donating generously:

1. ONLINE- click on the link which will take you to our GoFundMe page:
http://www.gofundme.com/save-forest-hill-village
OR
2. Drop off your cheque made out to South Forest Hill Residents Association at 350 Lonsdale Rd (Attention: Mona Kornberg). There's a 24 hour Concierge.

For further information or to join the fight, email the SFHRA at [email protected]or visit us on Facebook!

* South Forest Hill Residents Association is an incorporated non-profit organization governed by a volunteer Board of Directors
Development Proposals in Ward 22

To ensure you are informed and engaged about development proposals being proposed for sites near your neighbourhood, I've created an interactive webpage. 

My webpage listing all the proposed developments in Ward 22 has recently been updated to reflect current development applications and, as always, contains locations, staff reports and public meeting notices. Additionally, the map now shows the boundaries of the Urban Growth Centre surrounding Yonge and Eglinton, as well as the designated Avenues (portions of Eglinton Avenue West, St. Clair Avenue West, Yonge Street, Mt. Pleasant Road and Bayview Avenue). These are all areas where the Province is directing growth. Clicking on any of them will provide links to more information about the ward's Avenues/Urban Growth Centre, as well as links to the City's Official Plan and local secondary plans. 

The OMB is a quasi-judicial, un-elected and un-accountable provincial body that has the final say on all planning decisions in the province of Ontario. The tribunal's powers to overrule decisions made by our elected municipal representatives are anti-democratic and often lead to planning decisions that far too often support the interests of the development industry over those of our communities and our city's official plan. To read more about the OMB and my advocacy to free Toronto from its purview, please click here.

City Hall and Community Update for February 24, 2017













The Yonge & St. Clair Valentine's Day Fire at the Badminton & Racquet Club

The term “hero” is sometimes used too easily but I can’t think of a better word to describe the Fire, Police and EMS responders who attended to the 6-alarm fire at Yonge & St. Clair last week. For more than 24 hours, over 100 firefighters worked long, dangerous and grueling shifts to put out the blaze at the Badminton and Racquet Club; keeping the fire from spreading to residential buildings only feet away. In an amazing display of teamwork, Toronto Fire Services was joined by Police, EMS, the Office of Emergency Management, Toronto Hydro, Toronto Water, TTC, and others.

City Hall and Community Update for February 3rd 2017

Toronto’s Heritage Protection Policies Must Be Strengthened

Toronto has a shameful record when it comes to protecting its architectural heritage.

The wanton demolition of the Bank of Montreal building at 2444 Yonge Street last month, and the Stollery's Building at Yonge and Bloor in January 2015, are just two of the most recent examples of the City's inability to stay ahead of development applications. We need to implement a more proactive mechanism to protect better protect Toronto's built heritage before. That's why I moved a motion in 2015 to strengthen our heritage policy framework.

Currently, for a building to have protection, it must be either “listed” or “designated” under the Ontario Heritage Act (OHA). A very lengthy process is required for a property to become listed, including a full evaluation and completed Staff research report, followed by consideration by both Community Council and City Council. Only following City Council approval does a property become eligible for protection under the OHA, including demolition protections under the Ontario Planning Act. This review process can take up to five months to complete for a single property. For a property to become fully designated, the process can take up to eight months. There is nothing to save a heritage property from the wrecking ball while this process is taking place.

My motion asked City Planning staff to report back to Planning and Growth Management Committee on the feasibility of establishing a new tier of heritage designation that is more inclusive, proactive and expeditious. This new category would protect properties that have been identified but not yet evaluated for listing or designation.

We are still waiting on the Chief Planner to take action on this Council direction.

You can read more about the current challenges facing the City's heritage policy and my efforts to improve them in this article.

Also, for your convenience, I have created an interactive map of all heritage properties located in Ward 22.

City Staff Proposing Massive Fee Hikes for Patios

Small business owners across the city are sounding the alarm over a proposal from Licensing and Standards Staff that would see fees for some patios increase by over 1000%. While some adjustment might be reasonable, I will not support any measure that provides a disincentive for business owners to provide outdoor seating in appropriate locations.

Patios contribute to more fun and vibrant streets, our local economy and community residents' quality of life. Where residential neighbors aren't adversely impacted, the City should be working to encourage more patios instead of making them prohibitively expensive.

For more information on this issue, please read this article.

REMINDER: Community Skating Party with Josh Matlow, Rob Oliphant & Carolyn Bennett!

I'm excited to be co-hosting a community skating party with our local MPs, Rob Oliphant and Carolyn Bennett at Hodgson Ice Rink (East of Mt. Pleasant, entrance off Millwood/Harwood, behind Hodgson PS). 

Please join us from 2pm to 4pm on Sunday, February 12th for a fun, family-friendly afternoon with free coffee and hot chocolate.

I look forward to seeing you there!

REMINDER: Councillor Josh Matlow's 2017 City of Toronto Budget Town Hall Meeting

On Wednesday, February 8th at 7pm, I will be hosting my 2017 Budget Town Hall for Ward 22 residents at Christ Church Deer Park, Elliott Hall, 1570 Yonge Street.

The City of Toronto's budget will affect virtually every City service and your feedback is very important to me. I hope you will be able to attend.

If you would like more information on the proposed 2017 City of Toronto Budget in advance of my Town Hall meeting, please click here.

REMINDER: Let's Design Ward 22's Two New Park Spaces Together: Second Public Meeting

In early December 2016, I held an initial public meeting to gather residents' feedback on potential designs and uses for our two new parks on Manor Road East that we fought for together (the former Glebe Manor Lawn Bowling Club site and the corner of Manor Road and Forman Avenue). Since that meeting, the project design consultant has been busy developing design concepts based on that feedback and will be ready to share these drawings with the community shortly.

Please join me and your neighbours on Monday, February 27 to review and comment upon these concept designs for our two new parks! The meeting will be held at 6:30pm in the newly renovated sanctuary at Manor Road United Church (adjacent to one of our new park spaces at 240 Manor Road East). City of Toronto Parks staff will also be in attendance.

Midtown in Focus Study Continues

As part of our Midtown in Focus study, the City of Toronto is developing an area-wide vision for parks and public spaces in the Yonge-Davisville area. As a follow up to a successful workshop in the fall, myself and City Planning Staff are reconvening for another public meeting at 7pm on Wednesday, February 22nd at Northern District Library (40 Orchard View Boulevard). We would be pleased to hear your feedback and ideas on creating a safer and more vibrant public realm in the community!

If you have any questions please feel welcome to contact myself or the City Planner Paul Farish at 416-392-3529 or [email protected]

Updated Ward 22 Development Page

To ensure you are informed and engaged about developments being proposed for sites near your neighbourhood, I've created an interactive webpage. 

My webpage listing all the proposed developments in Ward 22 has recently been updated to reflect current development applications and, as always, contains locations, staff reports and public meeting notices. Additionally, the map now shows the boundaries of the Urban Growth Centre surrounding Yonge and Eglinton, as well as the designated Avenues (portions of Eglinton Avenue West, St. Clair Avenue West, Yonge Street, Mt. Pleasant Road and Bayview Avenue). These are all areas where the Province is directing growth. Clicking on any of them will provide links to more information about the ward's Avenues/Urban Growth Centre, as well as links to the City's Official Plan and local secondary plans.


Please click here to learn more about what you can do to help free Toronto from the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB).

City Hall and Community Update for December 2, 2016

REMINDER: Public Meeting to Design Ward 22's Two New Park Spaces!

Working together as a community, we successfully fought to preserve green space at the former Glebe Manor Lawn Bowling Club site. We also worked amicably with the Manor Road United Church to create public space rather than a townhouse development at their site.

Now the fun part begins! Please join me and your neighbours to discuss potential designs and uses for our two new parks at 6:30pm on Tuesday, December 6 in the gymnasium at Maurice Cody Jr Public School. City of Toronto Parks staff will also be in attendance.

Please click here to view the event flyer.

Ward 22's Hodgson Ice Rink is Now Open for the 2016/2017 Skating Season!

I am happy to announce that our community ice rink at Hodgson is now open for your skating pleasure! 

I am pleased that the 2016/17 skating year will once again feature expanded community hours at Hodgson ice. The agreement with the TDSB reached last year will see the rink open for community hours starting at 11:30am (rather than 4:30pm) every weekday.

For more information regarding hours of operation and specific programming, please visit thiswebsite.

Manor Road United Church Grand Re-Opening Celebration

Manor Road United Church is celebrating the Grand Opening of their renovated space on Saturday, December 10 & Sunday, December 11 and everyone is welcome!  

The church has several events planned over the course of the weekend, including the 3rd annual Santa’s pancake breakfast at 9:30am - 11am on Saturday, a Christmas Concert and Carol Sing at 7pm on Saturday, and a Celebration Service at 10:30am on Sunday. I look forward to giving opening remarks and congratulations at the official Open House celebration at 11:45am on Sunday. I hope to see you there!

Please Join Me in Celebrating the Holiday Season with our Mount Pleasant Village and Midtown Yonge BIAs this Weekend!

On Saturday, December 3, Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus, their elves and more will be on hand to celebrate the Mount Pleasant Village BIA Christmas Fair. The day will be filled with fun activities, as well as in-store promotions. New for this year will be a scavenger hunt! The event will take place along Mount Pleasant Road between Eglinton and Davisville from 10am to 4pm.

Full event details are available here.

Also, come enjoy some local shopping and holiday fun on Yonge Street between Soudan and Davisville. The Midtown Yonge BIA are ringing in the season at the intersection of Yonge Street and Lola Road with a 20ft Christmas tree, carolers & Santa himself. This event will take place on Saturday, December 3 and 10 from 1pm to 4pm.

Please click here to view the Midtown Yonge BIA event flyer.

Annual 58th Toronto Scouts Christmas Tree Sale

If you'll be looking for a Christmas tree, our local kids with the 58th Scouts, Cubs & Beavers have one for you! For over 60 years, local Boy Scouts have been selling fresh, Ontario-grown Christmas trees & wreaths to neighborhood residents. The sale starts November 26 and, as always, they can be found on the main lawn at the Church of the Transfiguration (111 Manor Rd East). Open weekdays 6am -9pm (weather permitting) and Sat-Sun 9am-6pm. Deliveries available. Call or text 647-970-0947 or email [email protected].

Please click here to view the flyer.

Rosehill Reservoir Rehabilitation Project

As many of you are aware, the City of Toronto will be carrying out waterproofing and structure rehabilitation work on the Rosehill Reservoir at David Balfour Park. These necessary upgrades will help to ensure the structural integrity of the reservoir, extend its service life, and bring the infrastructure to a state of good repair. I have been pleased to work with my colleague, Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam, City staff and local Residents' Associations on honing this restoration plan.

I certainly support the work that a core group of engaged residents has been doing toward the Vision Plan. We all want this park to be remarkable once the rehab work is completed, and I look forward to working together with the community on that front. 

Also, City staff had originally planned to host a Public Open House in November 2016 to discuss the project plans further with local residents. However, in response to comments received from the community so far, they have decided to postpone this event in order to allow for additional work to be completed. I will share the full meeting details with you for the Public Open House, once confirmed, via my e-newsletter and website. This event is anticipated to take place early in the New Year.

390-398 Spadina Road Development Proposal Update

City Planning recently issued a refusal report to construct a 9-storey mixed-use building at 390 Spadina Rd, consisting of 46 residential units. Unfortunately, the developer has appealed this decision to the OMB.

While this development is actually located in Ward 21 (on the west side of Spadina Road), it will obviously impact many Ward 22 residents directly across Spadina Road and throughout the Ward 22 portion of Forest Hill Village.

In February 2014, I successfully moved a motion requesting City Planning Staff to study Forest Hill Village (located along Spadina Road) and prepare Urban Design Guidelines to protect the small town feeling of this distinctive area. The mandate for the Forest Hill Village Urban Design Guidelines is to maintain the small town character of the area by identifying the appropriate urban character, materials and building rhythm and articulation for future developments and/or renovations within the study area. This includes a Staff recommendation for a maximum of four storeys  street wall for the Village.

These new guidelines will help strengthen City Planning’s position when assessing future development applications for the Village. To learn more about the new guidelines, please see this City report that was approved today by Toronto & East York Community Council. To speak to the planner directly, please contact David Driedger at 416-392-7613 or// ' ); // ]]> " target="_blank" style="text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #2baadf; text-decoration: underline;" mce_style="text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #2baadf; text-decoration: underline;"> [email protected].

I would also like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the efforts of the South Forest Hill Residents' Association (SFHRA) in fighting the current development proposal, their shared passion to preserve the character of the Village and to ensure that any development at this location is an appropriate one. For more information about SFHRA, please click here.

I look forward to joining SFHRA and my colleague, Councillor Joe Mihevc, for a community meeting about this proposal in the New Year. I will be sure to share details of that meeting with you via my e-newsletter and website, once known.
City of Toronto Invites Residents to Have their Say on Long-Term Financial Plan

The City of Toronto is hosting four public consultation meetings from December 5 to 8, in addition to an online survey that is available from December 5 to 23, to gather the public's input on how the City can manage expenses, raise revenue and optimize its assets as part of the development of its Long-Term Financial Plan.

Public meeting details:
  • Monday, December 5, Etobicoke Olympium, 590 Rathburn Rd.
  • Tuesday, December 6, Chinese Cultural Centre, 5183 Sheppard Ave. E.
  • Wednesday, December 7, Mitchell Field Community Centre, 89 Church Ave.
  • Thursday, December 8, Toronto Reference Library (Epic Hall), 789 Yonge St.
Each meeting features an open house session starting at 6pm. A staff presentation that begins at 7pm provides the context for table discussions, followed by an "open-mic" session for participants who want to make a brief statement. Pre-registration is requested athttp://www.investinginto.ca.

Live webcasts of the meetings will be available on the website for those who cannot attend in person, along with learning and background materials and the online survey. Consultation toolkits can be downloaded for those who want to conduct their own community meetings.

To keep Toronto strong and vibrant, there are some key issues that require attention, including transit, housing, investment in poverty reduction, and social cohesion. City Council has adopted economic, social and environmental strategies that can lead Toronto forward. A Long-Term Financial Plan will ultimately present options and create a road map to achieve long-term financial sustainability through multi-year expenditure and revenue strategies while supporting the City's ability to fund its city-building and policy aspirations.

Findings from the consultation process will be considered by the City Manager as he provides advice to Council on the development of the plan. A second phase of the consultation process, including another round of public meetings and an additional survey, will take place in 2017. Members of the public are also invited to join the conversation on social media, using the hashtag #InvestinginTO.
Winter Season Programming in Toronto

The City of Toronto offers affordable community recreation programming for the winter season. Residents of all ages can register for winter skating programs, swimming programs and March Break camps.

Get ready!
Registration begins at 7am on Saturday, December 3 for Etobicoke/York and Scarborough Districts, and 7am on Tuesday, December 6 for North York, Toronto and East York Districts.

Residents should visit toronto.ca/torontofun prior to registration day to:
  • Find out district registration dates
  • Build a list of choices (program titles and barcodes) using the website or the printed FUN Guide
  • Get a family number and client numbers to log in and register
  • Have a payment method ready or credit on the account, if fees apply

Residents can use the "Search Programs" options at toronto.ca/funguide to build wish lists and have a few options ready in case they don’t get into their first choice.

Using the website efun.toronto.ca is the easiest and fastest way to register for winter recreation. In September, 90 per cent of users were able to log in to the registration system in less than 11 minutes and, on average, once logged in, each registration was completed in just over seven minutes.

Those who wish to register for programs will need to set up an account. Call 416-338-4386, e-mail [email protected] or speak with staff at a City community centre to get a family number and a client number, update your account information, put a credit on your account or request information on the Welcome Policy.

Welcome Policy yearly credit
The Welcome Policy credit can be used to register for City recreation programs. People receiving social assistance (Ontario Works) and living in Toronto are pre-approved to receive this credit and should speak to their caseworker. More information about the yearly credit is available at toronto.ca/wp.

Free programs
Many community centres offer free recreation programs including leisure swimming and skating, and drop-in programs for children, youth and older adults. More information about free and low-cost programming options is available at toronto.ca/lowcostrecreation.

Older adult discounts
Older adults (60+ years) who register for adult programs receive a 50 per cent discount.

#WelcomeTOwinter
Winter is arriving in Toronto’s parks, community centres and natural environments. Visittoronto.ca/winter for more information on winter activities and events.
Snow Clearing for Seniors and People with Disabilities in Toronto

If you are a senior or disabled resident of Toronto, the City will clear snow from the sidewalk in front of your home in those areas where the service is not provided by machine.

The City of Toronto provides sidewalk snow clearing in most of Toronto, however, there are some areas where equipment is unable to clear sidewalks due to insufficient sidewalk width for the plows, lack of boulevard space for snow storage, and on-street parking. Most of these areas are in the older, central parts of the city.

Seniors and people with disabilities living in areas where the city does not clear sidewalks can contact the City at 311 to register for the program. The service applies to the sidewalk in front of the home only. It does not include driveways or walkways leading to homes. All participants in the program must renew annually to continue to receive the service.

You can read more about this program, view a map of the areas where the city provides mechanical sidewalk snow clearing, and access the printable application here.
Take Steps to Prevent Frozen Pipes this Winter

The pipes in your home can freeze in cold weather. This can leave you with no water or cause
your pipes to burst, leading to expensive property damage. If your pipes are prone to freezing,
you may wish to contact a plumber for advice. Here are some other tips to protect your home:

Know your Pipes
  • Ensure you know where the main water shut-off valve is in your home and how it operates (in case your pipes burst)
  • Insulate pipes: wrap foam pipe insulation around pipes most at risk, especially near outside walls and in crawl spaces, the attic and garage
  • Eliminate drafts: seal air leaks in your home and garage to stop cold air from getting in
  • Check around windows and doors, electrical wiring, dryer vents and pipes
  • Drain and shut the outdoor water supply: outdoor faucets are the first to freeze
  • Unscrew any hoses, turn off the outdoor water supply and let the taps drain
When the Weather Drops Well Below Zero
  • Keep your pipes warm: keep areas that contain indoor pipes above 8 degrees C, especially near the water meter
  • Turn on the tap: for your own peace of mind, you can choose to run a pencil-thin stream of water to ensure some movement of water in the pipes. However, you will be charged for the water used if you choose this step.
For more information, visit toronto.ca/frozenpipes.

Annual 58th Toronto Scouts Christmas Tree Sale

If you'll be looking for a Christmas tree, our local kids with the 58th Scouts, Cubs & Beavers have one for you! For over 60 years, local Boy Scouts have been selling fresh, Ontario-grown Christmas trees & wreaths to neighborhood residents. The sale starts November 26 and, as always, they can be found on the main lawn at the Church of the Transfiguration (111 Manor Rd East). Open weekdays 6am -9pm (weather permitting) and Sat-Sun 9am-6pm. Deliveries available. Call or text 647-970-0947 or email [email protected].

Please click here to view the flyer.

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City Hall and Community Update for October 7, 2016

Dear residents,


As always, I hope you find my latest update to you helpful, interesting and informative. I wish you and yours a very Happy Thanksgiving and a wonderful long weekend.


I hope to see you out in the community soon!


Best regards,


Josh

Provincial Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) Consultation Process Started: Make your voice Heard!


The Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) is an unaccountable, unelected and anti-democratic provincially-appointed body that has final say over our city's planning decisions.


The provincial Minister of Municipal Affairs and the Attorney General announced this week that they will begin a long overdue review of the way the OMB operates. As many of you know, I have been a long-time advocate of freeing Toronto from the OMB’s purview.


With our review of the Yonge and Eglinton Secondary Plan study and the Midtown in Focus Public Realm plan, I've also been actively advocating for a renewed focus on planning for people, rather than just condos- infrastructure such as pipes, wires, transit and roads along with social servies such as childcare, school capacity and recreation and much more must be the priority for planning communities.


While the Province has stopped short of eliminating the OMB altogether, there are a number of very positive reforms proposed in the consultation document that would significantly improve the planning process for Toronto, including:

  • Only allowing the OMB to hear appeals on the “validity of the decision” by council, limiting the OMB’s ability to hear appeals and completely overturn decisions
  • Preventing appeals of secondary plans, including Yonge and Eglinton which is now under review, for two years
  • Requiring the OMB to send “significant new information” arising from a hearing back to councils for re-evaluation before rendering a decision
  • More actively promoting mediation to settle disputes, preventing adversarial hearings
  • Better training OMB members, who are appointed by the Province


I look forward to constructively participating in this consultation and I encourage you to make your voice heard. For details on how you can participate, please visit the Ministry of Municipal Affair’s website and scroll to the bottom of the page.


For more information, please see this Toronto Star article and this CBC News story.

Hydro One Clear Cut Update: Funding Approved to Replace Trees and Make Other Improvements in Robertson Davies Park


As many of you know, on September 1, Hydro One cut down 29 mature trees in Robertson Davies Park. This action was in contravention of a 2012 agreement with our community in which Hydro One assured residents that mature trees would not need to be cut down in order to keep limbs a safe distance required from the overhead electrical conductors.


While the mature trees cannot be replaced, the neighbourhood and my office have been working to ensure that Hydro One make amends for its error to the fullest extent possible. At a September 28 community meeting at Cottingham PS, Hydro One committed to replacing the felled trees while also providing a noise barrier, and other park enhancements.


I am happy to report that I successfully moved a motion at Council this week which facilitated Hydro paying $200,000.00 for trees, shrubs, park furniture, and other amenities for park enhancements at Robertson Davies Park.


As part of the project, Hydro One will also work with Canadian Pacific Railway to construct a sound wall on the Railway’s property.


For more information, please contact Hydro One at: [email protected] or (416) 345-6799.

Rail Deck Park Takes Important Step Forward


Earlier this summer, Mayor Tory and local Councillor Joe Cressy announced an innovative idea to explore decking the rail corridor between Union Station and Bathurst to provide space for a large park. While the cost is significant, the rapid pace of growth downtown requires measures like this to ensure that residents have a reasonable quality of life. Midtown residents certainly understand this need.


While I have concerns about how the City will fund the project, given our unfunded list of capital priorities, I am happy to support Mayor Tory and my colleague Councillor Cressy (Ward 20) to move forward with studying the feasibility of this idea.

Expanding Hours for By-Law Enforcement Officers


A consistent concern from many residents is noise from construction and other activities occurring outside of permitted hours (7am-7pm on weekdays, 9am-7pm on Saturdays, no construction allowed on Sundays). That’s why I’m pleased to report that I successfully moved a motion at Council this week requesting the Director of Licensing and Standards to report on the feasibility of Staff working overnight and weekends to enforce noise and other by-laws.


If you are concerned about a potential noise by-law violation from construction or other activities in your neighbourhood, please do call 311.

Fighting Overdevelopment of Yonge-Eglinton at the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB)


This week at Council, I successfully passed motions to send City Planning and Legal Staff to fight several poorly-planned developments that are proposed for the Yonge-Eglinton area, including:


18 Brownlow Avenue


This application is for two towers (25 and 20 storeys) with 648 units facing Soudan, between Brownlow and Redpath. The site is far too small for this significant density. Further, heights and densities are supposed to decrease as sites move away from Yonge and Eglinton. This development is even taller than the OMB-approved 19-storey tower at Lillian and Soudan, which is closer to the major intersection.


City Planning has suggested that a midrise building would be more appropriate for this site and will be advocating for this solution at the OMB.


On a positive note, I was successful in moving a motion last March that secured a 10m green strip along Soudan, forcing the developer to set his building back further from the street regardless of the final outcome at the OMB.


For more information, please see the Staff Report.


89-101 Roehampton


This application is for a 36-storey rental apartment building containing 236 units. The tower would be attached to the existing 19-storey, 128-unit rental apartment building on the site.


This proposal is extremely disrespectful to the existing tenants who would have to endure years of intrusive disruption. Further, this ‘parasitic’ proposal contravenes the City’s Official Plan Amendment 320 which prohibits infill that creates “…high rise additions to existing apartment building(s).” The addition would create a massive slab building up to the 19th floor, with a combined floor plate of approximately 1,092 square metres. This is much larger than the recommended maximum floor plate for tall buildings in the Tall Building Design Guidelines of 750 metres.


For more information, please see the Staff Report.


55 Eglinton


This application is for a 47-storey tower containing a total of 455 residential units on the site of an existing office building. The application represents overdevelopment of a small, mid-block site that doesn’t allow the developer to meet tower separation distances of a minimum of 25 metres, as requested by City Planning.


This proposal also contravenes OPA 231, which legislates full replacement of office space. It is important that Yonge and Eglinton contain a mix of work and commercial spaces in addition to the new residential development to ensure that the area does not become a bedroom community.


For more information, please see the Staff Report.

Glebe Manor Parkettes (on Belsize Drive) Update and 4th Annual Pumpkin Parade


Many of you have noticed that the fencing around the portion of the Belsize Drive parkettes (Glebe Manor Square) between Harwood Road and Forman Avenue is still up, despite the anticipated removal date of September 24.


I have been speaking relentlessly with Parks staff about re-opening this space to the community. They have been consistently monitoring the status of the re-seeded areas and continue to express real concerns about how the exceptionally hot summer weather affected the grass and have told me, in no uncertain terms, that they are not ready to take it down. Their estimate is that the fencing should remain until the end of October.


I know this is frustrating but I recognize that it would be wasteful and irresponsible to ignore staff's professional advice, given the large investment that we've made into beautifying our park for the long-term.

Join us at this year's community Pumpkin Parade on November 1!


Despite this setback, I'm excited to announce that our 4th Annual Pumpkin Parade will still take place at Glebe Manor East parkette! This year, we will be holding the event in the eastern portion (between Forman Avenue and Boyton Road). Staff have advised me that, even if the fencing is removed from the western half, it wouldn't be wise to have the newly germinated grass trampled by possibly hundreds of people at once.


Please join me, my family, Apple Tree Markets, friends and neighbours, for the Pumpkin Parade at 6:30-8:30pm on November 1. This is a fun community event where everyone brings their pumpkins for an encore performance from Halloween the night before. I've arranged for your pumpkins to be picked up by the City if you'd like to leave yours at the park!

New Resource to Help School Communities and Residents Improve Traffic Safety

As many of you know, I've been working with parents and residents in every Ward 22 neighbourhood on traffic safety concerns on streets across our community. As your councillor and as a local parent myself, there is no higher priority.

The Toronto Centre for Active Transportation (TCAT) is pleased to release the Guide to Safer Streets Near Schools: Understanding Your Policy Options in the City of Toronto, a new resource created to help school communities and residents improve traffic safety in their neighbourhoods.

The guide complements the newly released Road Safety Plan by the City of Toronto, and is designed to further enhance the accessibility of the relevant policies for residents. 

“The Guide to Safer Streets Near Schools explains the processes for requesting street improvements in the City of Toronto in a simple and easy to understand format. This resource can help empower school communities by providing direction and tools to assist in advocating for neighbourhoods with slower vehicle speeds and safer street crossings, thereby enhancing the communities in which we  live, work, and play,” shares Richard Christie, the Senior Manager of Sustainability at the Toronto District School Board.

The resource is available as a PDF for download from saferstreetsnearschools.ca,where readers will also find a web version that includes downloadable templates and samples from the accompanying toolkit.

Recreational Opportunities at City of Toronto Attractions on Thanksgiving Monday


The City of Toronto encourages residents to make the most of this year's Thanksgiving holiday ­­on Monday, October 10. The following attractions and activities will be available to the public on the Thanksgiving holiday:


Toronto Island Park (ferry located at 9 Queens Quay W.)


Just minutes away from downtown, Toronto Island Park is a great place to walk, cycle, explore and view the city skyline. Ferries will run on their fall schedule. More information is available here.


Riverdale Farm (201 Winchester St.)

Featuring traditional farm animals, Riverdale Farm is the perfect place for animal lovers. The farm is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission and activities are free. More information is available here or by calling 416-392-6794.


High Park Zoo (on Deer Pen Road)


The High Park Zoo, featuring domestic and exotic animals including Toronto's famous capybaras Bonnie and Clyde, is open daily from 7 a.m. to dusk. The llama pen is open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekends and statutory holidays. More information is available here or by calling 311.


Parks, trails and green spaces


Torontonians can get outside and enjoy the parks, trails and green spaces their city has to offer, with hundreds of public parks and about 600 kilometres of trails. More information is available on the City's website:

Tennis


L'Amoreaux Tennis Centre  (300 Silver Spring Blvd. in Scarborough) will be open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. on the holiday Monday. Scarborough Winter Tennis Club members can book six days in advance. All non-members can book a day in advance. Prime-time rates apply. More information is available here or by calling 416-396-4041.


All community centres and indoor pools run by Parks, Forestry and Recreation will operate on their regular schedule on Friday, October 7, Saturday, October 8 and Sunday, October 9, and will be closed on Monday, October 10 for the Thanksgiving holiday. Regular programs and services will resume on Tuesday, October 11.


Golf


All five City of Toronto golf courses will be open on Thanksgiving Day, with the first tee-off at 7:30 a.m. and the last nine-hole tee-off time at 5:30 p.m. Holiday rates will be in effect. More information is available here.


Thanksgiving Day at Toronto's Historic Sites


Two of the City's 10 historic sites will offer tours on Thanksgiving Day (October 10) as described below.


Fort York National Historic Site (250 Fort York Blvd.)


Fort York National Historic Site will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on October 10, featuring tours and new exhibitions. Regular admission applies.


Spadina Museum (285 Spadina Rd.)


Spadina Museum will be open and offer afternoon tours themed on the Austin family, which originally made Spadina Museum its home, on October 10. Regular admission applies. Museum hours are noon to 5 p.m.


All of the historic sites except Zion Schoolhouse will be open on Saturday and Sundaythis weekend. Operating hours and activity details vary by location. Please click herefor more information.

Sarah and Claire's 9th Annual Food Drive Community BBQ

Please join me on Saturday, October 8 for a community BBQ at Valu-Mart (1500 Bayview Avenue), co-hosted by Mike Tufts of South Bayview Valu-Mart and Patrick Rocca. The event will run from 11am-3pm and feature a BBQ, cotton candy, and a visit by Pawsitively Pets.

Also, please feel welcome to drop off any non-perishable goods in the specially marked bins in the store or buy a pre-bagged bag of groceries for the Daily Bread Food Bank.

Save the Date: Oriole Park Association AGM

Please join me for the Oriole Park Association's Annual General Meeting at 6-9pm onNovember 16, 2016 at North Toronto Memorial Community Centre (200 Eglinton Avenue West).

The meeting will commence with the President's report followed by the election of board members and presentation of the Garden of the Year award. Upcoming community events will also be discussed.

I will be giving an update to attendees on local and City-wide priorities at the meeting. Following that, Steve Paikin, anchor of TVO's "The Agenda", will talk about his recent book Bill Davis: Nation Builder and Not So Bland After All. The evening will conclude with a book signing.

Upcoming Mid-Term Appointments

Do you want to make a difference in your city? Toronto residents are needed to serve on a range of City boards and committees. Board members provide oversight of their agency or corporation, bring a community perspective to board discussions, and help to reflect the needs and interests of Torontonians.


This fall, the City of Toronto will be recruiting for more than 70 public member positions across 20 boards. Bring your skills and experience to the table. To learn more about these opportunities and apply online, please click here.


Sign up for the public appointments e-updates to receive information about application deadlines, vacancies, and new opportunities to join a City board here.


New – Diversity Dashboard


To enable the City to achieve its objectives for access, equity, and diversity and to assist the City in its efforts to appoint boards that collectively reflect the diversity of the community, applicants are encouraged to complete a voluntary, confidential diversity survey as part of their application. We recently added a diversity dashboard to our website which provides an overview of the demographic data for board applicants and appointees. The dashboard can be found here.

Nominations Open for the 37th YWCA Toronto Women of Distinction Awards

Do you know a woman who is making a difference and improving the lives of women and girls? The YWCA wants to celebrate her. Every year, YWCA Toronto honours the work of remarkable women who are creating new opportunities for women and girls in our city and around the globe in a wide array of areas such as business, education, social justice, advocacy, arts, health and philanthropy.

Nomination deadline is Friday, November 4, 2016.

Save the date: the 37th YWCA Toronto Women of Distinction Awards will take place onThursday, May 18, 2017 at The Carlu.

For more information, please visit womenofdistinction.ca or contact Phoebe Wong, Manager of Events, at [email protected].

CERA’s Eviction Prevention for Seniors Project

Did you know that the number of homeless seniors in Toronto doubled between 2009 and 2013? And that at least 10% of the homeless population of Toronto are older adults? The Centre for Equality Rights in Accommodation (CERA) is working with seniors across the GTA to identify eviction prevention strategies that work for them. They need to hear from senior tenants about their experiences and needs.

You can share your story and thoughts in a variety of ways – fill out a tenant survey online or contact CERA directly at [email protected] or 416-944-0087 ext 3. CERA is also seeking feedback from service providers and landlords in Toronto on this important issue. I encourage you to help them identify realistic solutions to the issue of seniors being evicted from rental housing.

390-398 Spadina Road Development Proposal Update


City Planning recently issued a refusal report to construct a 9-storey mixed-use building at 390 Spadina Rd, consisting of 46 residential units. Unfortunately, the developer has appealed this decision to the OMB.


While this development is actually located in Ward 21 (on the west side of Spadina Road), it will obviously impact many Ward 22 residents directly across Spadina Road and throughout the Ward 22 portion of Forest Hill Village.


In February 2014, I successfully moved a motion requesting City Planning Staff to study Forest Hill Village (located along Spadina Road) and prepare Urban Design Guidelines to protect the small town feeling of this distinctive area. The mandate for the Forest Hill Village Urban Design Guidelines is to maintain the small town character of the area by identifying the appropriate urban character, materials and building rhythm and articulation for future developments and/or renovations within the study area. This includes a Staff recommendation for a maximum of four storeys  street wall for the Village.


These new guidelines will help strengthen City Planning’s position when assessing future development applications for the Village. To learn more about the new guidelines, please see this City report that was approved today by Toronto & East York Community Council.


To speak to the planner directly, please contact David Driedger at 416-392-7613 or[email protected].

Updated Ward 22 Development Page

To ensure you are informed and engaged about development proposals being proposed for sites near your neighbourhood, I've created an interactive webpage.

My Proposed Developments webpage has recently been updated to reflect current development applications and, as always, contains locations, staff reports and public meeting notices. Additionally, the map now shows the boundaries of the Urban Growth Centre surrounding Yonge and Eglinton, as well as the designated Avenues (portions of Eglinton Avenue West, St. Clair Avenue West, Yonge Street, Mt. Pleasant Road and Bayview Avenue). These are all areas where the Province is directing growth. Clicking on any of them will provide links to more information about the ward's Avenues/Urban Growth Centre, as well as links to the City's Official Plan and local secondary plans.

Please click here to learn more about what you can do to help free Toronto from the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB).

For ongoing council and community news, my contact information, along with a calendar of events, please visit www.joshmatlow.ca. Click here to read my previous city hall and community updates.

City Hall and Community Update for September 9, 2016

Hydro One's Clearcut of 29 Trees in Robertson Davies Park


On Thursday, September 1, Hydro One broke a promise to Ward 22 residents by cutting down 29 mature trees in Robertson Davies Park on Avenue Rd. In 2012, after months of hard work, our community reached an agreement with Hydro One to protect a stand of trees on the South side of the park.


These trees not only provided shade and aesthetic value for park users but also acted as a buffer to the CP Rail line abutting Robertson Davies. Visiting the park shortly after the incident it was obvious how intrusive the sound of the freight train can be with the loss of the trees.


Hydro One has provided an apology to the community and has committed to “fix” the problem. Unfortunately, and realistically, nothing they can do now will be able to replace the mature trees that were lost- they were 40 year-old mature trees and the damage is irreversible. I do, however, expect them to do everything necessary to mitigate the terrible impact of this action.


I requested they write directly to nearby residents. The next step I've requested is for Hydro One to hold a community meeting to account for their actions and receive your direction on how best to move forward. I will notify you as soon as a meeting date is set.


For more information, please call Hydro One at this number: 416-345-6799 or email them at this address: [email protected]. Please also see this This is a link for a CityNews story on the issue.


Here is a letter that Hydro One distributed to neighbours:

-------------------------------------


September 2, 2016


Dear Neighbour,


We are writing to you today to apologize. Yesterday, Hydro One made a mistake. Our forestry crew was in Robertson Davies Park to trim Norway maples located under the transmission line. After trimming two trees, a decision was made on the ground that the trees would not survive the pruning and that it was best to remove them. This decision was made without the knowledge that we have a long history of working with your community to protect those trees.


The proper process in this instance is that if the crew had to alter the work plan, they are required to contact a supervisor to discuss the change. Work should have stopped and a community meeting should have been planned to discuss the health of the trees. We apologize that this did not happen. We will understand exactly how this mistake was made and ensure that it is never repeated.


We will work with the City of Toronto and Councillor Josh Matlow to fund a replanting plan that restores the park to the community’s satisfaction. If you have any questions, come see us today in the park where we will be until 5 p.m. If you miss us in the park, you can call our Community Relations Office at (416) 345-6799. We will work with you to regain the trust that we had built with your community.


Sincerely,


Jon Rebick

Vice President, Lines and Forestry, Hydro One

Public Open House to Discuss Future of Davisville School Site and Community Hub


As you may know, I successfully moved recommendations at city council to move forward with a Community Hub, with public recreation space including a double gym and swimming pool, at Davisville PS.


Please join Trustee Laskin and myself for an open house to discuss the future of the Davisville PS site and provide your feedback on the new Community Hub, which was approved last month by City Council, the school rebuild, and the child care facilities.


Where: Hodgson Sr Public School (Gymnasium) - 282 Davisville Ave


When: Tuesday September 20, 7pm – 9pm

Glebe Manor Parkettes (on Belsize Drive) Update


I'm delighted to announce that the improvements to the parkettes are now completed!


That being said, several of you have contacted me, wondering when the orange fencing will be removed from portions of the parkettes. Part of the recent improvements included re-seeding of the grass, which is why the fencing remains. The contract between the City and the Landscape Architecture firm stipulates a 4-month protection period of these re-seeded zones, to ensure the new seed takes root properly without being trampled by people and pets.


Had the weather conditions this summer been more favourable for growth (more rain and less intense, prolonged heat), please be assured that I would have agreed with some of you that the fencing should be removed ahead of schedule so the entire green spaces could be enjoyed by all sooner than later. In fact, I did have that conversation with those overseeing this project recently. Considering the situation, though, it seems most responsible to give the seeding the full protection period suggested in the contract. This will potentially avoid having to re-seed next year and reinstall the fencing for several more months. The fence removal date is projected for September 24.


I just wanted to share this update with you and I look forward to enjoying the full extent of our revitalized parkettes very shortly!

'Movie Night in the Park' Returns to June Rowlands (Davisville) Park with The Incredibles!


For the third year in a row, please join me and my family for 'Movie Night in the Park'. This year's family-friendly outdoor movie screening will be The Incredibles.

 

I would like to extend a big thank you to Apple Tree Markets for organizing the event and to local sponsors for their support in making it happen.

 

I look forward to sharing an amazing evening of cinema with our community on Friday, September 23 at 8pm. (Rain date: Saturday, September 24).

Mount Pleasant Village Harvest Fair


I hope to see you at the 7th annual Harvest Fair hosted by the Mount Pleasant Village BIA on Saturday, September 24. Festivities and attractions include sidewalk sales, live music, pumpkin carving, a pie-eating contest, and a petting zoo. All activities will take place on Mount Pleasant Road between Eglinton and Davisville from 10am to 4pm.


I hope to see you there!


More details are available on the Mount Pleasant Village BIA website.

Please Join Me for Heritage Toronto's Atop Davenport Hill in the 1920s Tour!


In the 1920s, Davenport Hill was home to some of Toronto’s wealthiest families, such as the Eatons and Austins, and well known visitors, including Ernest Hemingway. Led by historians from Spadina Museum, this walk explores the development of Davenport Hill from a neighbourhood of grand estates to a suburban development.


I am delighted to have been invited to say a few words at the beginning of this walking tour at 1:30pm on September 25 to welcome participants. The tour is being co-presented with Spadina Museum: Historic House and Gardens, starting at Spadina Museum (285 Spadina Road) and ending at Winston Churchill Park (301 St Clair Ave W).

​In Memorium - Jeff Mann

I'm deeply saddened to learn of the sudden and tragic passing of Deer Park PS' kind-hearted and dedicated teacher, Jeff Mann. Our community loved him. I will always remember him as a generous, friendly and caring person who so clearly loved what he did so well- educating kids. We will dearly miss him.

Monthly Utility Billing Option – one year pilot program


The City of Toronto's Revenue Services is now offering property owners the option to receive their utility billings on a monthly basis. This one year pilot program allows a monthly billing option to residential customers for payment of their utility bill in a more efficient way and in manageable payment increments. Program applications are now available online and at Enquiry/Cashier counters at City Hall and Civic Centres.


For more information on Monthly Utility Billing – one year pilot program, please click here or contact Lionel Kharag, Supervisor Utility Billing, Revenue Services 416-395-6713.

The City of Toronto Adopts a New Waste Strategy


Following two years of extensive work, the Long Term Waste Management Strategy was approved by City Council on July 15, 2016. This comprehensive strategy will guide waste management in Toronto for the next 30-50 years.


The new Waste Strategy puts priority on reducing waste and minimizing the amount sent to landfill. It emphasizes the importance of community engagement and encourages prevention of waste, maximizing its value before disposal and supporting the move towards a circular economy.


As part of the approval of the Waste Strategy, City Council endorsed an aspirational zero waste goal for Toronto. Zero waste represents a shift in thinking to look at innovative ways to conserve and recover resources and minimize the volume of waste requiring disposal. As we start implementing the Waste Strategy recommendations, including some of the great ideas from the community, please look for new initiatives you can do to help support Toronto’s zero waste goal. We need your help and look forward to your continued participation as we roll out the Waste Strategy's new programs and services.


A copy of the final Waste Strategy can be viewed here.


Yellow Creek and the Vale of Avoca Restoration


The Yellow Creek and Vale of Avoca are important parts of Midtown's natural environment. They allow us to escape the hustle and bustle of our big city without ever leaving it. Unfortuantlely, due to spills, degradation of the vale and the natural course of time, Yellow Creek is in urgent need of maintenance.


Working closely with local residents, led by representatives of both the Summerhill Residents' Association and the Deer Park Residents' Group, Councillor Wong-Tam and I have written to the City's Parks & Environment Committee, requesting a masterplan be created to support the restoration of Yellow Creek and the Vale of Avoca.


Please click here to read our letter.

Another Opportunity to Comment on the Toronto Ward Boundary Review


The Toronto Ward Boundary Review (TWBR) team is seeking feedback from the public, stakeholders and Members of City Council on two items outlined in the Toronto Ward Boundary Review Additional Information Report:

· REVISED OPTION 2 which has 44 wards and incorporates the refinements suggested during the TWBR public consultation process in August - November 2015; and;

· A WARD OPTION that is aligned, where possible, with the boundaries of the 25 federal and provincial ridings.

This information was requested by the City of Toronto Executive Committee at its meeting on May 24, 2016. Based on the input received, a TWBR Supplementary Report will be prepared and submitted to the Executive Committee meeting on October 26, 2016.

Participate

There are two ways to provide comments:

• Complete a survey

• Attend one of four public meetings happening this September (visit www.drawthelines.ca for details)


o Sept 14th, 2016. 7-9pm. Metro Hall


o Sept 15th, 2016. 7-9pm. Scarborough Civic Centre


o Sept 19th, 2016. 7-9pm. North York Civic Centre


o Sept 21st, 2016. 7-9pm. Etobicoke Civic Centre


Project Background & Timeline

From July 2014 to February 2015, the TWBR conducted a civic engagement and public consultation process to collect opinions on Toronto's current ward alignment to ensure that wards have more equal population sizes. Currently, they are very disproportionate across the city.
The results informed the development of five options for re-aligning Toronto’s wards. A second round of the TWBR’s civic engagement and public consultation process solicited feedback on these options between August and November 2015. The TWBR Final Report (May 2016) summarized the TWBR process and recommended a new ward structure.

More information can be found at www.drawthelines.ca
Municipal Licensing and Standards and Parks, Forestry and Recreation Launches Responsible Dog Owner Campaign


The City of Toronto is encouraging residents to be responsible pet owners and keep their dogs on a leash at all times. In addition to increased bylaw enforcement in parks, changes in shifts and "zero tolerance" for dogs off-leash, a communications campaign is being launched with Parks to educate residents about their responsibilities when having pets in the city.


Components of the campaign include advertising in Parks Fun Guide and transit posters in TTC shelters. Other components include posters, Dogs Off Leash 101 public education piece, information on website, postcards and social media campaign.


For more information, please contact Rose Burrows at [email protected] or 416-392-7810.

Basement Flooding & Water Quality Improvements Study


A Master Plan Class Environmental Assessment (EA) study is underway to determine the contributing factors for surface and basement flooding in Study Area 40 and recommend solutions to improve the City’s sewer system and overland drainage routes in order to mitigate flooding problems. This study will also aim to improve the quality of stormwater runoff before it is discharged to watercourses.


Please feel welcome to attend the first Public Information Centre (PIC) to learn about factors contributing to surface and basement flooding and the different options being considered to reduce flooding in Study Area 40.


Date: Tuesday, September 27, 2016


Time: 6pm to 8pm


Location: North Toronto Memorial Community Centre 200 Eglinton Ave West (at Avenue Road)


You will have an opportunity to view display boards and speak one-on-one with project staff.


Also, there is still time to complete the online survey.


For more information, please contact Mae Lee, Public Consultation Unit, at 416-392-8210 or [email protected].

Retiring on a Low Income: Plain Language Advice


The City of Toronto has partnered with the Toronto Public Library to provide a lecture series including, "Retiring on a Low-Income".


You need to know how to get the most from income security programs. Many financial advisors are unfamiliar with how they work - together and with other income sources. John Stapleton, Open Policy Ontario, will help you understand:

·         Old Age Security

·         Guaranteed Income Supplement

·         Canada Pension Plan

·         Ontario Disability Support

Attend a free workshop at a Toronto Public Library branch:

  • Parliament: Sept. 27 at 6pm
  • Danforth/Coxwell: Sept. 28 at 6pm
  • Lillian H. Smith: Oct. 4 at 6:30pm
  • New Toronto: Oct. 12 at 6:30pm
  • Thorncliffe: Oct. 20 at 6:30pm
  • St. James Town: Oct. 25 at 6:30pm
  • Lillian H. Smith: Nov. 2 at 1pm
  • Albert Campbell: Nov. 9 at 6pm
  • Parkdale: Nov. 15 at 6:30pm

Free refreshments and workbooks. All are welcome!


The corresponding Workbook (same title) is available on John Stapleton's website.

"Get Emergency Ready" in Multiple Languages Promotes Personal and Family Preparedness


Toronto is a multicultural society made up of many different communities and languages. As part of its legislated mandate to educate the public on how to be prepared for emergencies, the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) has translated its publicly available preparedness guides into 11 languages, based on the top language groups identified by Statistics Canada.


In an effort to promote the availability of this information in multiple languages, the OEM is encouraging residents to visit their website, where you can view and download the OEM's personal preparedness guide in your choice of language.


For more information, please contact the Office of Emergency Management at 416-392-4554 or [email protected].

Fighting Overdevelopment of Yonge-Eglinton at the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB)


This week at Toronto & East York Community Council I successfully passed motions to send City Planning and Legal Staff to fight several poorly-planned developments that are proposed for the Yonge-Eglinton area, including:


18 Brownlow


This application is for two towers (25 and 20 storeys) with 648 units facing Soudan, between Brownlow and Redpath. The site is far too small for this significant density. Further, heights and densities are supposed to decrease as sites move away from Yonge and Eglinton. This development is even taller than the OMB-approved 19-storey tower at Lillian and Soudan, which is closer to the major intersection.


City Planning has suggested that a midrise building would be more appropriate for this site and will be advocating for this solution at the OMB. On a positive note, I was successful in moving a motion last March that secured a 10m green strip along Soudan, forcing the developer to set his building back further from the street regardless of the final outcome at the OMB.


For more information, please see the Staff Report.


89-101 Roehampton


This application is for a 36-storey rental apartment building containing 236 units. The tower would be attached to the existing 19-storey, 128-unit rental apartment building on the site.


This proposal is extremely disrespectful to the existing tenants who would have to endure years of intrusive disruption. Further, this ‘parasitic’ proposal contravenes the City’s Official Plan Amendment 320 which prohibits infill that creates “…high rise additions to existing apartment building(s).” The addition would create a massive slab building up to the 19th floor, with a combined floor plate of approximately 1,092 square metres. This is much larger than the recommended maximum floor plate for tall buildings in the Tall Building Design Guidelines of 750 metres.


For more information, please see the Staff Report.


55 Eglinton


This application is for a 47-storey tower containing a total of 455 residential units on the site of an existing office building. The application represents overdevelopment of a small, mid-block site that doesn’t allow the developer to meet tower separation distances of a minimum of 25 metres, as requested by City Planning.


This proposal also contravenes OPA 231, which legislates full replacement of office space. It is important that Yonge and Eglinton contain a mix of work and commercial spaces in addition to the new residential development to ensure that the area does not become a bedroom community.


For more information, please see the Staff Report.

Updated Ward 22 Development Page

To ensure you are informed and engaged about development proposals being proposed for sites near your neighbourhood, I've created an interactive webpage.

My Proposed Developments webpage has recently been updated to reflect current development applications and, as always, contains locations, staff reports and public meeting notices. Additionally, the map now shows the boundaries of the Urban Growth Centre surrounding Yonge and Eglinton, as well as the designated Avenues (portions of Eglinton Avenue West, St. Clair Avenue West, Yonge Street, Mt. Pleasant Road and Bayview Avenue). These are all areas where the Province is directing growth. Clicking on any of them will provide links to more information about the ward's Avenues/Urban Growth Centre, as well as links to the City's Official Plan and local secondary plans.

Please click here to learn more about what you can do to help free Toronto from the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB).

For ongoing council and community news, my contact information, along with a calendar of events, please visit www.joshmatlow.ca. Click here to read my previous city hall and community updates.

City Hall and Community Update for August 24, 2016

 

Action Needed to Improve Rail Safety

 

This past weekend there was a derailment on the CP line that forms the southern boundary of Ward 22. Luckily, no one was hurt and emergency crews moved quickly to contain a small diesel spill. However, this incident highlights the need for action to improve rail safety on this line that runs through the heart of some of the country’s most densely populated neighbourhoods. This should serve as a wake up call.

 

This is an issue of critical importance to myself and my colleagues on Council. In 2014, Council supported my motion calling on the federal government to take action on this issue. Earlier this year, those efforts were renewed with a letter to Transport Minister Garneau, signed by the mayor and many other Councillors.

 

I have been pleased to see that Minister Garneau and local MPs have shown genuine attention to this issue. This past spring, MPs Chrystia Freeland and Carolyn Bennett held a Town Hall with the Minister in attendance. In the wake of this most recent incident, Minister Garneau stated that he would act swiftly to address our community’s concerns.

 

Along with active community members, like those at Rail Safety First, I will continue to advocate for the reasonable and proactive steps to protect the public and immprove rail safety we've requested from the federal government.

 

For more information, please see this recent Toronto Star editorial.

Public Open House to Discuss Future of Davisville School Site and Community Hub

 

As you may know, I successfully moved recommendations at city council to move forward with a Community Hub, with public recreation space including a double gym and swimming pool, at Davisville PS.

 

Please join Trustee Laskin and myself next month for an open house to discuss the future of the Davisville PS site andf provide your feedback on the new Community Hub, which was approved last month by City Council, the school rebuild, and the child care facilities.

 

Where: Hodgson Sr Public School (Gymnasium) - 282 Davisville Ave


When: Tuesday September 20, 7pm – 9pm

Another Opportunity to Comment on the Toronto Ward Boundary Review

The Toronto Ward Boundary Review (TWBR) team is seeking feedback from the public, stakeholders and Members of City Council on two items outlined in the Toronto Ward Boundary Review Additional Information Report:

· REVISED OPTION 2 which has 44 wards and incorporates the refinements suggested during the TWBR public consultation process in August - November 2015; and;

· A WARD OPTION that is aligned, where possible, with the boundaries of the 25 federal and provincial ridings.

This information was requested by the City of Toronto Executive Committee at its meeting on May 24, 2016. Based on the input received, a TWBR Supplementary Report will be prepared and submitted to the Executive Committee meeting on October 26, 2016.

Participate

There are two ways to provide comments:

• Complete a survey
• Attend one of four public meetings happening this September (visitwww.drawthelines.ca for details)

o Sept 14th, 2016. 7-9pm. Metro Hall

o Sept 15th, 2016. 7-9pm. Scarborough Civic Centre

o Sept 19th, 2016. 7-9pm. North York Civic Centre

o Sept 21st, 2016. 7-9pm. Etobicoke Civic Centre


Project Background & Timeline


From July 2014 to February 2015, the TWBR conducted a civic engagement and public consultation process to collect opinions on Toronto's current ward alignment to ensure that wards have more equal population sizes. Currently, they are very disproportionate across the city.


The results informed the development of five options for re-aligning Toronto’s wards. A second round of the TWBR’s civic engagement and public consultation process solicited feedback on these options between August and November 2015. The TWBR Final Report (May 2016) summarized the TWBR process and recommended a new ward structure.


More information can be found at www.drawthelines.ca

Full Program for Nuit Blanche Toronto 2016 Announced

 

The City of Toronto today released the complete artistic program for the 11th edition of Nuit Blanche Toronto. From 6:58 p.m. on Saturday, October 1 until sunrise on Sunday, October 2, the streets of Toronto will be transformed by nearly 90 contemporary art projects created and presented by more than 300 local, national and international artists.

 

Please click here for the full program. More details on the City-produced exhibitions are available via the event backgrounder here. Preview four videos featuring each exhibition curator here.

The Important Work Progress Place is Doing in Our City


I was delighted to take a tour of Progress Place and find a very advanced model for mental health recovery that has been running successfully in downtown Toronto for more than 30 years. Open 365 days a year, serving 3 meals a day to members across the GTA, they have over 170 people working at the Church/Wellesley location every day. The focus of Progress Place is to help people living with mental illness get back to work and school. Their system is simple, effective and has a very high social return on investment.

If you are an employer, you may want to take a look at their Transitional Employment program that provides entry level workers, fully trained, selected and guaranteed 100% attendance. A wonderful program that removes the interview stress from the employee and removes the aggravation of hiring, rehiring and training for entry level positions from the employer.

If you have a friend, colleague or loved one who could use help, or if you are able to offer support of some kind, I recommend a tour of Progress Place to see this extraordinary program for yourself. For more information, please feel welcome to call Georgina Patko at416-323-0223.
Updated Ward 22 Development Page

To ensure you are informed and engaged about development proposals being proposed for sites near your neighbourhood, I've created an interactive webpage.

My Proposed Developments webpage has recently been updated to reflect current development applications and, as always, contains locations, staff reports and public meeting notices. Additionally, the map now shows the boundaries of the Urban Growth Centre surrounding Yonge and Eglinton, as well as the designated Avenues (portions of Eglinton Avenue West, St. Clair Avenue West, Yonge Street, Mt. Pleasant Road and Bayview Avenue). These are all areas where the Province is directing growth. Clicking on any of them will provide links to more information about the ward's Avenues/Urban Growth Centre, as well as links to the City's Official Plan and local secondary plans.

Please click here to learn more about what you can do to help free Toronto from the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB).

For ongoing council and community news, my contact information, along with a calendar of events, please visit www.joshmatlow.ca. Click here to read my previous city hall and community updates.

City Hall and Community Update for July 15, 2016

Midtown Community Hub Approved at City Council!

 

I am delighted to announce that, at long last and many years of work, City Council overwhelmingly supported my motion to build a Midtown Community Hub as part of the Davisville PS rebuild. The Hub will provide new and much-needed recreation opportunities for our community including:

  • A 3-storey, approximately 30,000 square foot city-owned Aquatic Centre
  • All-purpose community room
  • Expanded double gym in the new Davisville PS open to community on evenings and weekends

Today’s announcement is a result of over five years of hard work in partnership with the Midtown Hub advocacy group and other local residents/parents, Trustee Laskin, City and TDSB Staff. Construction is expected to start after the new school is completed in 2020.

 

The Midtown Community Hub is a significant part of our strategy to provide more services and public space for our rapidly growing Midtown community-- and comes along with recent Ward 22 parks and playground improvements, new green space acquisitions, affordable childcare spaces and more that we've invested in.

 

I believe that we should be planning for our resident's quality of life in a great community, rather than just more condos. Today, we took an important step forward.

Council Rejects Evidence-Based 24-Stop LRT Network for Scarborough and Approves a One-Stop Subway

 

In a deeply disappointing move, Council voted for a one-stop subway and rejected my motion to redirect funding toward a;

  • 7 stop LRT using the existing, traffic-separated RT corridor to link STC and Centennial College to Kennedy Station on trains with the same top speed as a subway (80 km/h), and;
  • 17-stop extension of the Eglinton Crosstown through Kennedy, serving Kingston Rd, UofT Scarborough and several neighbourhoods in between

As I noted in last week’s newsletter, these 24 stops could have been built for the same City commitment as the one stop. Aside from the one-stop, all other transit proposals (including the Relief Subway) in the approved plan remain unfunded aside from studies.

 

There is no doubt that new, fast-moving transit of some kind needs to be built to serve the Scarborough Town Centre as the current SRT is factually nearing the end of its lifespan. While I believe that the wrong decision was made by Council, I also believe it would unreasonable at this point to do nothing. Scarborough needs our support.

 

Therefore, I intend to work constructively with my colleagues to ensure that the subway (even if its not my preference) is built as efficiently as possible. I can also assure you that I will continue to advocate strongly for evidence-based transit planning while being thoughtful with tax dollars.

 

I hope that Council can learn from this mistake and move forward with transit projects that best meet the urgent needs of all Toronto residents.

 

For more information, please see this article and this editorial.

Yonge-Eglinton Planning Review Moving Forward

 

City Planning provided a significant update to Council on the Yonge-Eglinton Secondary Plan review this week. The current study, which I have been working closely with city staff and the Midtown community on,  looks at growth, built form, hard infrastructure and social services in our community, and is the second phase of Midtown in Focus, our new public space Master Plan for Midtown.

 

This study will inform the development of up-to-date policy that will guide growth in the area and, in combination with necessary capital upgrades identified through the review, support the vitality and quality of Midtown Toronto. I frankly wish this had been done decades ago, but I am pleased that we are taking action, and moving forward, with this critical work now to improve the quality of life in our growing community.

Working Together to Address Seniors Issues at All Levels of Government
As Toronto's Seniors Advocate, I met with Ontario's (now former) Minister Responsible for Seniors Affairs, Mario Sergio, to discuss a wide array of priorities to Toronto's seniors. At this meeting, we also agreed to organize a Seniors Summit to celebrate the proclamation of Seniors Month, the achievements of the Ontario Seniors Strategy and Toronto Seniors Strategy so far, and discuss next steps to continue to improve the lives of our growing elder population.

I am happy to report that our Toronto Seniors Summit held at Toronto City Hall on June 18 was a great success!  Thank you to the Honourable Laura Albanese, Ontario Minister of Citizenship and Immigration; Dr. Samir K. Sinha, Director of Geriatrics at Mount Sinai Hospital and the University Health Network; representatives from the Canadian Ethnocultural Council, Lezlie Lee Kam, Chair of the Senior Pride Network and City staff for your participation.

City of Toronto divisions and community agencies were also present at the event to share information about services and resources available to seniors. Attendees also learned about ethno-cultural and LGBTQ-specific services and initiatives.

Overlapping the Seniors Summit was the appoinment of a new provincial Minister Responsible for Seniors Affairs, Dipika Damerla. I was very pleased to meet with Minister Damerla (she's wonderful) last week and look forward to working closely together with her to build upon our respective seniors strategies and develop new, exciting initiatives to celebrate and support our diverse elder population.

Me and Dipika Damerla, Ontario's new Minister Responsible for Seniors Affairs.

Council Supports Improved Road Safety Plan; More Work Needed to create a true "Vision Zero" Strategy

Council took a significant step toward protecting pedestrians and cyclists this week with an improved Road Safety Plan. While I still think there is a great deal more we must do to keep our friends and families safe on our roads, the increased $12.2-million in new funding announced before this Council meeting is welcome after the underwhelming original version released last month. Altogether, the Plan will provide the Transportation Services Division with $80 million over the next five years to implement measures that will help reduce the risk of serious collisions, including:

  • “watch your speed” radar signs
  • street lighting improvements
  • longer pedestrian crossing times
  • creation of “pedestrian safety corridors” in areas notable for serious collisions which would be targeted for safety measures like lower speed limits and no-right-turn-on-red provisions.
  • 50 mid-block pedestrian crossings
  • 100 new audible crossing signals to 20 intersections per year

These measures are borrowed from the “Vision Zero” strategy concept which shares responsibility for safety becomes with street designers as well as users. This approach recognizes that the built environment can be improved to mitigate and, hopefully, avoid the impacts of inevitable human error.

The City’s implementation strategy is based on three main pillars:

  • Design - Traffic calming measures cited above plus others found in the report
  • Enforcement - Toronto Police will be reporting back with enhanced enforcement including increased funding and staffing
  • Education - Aggressive driving and distracted driver campaigns

I will continue to challenge city hall to go further to support road safety, what must be a top priority, in every part of Toronto.

For more information, please see this article.

Game On!: Ball Hockey Ban Finally lifted

I am happy to report that City Council voted to end the ban on street hockey. I was happy to get the "ball rolling" with my initiative in 2011 which assisted Councillor Carmichael-Greb, whose motion finally helped us reach our "goal" this week. Sorry about the puns, I couldn't resist :)

The previous and unnecessary by-law sent the wrong message to our children, who we are encouraging to go outside and play, instead of staring at screens all day. I am pleased that we can now say “Game on!” to children in our neighbourhoods.

For more information, please see this article

No Trespassing, No More at Our Community's New Public Park. Now, Let's Design it Together!
Enjoying a celebratory removal of the private property signage at our new City-owned park space with local residents, including the remarkable Derek Tilley!
As many of you are aware, a developer purchased the Glebe Manor Lawn Bowling Club property (196 Manor Road East) from the Club’s Board, with the intent to build townhouses on the site. That's why I was delighted to report that my motion directing Parkland Acquisitions staff to negotiate with the owner to purchase the property for the City was successful. While the City was not able to acquire the entirety of the former lawn bowling club, 4/5ths of the site (1,138m2) will now become a public park with only one proposed townhouse.

 

 

Keeping this space green is very important to our community. That's why I worked closely with local residents and City Staff to acquire this property since this issue came to my attention over two years ago. This has been a very difficult challenge but we were resolved to create a park.

 

 

I look forward to continuing to work with the local neighbourhood residents to design the park shortly. I'll send out a community consultation notice when we're ready to proceed with the creative design phase!

 

 

Today’s announcement is part of our strategy to address the dearth of green space in our growing Midtown community. This includes the acquisition of a new park last year at Manor Road United Church (240 Manor Road East), which also avoided another townhouse development on local green space.

Review of City of Toronto Grants - Share Your Ideas

 

In Fall 2015, City Council approved a refocussing of the Community Investment Funding programs. The Community Investment Funding programs are time-limited, project-based funding totalling $3 million. The purpose of this review is to ensure that the grant programs advances the City's Council-approved strategic directions, find ways to better support new and emerging community groups, and respond to the changing needs of the community sector.

 

The City wants to hear feedback from grass-roots groups and organizations in order to generate practical ways to strengthen grant making. Staff want ideas on all grants processes, including making it easier for both grassroots and larger groups to apply for funding, what the City's role would be in providing resources to strengthen groups to fulfill their mission, what the range of project grant amounts should be, and how long projects should be funded.

 

Your input will reshape the current grant programs and processes to make them more accessible, transparent and accountable. A staff report of recommendations gathered from input will be presented to Council for approval in fall 2016 and the new grant programs will be launched in 2017. The grants budget of $3 million will not be reduced as a result of the review.

There are three different ways to share your ideas:

 

Community Investment Strategy Review Survey (fill out information about your group's needs by clicking here) Roundtables for Community Groups (register by clicking here) Community Town Hall (on September 27; to get your feedback on the draft staff report based on input from the Survey and Roundtables. Register by clicking here.)

 

Residents Invited to Help Shape the Future of Toronto's Ravines

 

The City of Toronto has been working with the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) and consulting with the public and a wide range of stakeholders since early 2015 to develop a strategy on Toronto's ravines.

 

To date, a vision and set of principles and actions have been developed to represent the core ideas and values that will guide the City in future decision-making related to ravines. Before finalizing the principles and recommendations, the City would like to hear from the public.

 

All Torontonians are invited to provide input by participating in the upcoming Ravine Strategy pop-up consultation. Some have already taken place, but please see below for upcoming dates:

 

Sunday, July 17, from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Thompson Memorial Park (behind museum along main path), 1007 Brimley Rd. Saturday, July 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Community Environment Day in Ward 1, Albion Centre, 1530 Albion Rd. Saturday, July 30 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Junction Farmers Market, 2960 Dundas St. W.

 

As additional sites may be added, residents are encouraged to check http://www.toronto.ca/ravinestrategy for the most up-to-date schedule as well as more information about the strategy.

Updated Ward 22 Development Page
To ensure you are informed and engaged about development proposals being proposed for sites near your neighbourhood, I've created an interactive webpage.
My Proposed Developments webpage has recently been updated to reflect current development applications and, as always, contains locations, staff reports and public meeting notices.
Additionally, the map now shows the boundaries of the Urban Growth Centre surrounding Yonge and Eglinton, as well as the designated Avenues (portions of Eglinton Avenue
West, St. Clair Avenue West, Yonge Street, Mt. Pleasant Road and Bayview Avenue).
These are all areas where the Province is directing growth. Clicking on any of them will provide links to more information about the ward's Avenues/Urban Growth Centre, as well as links to the City's Official Plan and local secondary plans.
Please click here to learn more about what you can do to help free Toronto from the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB).


For ongoing council and community news, my contact information, along with a calendar of events, please visit www.joshmatlow.ca. Click here to read my previous city hall and community updates.

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Email:
Phone: 416-392-7906
Address:
100 Queen Street W, Suite A17
Toronto, ON M5H 2N2
City of Toronto
311 Toronto