Community Newsletter: May 12, 2023

Neighbour --

This month’s meeting of City Council just wrapped up–here’s a few updates on key items from Council for you:

Fine Equity: A motion moved by Councillor Paula Fletcher and myself to address the unfair gap between TTC and parking fines passed. It requests the TTC take immediate steps to bridge the gap and reduce fines to be similar to those for parking. The average parking tickets are between $30-50, while TTC fines range between $235-425. I look forward to an update at July’s meeting of City Council.

Supporting Small Businesses: CEBA was a lifeline for local small businesses, but repayment by the end of 2023 isn't feasible for many as recovery from the worst of the pandemic continues. To keep main streets thriving, Councillor Fletcher and I moved a motion, asking the federal government for a multi-year repayment option and loan forgiveness. We appreciate the support of the Toronto Association of BIAs, Fairbank Village BIA, College Promenade BIA, Ossington BIA, Bloorcourt BIA, Bloordale BIA, Corso Italia BIA, and all others who wrote in support to City Council and expressed their desire for this change to Minister Freeland and our local Member of Parliament. 

Housing and Homelessness Emergency: Earlier this year, I worked with fellow Board of Health members to name the emergency of homelessness by declaring a public health crisis. I’m glad to report that City Council has understood the gravity and passed a motion to name the crisis for what it is. This is due to the extraordinary work of people with lived experience, experts, and frontline workers who know that in order to fix a crisis, we must acknowledge it exists.

Warming Centre Strategy: A recommendation to prioritize the opening and operation of 24 hour respite sites was adopted. 24/7 safe indoor space is urgently needed, year-round, to uphold the rights of people experiencing homelessness and ensure that everyone has somewhere to go. City Council also created an interdivisional and city agency working group to develop the long-term strategy for warming centres and other winter services, including a review of buildings and sites that can be used to deliver services. 

Below, I've included local updates on projects and events! Wishing you a very good weekend.

Sincerely,

Alejandra Bravo
City Councillor, Ward 9
Davenport

In this edition

• 2023 Mayoral By-Election
• Reminder: Davenport Compost Days
• Metrolinx's Ontario Line Construction
• CampTO at Macgregor Playground and Campbell Park
• Fairbank-Silverthorn Storm Trunk Sewer System Tunnel Shaft Construction on Dynevor Road
• Planting a pollinator friendly garden
• Reminder: Fireworks Celebrations
• Get ready for prom with Toronto Public Health
• Doors Open Toronto is back!
• Universal Pharmacare Town Hall
• In the community

2023 Mayoral By-Election

Are you eligible to vote in the upcoming by-election? Toronto’s by-election is 47 days away and the City is encouraging eligible residents to confirm they are on the voters’ list and add or update their information. Updating your information guarantees, you are on the final voters’ list. All revisions must be submitted by Friday, May 26. Residents can check if they are on the voters’ list by visiting Toronto Elections MyVote or calling 311. More information about the voters’ list is available on the Toronto Elections Voters’ List webpage.

Unable to vote in person on election day? Eligible voters can choose an alternative method to vote other than in-person. You can apply to vote by mail until Friday, May 26 at 4:30 p.m. Interested voters must apply to vote online by visiting the Toronto Elections Vote by Mail webpage or calling Toronto Elections at 416-338-1111 and pressing 5.

More information about Toronto’s 2023 by-election for mayor is available on the Toronto Elections webpage.

Toronto Elections is hiring! Toronto residents can now register and book an interview for temporary paid positions to work during the upcoming by-election for mayor. Voting place election officials will help Toronto residents vote in person during six advance voting days and on election day, Monday, June 26.

Reminder: Davenport Compost Days

From the below start times until supplies run out, you will be able to come and pick up free loose leaf compost for your garden. Be sure to bring your own containers and shovels!

Members of the Ward 9 team will be on hand with 'Slow Down' signs for your lawn.

Metrolinx's Ontario Line Construction

Construction on Metrolinx's Ontario Line has closed part of Queen St to vehicles. The City manages traffic through traffic signal modifications, priority travel routes, deploying traffic agents and more. You can also help alleviate traffic congestion by planning your travel in advance, giving yourself extra time, and following signage.

Queen Street from Bay Street to Yonge Street and Yonge Street to Victoria Street is now closed to vehicles for the construction of the Ontario Line. Pedestrians can still utilize the closed stretches and all businesses in the area remain accessible. Signs connecting people to key destinations are posted in and around the construction. Anyone travelling in the area should plan their route in advance and those taking transit should check TTC service changes. 

CampTO at Macgregor Playground and Campbell Park

You can sign up for CampTO here:

Fairbank-Silverthorn Storm Trunk Sewer System Tunnel Shaft Construction on Dynevor Road

Planting a pollinator friendly garden

Want to BEE a good neighbour? Learn about the dos and don'ts for your lawn and how to grow pollinator-friendly gardens!

✔ Cut grass on your lawn when the growth exceeds 20 centimetres.

✔ Avoid prohibited plants that threaten human health or natural areas.

✔ Continue to delight neighbours with a well-kept garden that keep sidewalks, driver and pedestrian views clear from plants.

✔ Create much-needed pollinator habitat by replacing turfgrass areas with native flowering plants.

More information and resources are available at www.toronto.ca/GrassAndGardens.

Reminder: Fireworks Celebrations

Get ready for prom with Toronto Public Health

Spring is here, and so are prom and graduation parties! Toronto Public Health (TPH) wants to help teens have fun and make informed choices. TPH is launching the Safer Partying toolkit in English and French for schools, students, parents and caregivers. Visit www.toronto.ca/SaferPartying for information, tips and resources to help support and encourage healthy behaviours and good decision-making during this celebratory season.

Doors Open Toronto is back!

The doors of 140 sites for exploration, talk series, walking tours and more will open for the return of Doors Open Toronto on May 27 and 28. This year’s lineup of buildings, city-wide walking tours and special programs is presented by Great Gulf.

Universal Pharmacare Town Hall

In the community

I was glad to join Deputy Mayor McKelvie and colleagues to launch tunnel boring for the Fairbank-Silverthorn basement flooding protection program.

This work will protect thousands of homes in our neighbourhoods from flooding while improving the resiliency of local infrastructure. You can learn more here.

Thanks to everyone who joined us for our Community Environment Day at Dufferin Mall!

It was great to see neighbours take the time to drop off materials for safe disposal, donate items for reuse, and stop to learn about Toronto’s environmental initiatives.