Community Newsletter: Start of the term and more

Dear Neighbour,

I’m honoured to have been elected as your City Councillor for Davenport. Representing our community at City Hall is a responsibility that I take very seriously, and I will be working hard to deliver real results for Ward 9. I’d like to express my deep appreciation to everyone who reached out with congratulations and well-wishes over the past few weeks, and to those who have shared their ideas and vision for our community. 

This is my first community newsletter, which will bring you updates from City Hall, local news and events, and ways to get involved – all directly to your inbox. 

Since Election Day, I have been working hard to set up my office and get my staff team up and running. While my team is currently working from City Hall, we will also be opening our Community Office at 1240 Bloor St West in early 2023. 

My term officially began on Tuesday, and the first Council meeting begins on November 23, 2022 at 2:00 pm (you can live stream Council sessions on the City’s YouTube, which you can find here). 

I look forward to listening to community needs, bringing our voice to City Council, and working with you to make sure Davenport receives the city supports and services we need.

Sincerely, 

Alejandra

In this Edition

1. Impact of Bill 23 on Affordable Rental Units in Toronto
2. My Statement on Bill 39 and the Threat to our Local Democracy 
3. Out in the Community
4. Metrolinx Davenport Diamond Community Consultation - Nov. 24

Impact of Bill 23 on Affordable Rental Units in Toronto

Two pieces of Ontario legislation have been making news for their impacts on City policy and governance. Doug Ford’sBill 23 - More Homes Build Faster Act has wide-ranging environmental impacts across our province and will hurt how the city can direct planning and development. 

I’m particularly concerned by one piece of this legislation, which threatens to eliminate the City of Toronto’s rental replacement by-law. This by-law allows the City of Toronto to require that developers who want to demolish affordable rental units are required to replace those units as part of the new building. It also gives any displaced tenants the right to return to the new building, while keeping their rent at an affordable rate. 

Bill 23 aims to limit Toronto requirements like the Rental Replacement by-law. While Doug Ford says that Bill 23 is about building more homes, it’s really about letting developers side-step important protections for tenants.

For more information, the Advocacy Centre for Tenants of Ontario has a summary here.

My Statement on Bill 39 and the Threat to our Local Democracy

Like the rest of our city, I only learned yesterday about Doug Ford and John Tory’s plan to weaken local government. The Premier and Mayor have collaborated on Bill 39, an Ontario law that would allow the Mayor to make funding and local government decisions with only one-third of Council’s support – or just eight City Councillors out of twenty-five.  

Click here to sign the Progress Toronto petition now to stand up against Bill 39.

This bill is undemocratic and undermines the very basic principle that a majority of votes rule, which guides our democracy. Here’s the full statement that I released upon learning of the bill:

"The people of Toronto just elected 25 local representatives. Last night, we learned from the Mayor of Toronto and the Premier of Ontario that they believe only eight of those voices should matter.

The Mayor went to Doug Ford to ask for the power to set policy and funding decisions without the support of two-thirds of Council. There is no precedent for this undemocratic move. It would mean the end of government decision-making by majority rule.

The time to propose and debate a change like this was before the election. The people of Toronto were not informed and have not been heard in this fundamental change to how we are governed in the city. 

Toronto’s City Council is full of new voices – and is more representative of the rich diversity of our city than ever. It’s critical that everyone, all across our city, has their voices heard and their communities represented. 

Local government is built on collaboration and trust. I urge the Mayor to rescind his request to Premier Ford."

Out in the Community

On Remembrance Day, I had the honour of laying a wreath on behalf of the City of Toronto at the Prospect Cemetery Remembrance Day Service. 

Remembrance Day is an important time to reflect on how we can work together to build a safer world for all. We also must recognize the sacrifices that have been made and continue to be made, in the pursuit of peace, and support those who have been traumatized, both physically and mentally, by the horrors of war.

On November 12, I was thrilled to attend the Casa Dos Açores 37th anniversary party. I want to congratulate them on their 37th anniversary, and I am already looking forward to coming back next year!

Metrolinx Davenport Diamond Community Consultation
November 24, 2022

At 7 pm on November 24, 2022, Metrolinx is hosting a live virtual community consultation session on the Davenport Diamond Greenway project. The project team will present an update and be available to answer questions from participants.

To register, visit the event page here. A video recording of the session will also be available afterwards.