Community Update: April 2, 2026

April 2, 2026 edition of Councillor Alejandra Bravo's Community Newsletter

At last week’s City Council meeting, I spoke in favour of Mayor Chow’s motion on Cracking Down on Bad Landlords, and thanked Toronto ACORN for its advocacy and leadership. For too long, negligent landlords have allowed repairs to go unaddressed, while tenants struggle with leaks, crumbling walls, pests, and other issues. While most rules about landlord responsibilities are under provincial control through the Ontario Residential Tenancies Act, the City is stepping up the tools we have to put bad landlords on notice. Thanks to the approved motion, the City will step in when problem landlords are refusing to fix what’s broken – and then we’ll add the cost for repairs to the landlord’s property tax bill.

One of the legacies of John Tory’s time as mayor is the failed promise of SmartTrack. What was sold to the public as a rapid transit plan with 22 stations was deeply flawed from the start – and is now a shell of what was promised, with only three stations going ahead. Already, almost $378 million has been sunk into SmartTrack, with the City covering $165 million of that total. At Council, I supported a motion calling for a city audit of SmartTrack and the secrecy that surrounded the plan and resulted in millions of taxpayer dollars being misspent. This is a real scandal, and Torontonians deserve answers. Property tax dollars were diverted to a provincial plan while the TTC was underfunded, resulting in serious infrastructure maintenance problems we are trying to resolve today.

I’ve also heard from many of you about your concerns regarding Doug Ford’s latest ploy to take over Toronto’s waterfront and Billy Bishop Airport. I share many of your concerns, and supported the motion at Council to stand against any expropriation of City lands, and to call on the Province and Federal Government to respect the City of Toronto’s role in local decision-making. The waterfront and Toronto Island areas belong to all of us, and I will continue to stand up for Toronto’s voice on this important issue.

In our community of Davenport, a stretch of Dupont Street was closed in March for watermain repair work for nearly a week, with no notice provided to my office, the TTC, or businesses and residents in the area. This wasn’t an emergency – the work had been scheduled by Toronto Water in advance, but they failed to provide notice as required by the permit. At Council, I moved a motion to require all City departments to provide mandatory advance notice for any scheduled road closures to the public and to Councillors’ offices, so that residents and businesses can plan ahead. The motion was approved, and City departments will have to report back on their accountability plan to make sure notice is provided going forward.

I also supported the motion from Councillor Anthony Perruza on exploring options for City-owned grocery stores. Mayor Chow added to the motion with direction to establish a clear vision and strategy for City-run grocery stores, address price gouging by large grocery corporations, and align this work with the City’s existing plans. I’m very encouraged to see this initiative move forward, as I’ve long advocated for food sovereignty and for harnessing the power of public purchasing and the delivery of essential goods. This project has strong potential to build community wealth while expanding access to healthy, affordable food.

I wish all of you a good long weekend with friends and family.

Sincerely,

Alejandra Bravo
City Councillor • Ward 9 • Davenport
Chair, Economic & Community Development Committee

In this Edition

2026 Community Environment Days and Compost Days announced
Development Application for 1439 Bloor Street West
Portuguese Custard Tarts Tour along Rogers Road
New carbon monoxide alarm requirements
Experience the calm of High Park
Better Homes: Furnace Upgrade Program
Air Conditioner Assistance Program
Clean Toronto Together – April 24 to 26
Help grow Toronto’s tree canopy
Mpox update

2026 Community Environment Days and Compost Days announced

Our 2026 Community Environment Days have been announced! Join us on Sunday, April 26 at the Dufferin Mall parking lot and Sunday, May 31 at Loretto College to dispose of household hazardous waste, donate goods, and recycle electronics.

Community Environment Days play a key role by keeping recyclable and reusable items out of landfills while ensuring hazardous materials like paint, batteries, and light bulbs are disposed of safely. Residents can also take advantage of free compost and purchase kitchen containers for organics (while supplies last). Learn more at toronto.ca/environment_days.

2026 Compost Days have also been announced. On Compost Days, residents can pick up free, loose compost for gardening. Make sure to bring a shovel and a container to carry it home!

Please note that a change has been made in regards to the May 2nd and May 23rd Compost Day locations as listed in our last newsletter. Please see the graphic below for the new locations / dates.

Development Application for 1439 Bloor Street West

The City of Toronto’s Development Review Division has received an application to permit a mixed use building at 1439 Bloor Street West. Join City staff at the community consultation meeting where you can view information panels, provide comments, ask questions, and speak with the project team.

Meeting Details

Date: April 8, 2026

Time: 6:00 - 8:00 pm

Location: The Rankin Apartments, 55 Rankin Crescent

Portuguese Custard Tarts Tour along Rogers Road

Join Rogers Road BIA for a Pasteis de Nata Tour along Rogers Road! Discover local bakeries and cafés and taste your way through the neighbourhood. Take part in this sweet tour and stop by local bakeries to taste, take note and learn about this Portuguese pastry. (Expect an espresso or two along the way!).

Participants will be walking from stop to stop, rain or shine. So be sure to wear comfortable shoes and perhaps stretchy pants. Learn more by clicking here.

New carbon monoxide alarm requirements

Effective January 1, 2026, all residences with a fuel-burning appliance (such as a gas stove), fireplace or attached garage require a carbon monoxide (CO) alarm on every storey, in addition to the existing requirement of having alarms near all sleeping areas. The new rules also apply to multi-unit residential buildings such as multi-tenant houses, apartments and condominiums, as well as care facilities and certain group homes. These residences now need CO alarms in more locations, such as in all suites and some public corridors. More information is available on the City’s website at toronto.ca/FireSafety.

Experience the calm of High Park

High Park just got easier to explore. In case you missed it, expanded bus service is now rolling through the park's interior on weekends. As of March 15, TTC route 203 is servicing the ‘High Park Loop’ from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. The service runs every 20 minutes connecting you to High Park Station and stops inside the park. Wheel-Trans service in High Park is available on weekdays, weekends and holidays year-round. Information on service schedules and locations can be found on Wheel-Trans or by calling the Wheel-Trans Reservation line at 416-393-4222.

There’s more: Starting May 4, weekday service kicks off and continues to September 4. Plan your visit at toronto.ca/HighPark.

Better Homes: Furnace Upgrade Program

The City’s Furnace Upgrade program supports homeowners in replacing their aging furnace with an electric heat pump. Get access to low interest financing, find available rebates and incentives, and connect with qualified contractors to make energy efficient improvements easier and more affordable.

Better Homes offers a suite of programs to help Toronto residents make their homes more energy-efficient and climate-resilient. Learn more: toronto.ca/BetterHomes.

Air Conditioner Assistance Program

The City of Toronto is expanding its Air Conditioner Assistance Program to help more residents stay safe and cool this summer. This year, the City will provide at least 1,000 free portable air conditioners through a draw for eligible residents, including low‑income seniors with health needs, pregnant individuals and families with infants living in apartment buildings without air conditioning.

Learn more about eligibility and how to apply: toronto.ca/ACProgram.

Clean Toronto Together – April 24 to 26

Celebrate Earth Month by helping keep Toronto clean. Join thousands of residents, families, businesses and community groups in the annual citywide cleanup from April 24 to 26.

Register by April 22 to choose your cleanup location from a pre-approved parks list, pick up supplies and receive a participant toolkit. Registering for your community clean up in advance will help the City coordinate clean up locations, arrange waste collection and recognize the impact of volunteer efforts across Toronto’s parks and public spaces. Learn more at toronto.ca/CleanToronto.

Help grow Toronto’s tree canopy

The City of Toronto plants and maintains trees on the portion of land between roadways and private property, known as the City right-of-way. Each year, the City carefully plans and prioritizes where new trees will be planted.

If you receive a notice that a tree will be planted in front of your property, carefully read the instructions or reach out to 311 with any questions. We take care of the planting and ongoing maintenance; you get to enjoy the new tree.

If you are a property owner and would like a tree planted in front of your home, you can submit a request to 311 at Request a City Tree Planting.

Mpox update

Toronto Public Health (TPH) has confirmed Toronto’s first travel-related cases of mpox clade Ib. While risk to the public remains low, vaccination remains the best protection. Eligible residents are encouraged to get both doses for optimal protection, as mpox continues to circulate locally and internationally. Free vaccines are available through TPH clinics. Learn more.

In the Community

I always appreciate being invited to Toronto and York Region Labour Council’s leadership conference to speak with worker leaders about building power for the public good.

It was great to chat with Davenport residents about development in the Keele and St. Clair area.

I was out talking with residents about the repairs at Junction Triangle Library and sharing an update from Toronto Public Library on next steps for re-opening.