People want to see accountability for public services, and I agree. What commitments were made to the public, and are they being kept? How do we know if we are receiving good value for money? Today I want to share updates on four key areas of service: snow clearing, bringing people indoors and building homes, the Line 6 Finch West LRT, and the Ontario Government’s changes to recycling pickup.
Snow clearing
Last year, our winter snowstorms tested the City of Toronto’s contracted snow clearing services, and as Davenport residents know too well, the results were unacceptable. You contacted my team and helped us document and track service gaps. This helped me forcefully advocate for improvements and it made a difference.
This season, significant changes were made for contract oversight, staff coordination and accountability, and public reporting. We have seen improvements in services following this winter’s first big snowstorm a few weeks ago, and I am committed to making sure we stay on track. Please continue to call 311 to log issues with snow clearing and salting, and if you see ongoing problems, let our office know at alejandrabravo.ca/snow as we document any need for fixes.
Bringing people indoors and creating homes
The City of Toronto is making progress when it comes to bringing people indoors and building affordable housing. The number of people living in encampments has declined by 64 percent. This year’s proposed budget has key investments in shelter and housing, but there’s still much more to do. In this week’s Toronto Star, I wrote a piece with my colleague Gord Perks about the good work the City has done and what we need to continue to make progress.
As temperatures plummet tonight many of you will be thinking of people in need of shelter. Today the City is further enhancing our Winter Services Plan by opening more emergency shelter beds, as well as increasing outreach to people sleeping outdoors and on the TTC. The best way for people to be connected to services is to visit one of the seven Warming Centres activated across the City during extreme cold temperatures. Warming Centres are pet-friendly and a map of locations can be found here. If you see someone in need of help, please call 311 to be connected to services close by.
Line 6 Finch West
Many Torontonians have been frustrated with the launch and service on the Line 6 Finch West LRT, and the lack of clarity about who is responsible. According to transit expert Steve Munro, “Overwhelmingly the problems lie with equipment failures, not with TTC operations.”
Through the provincial agency Metrolinx, the Ontario Government took responsibility for building new transit lines away from the TTC. Metrolinx contracts private companies to design, build, and maintain the lines it builds, while the TTC is responsible for running the trains. This public-private partnership model has not lived up to its promise of on-time and on-budget, albeit at a higher cost up-front. Whether on Finch or the excruciatingly long-delayed Eglinton line, accountability demands a reexamination of this model. We need better transit service now.
Recycling pickup
The Ontario Government has taken control of recycling pickup in cities, including Toronto. As of January 1, recycling is no longer managed by the City of Toronto but instead by the private consortium contracted by the Province, Circular Materials. I know that many of you have been frustrated by the inadequate service this month. More information on this now provincially-regulated service is available here, along with how to make a service complaint for a missed pickup to Circular Materials.
All of the above public services are vital to our quality of life. As funders of public services, we all deserve the highest level of transparency about how they are being delivered and whether we are getting results for our investment. I will continue to share with you what we are doing to ensure better services. Accountability is a public good for us all, and I’m committed to providing it.
Sincerely,
Alejandra Bravo
City Councillor • Ward 9 • Davenport
Chair, Economic & Community Development Committee
In this Edition
- Proposed 2026 budget includes funding for Antler - Lappin connection
- Attend My 2026 City Budget 101 Community Briefing on February 5th
- Dufferin Grove Park Community Check-in Meeting: Reflections and Next Steps for Parks and Recreation
- Emergency Shelter & Homelessness Service Worker Appreciation Week
- Neighbourhood Climate Action Champions applications now open
- Safely coexisting with coyotes
- The application period is now open for the TD Park People Grants
- 11 Division to hold Town Hall on February 2nd
- Take the Ice Facilities Strategy survey and have your say on skating, hockey, and curling facilities
- Blue Bin recycling is no longer City-run
- Toronto Public Health is strongly encouraging residents to use layers of protection to prevent respiratory virus spread
- Toronto Renters: RentSafeTO online survey now open
- Experiencing no water? Frozen pipes might be the cause
Proposed 2026 budget includes funding for Antler - Lappin connection
I’m so happy to share that the proposed 2026 budget includes funds to build a key east-west connection between Antler and Lappin streets.
It was initially part of Metrolinx’s Davenport Diamond Greenway project, but the City had to step in to make it happen. This will connect residents to local parks, schools, businesses – and to each other.
Attend My 2026 City Budget 101 Community Briefing on February 5th
Mayor Chow announced her 2026 budget plan earlier this month. The budget committee is now reviewing the plan, hearing deputations, and gathering public feedback before City Council considers the budget on February 10.
I want to hear directly from residents of Davenport. Take my 2026 budget survey and let me know what you would like to see prioritized in our community and city this year:
You can also join me for my City Budget 101: Community Briefing at New Horizons Tower on February 5th, 2026 from 6:30 - 8:00 pm.
What will be covered:
- A review of new investments in Davenport (2023 - 2025)
- Potential budget outcomes on services in 2026
- How these decisions shape everyday life in Davenport
- What it means to debate a budget in an election year
Dufferin Grove Park Community Check-in Meeting: Reflections and Next Steps for Parks and Recreation
Join me and City staff in the Parks and Recreation division for a facilitated follow-up discussion about our ongoing work at Dufferin Grove and opportunities for future community participation and leadership.
Date: Thursday, January 29
Time: 6:30 - 8:00 pm
Location: St. Mary Catholic Academy cafeteria (66 Dufferin Park Ave.)
If you can't make it to the meeting, take our survey and let us know how you use the park and how you would like to stay involved in the decision-making process:
Emergency Shelter & Homelessness Service Worker Appreciation Week
This week, we mark Emergency Shelter & Homelessness Service Worker Appreciation Week, recognizing the dedicated staff who keep Toronto’s homelessness services operating 24/7. Thank you to the front-line staff, people who work behind the scenes, and all partners who work to support our city’s most vulnerable residents.
Neighbourhood Climate Action Champions applications now open
The City of Toronto invites residents and community leaders to engage with their neighbours on environmental issues and inspire climate action. The Neighbourhood Climate Action Champions program supports individuals seeking to develop skills in community-based climate engagement and initiate climate projects at the local level. The program provides grassroots capacity building training that empowers participants to raise awareness, foster local engagement and develop neighbourhood-focused climate initiatives.
Safely coexisting with coyotes
From foxes, to raccoons, coyotes and deer, Toronto shares its landscape with wildlife every day. Sightings of coyotes during the winter months are normal. They do not hibernate and may be seen more often during winter as they are not hidden by foliage and because it is coyote mating season. Tips on maintaining healthy boundaries between coyotes and humans for safe coexistence are available for residents at toronto.ca/coyotes
The application period is now open for the TD Park People Grants
TD Park People Grants are available for almost any community event in a publicly accessible green space — whether in a city park, social housing property, or schoolyard — that fosters ongoing care and protection of these spaces.
From Indigenous plant medicine workshops to nature walks, TD Park People Grants help local leaders organize events focused on environmental education, sustainability, or stewardship that bring people together.
Each year, the grants support over 70 community groups across 21 urban areas in Canada to host two in-person and virtual events. You could receive $2,000 to support your vision to connect people to their local parks and green spaces!
Learn more at https://parkpeople.ca/initiatives/td-park-people-grants/
11 Division to hold Town Hall on February 2nd
A new neighbourhood has been established within 11 Division. To discuss this change with the community, a Town Hall will be held on February 2nd from 7:00 - 9:00 pm at the New Horizons Retirement Community.
Date: February 2nd
Time: 7:00 - 9:00 pm
Location: New Horizons Retirement Community at 1140 Bloor Street West
Take the Ice Facilities Strategy survey and have your say on skating, hockey, and curling facilities
The City of Toronto is developing an Ice Facilities Strategy, a long-term plan to maximize use and guide future investment in ice facilities across the city where residents skate, play hockey, curl and more.
Thousands of residents have already shared their perspectives, and your voice is an important part of ensuring this Strategy reflects the needs of our communities, now and into the future. I encourage you to take part in Phase 2 of the engagement by reviewing and providing feedback on the draft actions through the online survey at toronto.ca/IceFacilitiesStrategy
Blue Bin recycling is no longer City-run
A Provincial regulation means that recycling for residential locations, eligible multi-residential buildings, schools, long-term care facilities and retirement homes is now managed by Circular Materials. If you have recycling inquiries, including missed collection and bin service requests, call 1-888-921-2686 or visit circularmaterials.ca/toronto
Toronto Public Health is strongly encouraging residents to use layers of protection to prevent respiratory virus spread
With the respiratory virus season underway, Toronto Public Health (TPH) is strongly encouraging residents to use all available layers of protection* to reduce respiratory virus spread, protect themselves and those who are most vulnerable, such as young children and older adults. Each layer of protection adds up and works best when used together, especially when respiratory virus activity is high.
Layers of protection include:
- Vaccination against influenza (flu), COVID-19 and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) for those who are eligible.
- Staying home when sick.
- Washing hands often.
- Covering coughs and sneezes.
- Considering wearing a mask, especially in crowded indoor spaces.
- Choosing well-ventilated spaces when possible.
Toronto Renters: RentSafeTO online survey now open
The City is collecting feedback on the RentSafeTO program. RentSafeTO is a bylaw enforcement program that ensures apartment building owners and operators comply with building maintenance standards. Tenants are encouraged to fill out the survey on the City’s website, open until February 6.
Experiencing no water? Frozen pipes might be the cause
The pipes in your home can freeze in cold weather. This can leave you with no water or cause your pipes to burst. If your pipes are frozen, there are simple steps you can take to try to thaw them out.
- Turn on a cold-water tap
- Find the frozen pipe
- Apply gentle heat to thaw
- Slowly check water flow
Learn more about what to do when the temperature drops well below zero or you have frozen pipes at toronto.ca/FrozenPipes
In the Community
We were out spreading the word on our community meeting regarding improvements to Dufferin Grove Park.
It was a pleasure to join OMNI television and host Sergio Mourato to discuss the City of Toronto’s 2026 budget and key investments in the city services we rely on every day.
More Updates
- City of Toronto welcomes residents to learn about new zoning changes to permit more housing near 120 transit stations
- City of Toronto launches second round of funding to reduce food packaging waste
- City of Toronto launches 2026 Budget focused on affordability, service stability and financial sustainability
- TTC welcomes 60th streetcar, expanding fleet to 264
- City of Toronto welcomes 33 new Primary Care Paramedics at graduation ceremony
- Savour the season: Book your Winterlicious table now
- TTC pilots new technology to improve bus safety
I hope you enjoyed this Community Update. Visit our website for more Davenport news, updates, and events.