Community Update: November 15, 2024

Neighbour --

City Council met this week to consider a number of key items for our community and our City, including a by-law to prevent renovictions, two new action plans, new incentives to spur rental housing construction, and more. Here’s the highlights:

Opposing Bill 212: City Council adopted Mayor Chow’s motion to oppose the proposed amendments in Bill 212 that would remove key bike lanes on Toronto streets and require provincial approval of future bike lanes. With Bill 212, Premier Doug Ford is once again overriding local democracy and the ability of cities to make decisions about local issues. Earlier this week, I submitted comments to Ontario’s Regulatory Registry and the Ontario Legislature’s Standing Committee on Heritage, Infrastructure, and Cultural Policy to make our community’s voice heard.

Renovictions By-Law: Starting on July 31, 2025, the City’s new Renovictions By-law will take effect to protect tenants and prevent the shady practice of renovictions which have impacted far too many tenants across Toronto. The new by-law, modelled on the City of Hamilton’s and championed by ACORN and other tenant advocates, will require landlords issuing N13 notices to obtain a Rental Renovation Licence which ensures that tenant rights are respected.

Building More Homes: City Council created new housing construction incentives to immediately identify and approve 7,000 new rental homes, including 5,600 purpose-built rental homes and at least 1,400 affordable rental homes. The plan also includes an additional 10,400 purpose-built rental homes, contingent on receiving a Build More Homes Rebate from the Province of Ontario. The City has also requested the federal government to allocate a three-year portfolio of Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation low-cost financing to support the construction of these 20,000 affordable and purpose-built rental homes.

Action Plan for Toronto’s Culture Sector: Arts & culture creatives, workers, and organizations have been looking for stability. The new 10-year plan for the sector sector includes $35 million over 10 years in funding to the Toronto Arts Council, Local Arts Service Organizations, and new diverse cultural initiatives. It also establishes ambitious targets for access to free cultural experiences in all neighbourhoods, the development of new cultural space, and creative export and artist exchange projects.

Action Plan for Toronto’s Economy: Toronto’s new plan to guide economic development includes a number of goals to support strong local main streets, create good jobs, and to make Toronto even more competitive on the global stage in key industries. The plan includes a commitment to further developing our city’s approach to inclusive economic development—a piece of work that I’m proud to be leading in collaboration with civic and local leaders across Toronto.

As of Right Zoning for Mid-rise Buildings on Avenues: The Zoning By-Law has been updated to enable more housing along avenues. New as-of-right zoning permissions will make it easier, faster, and more economical to build mid-rise buildings on streets designated as “Avenues”. This change helps to support meeting our housing target of 285,000 new homes over the next 10 years.

You can find more updates below, including on recent local events, city-wide consultations, and upcoming events. I hope you have a good weekend!

Sincerely,

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

In this edition

• New registration for recreation & culture programs: create your account
• 2024-2025 Snow & Ice Response Plan
• Meeting Notice: Designation of the West Queen West Heritage Conservation District Plan
• Help shape Toronto's climate strategy
• Help shape public parking in Toronto
• Recent Local Incidents
  • Update on Shooting Incident in West Queen West
  • Assault Outside of Chabad of Midtown Child Care Centre
• Supporting homeowners with home energy improvements
• 311 Toronto Survey
• November is Radon Action Month
• Empowering women for climate action
• Other updates

New registration system for recreation & culture programs: create your account!

The City of Toronto is launching a new system for recreation and cultural activities registration to replace eFun.

Create a new account before registration for winter programs opens on December 3 and 4 to help ensure a smooth registration process. Learn more on the City’s Online Registration & Booking webpage.

On November 20th from 10AM to 12PM, City staff are hosting an in person information session in Davenport at Joseph J Piccininni Community Centre for residents to learn how to use the new system and get help with creating an account. You can also view instructional videos on the Parks Forestry and Recreation's Youtube channel, translatable into over 100 languages.

2024-2025 Snow & Ice Response Plan

The City’s Snow & Ice Response Plan clears nearly 130 cm of snowfall that Toronto receives each winter. 14,700 km of roads, 7,900 km of sidewalks and 486 lane km of cycling infrastructure are maintained by the City’s large fleet of salting and plowing equipment, while patrols monitor road conditions and dedicated staff stay one step ahead by tracking weather forecasts and pavement temperatures. Learn more on the City’s Clearing Snow & Ice from Toronto’s Roads & Sidewalks webpage.

Meeting Notice: Designation of the West Queen West Heritage Conservation District Plan

The Toronto Preservation Board will meet on Thursday, November 28, 2024, starting at 9:30 a.m. As part of their meeting, they will discuss the designation of the West Queen West Heritage Conservation District Plan under Part V of the Ontario Heritage Act. 

The Board’s virtual meeting is live streamed on the Toronto City Council Live YouTube. A Live YouTube link will be available on the meeting agenda immediately prior to and during the meeting. A recording of the meeting will be available to view anytime.

The West Queen West Heritage Conservation District (HCD), from Bathurst to Dufferin Streets, is an area with a concentration of heritage resources that distinguish it from its surroundings and merits protection under Part V of the Ontario Heritage Act.

For more information about the West Queen West HCD Plan, visit the project website. 

If the Toronto Preservation Board adopts the West Queen West HCD Plan, it will be considered by the Toronto & East York Community Council on December 4, 2024.

Help shape Toronto's climate strategy

This month, there are two opportunities for Toronto residents to have their say to help shape the City’s climate strategy: 

• Share your input on the transition from gas-powered two-stroke outdoor equipment, like leaf blowers, to zero emissions alternatives by completing the online survey by Saturday, November 30.  

Provide your feedback on the 2026-2030 Action Plan for the TransformTO Net Zero Strategy by participating in a public consultation or completing the online survey by Friday, January 31.  

Help shape public parking in Toronto

The City of Toronto is developing a comprehensive plan to modernize our approach to parking both on-street and in parking lots. Have your say and help shape the future of public parking for years to come. Complete the online survey by Tuesday, November 26 and find more information on the City’s Strategic Parking Framework webpage. 

Recent Local Incidents

Update on Shooting Incident in West Queen West

On Monday evening, there was a shooting incident in West Queen West. On Tuesday, I spoke with Deputy Chief Pogue about the incident and expressed my thanks to the officers who responded and my relief for the safety of the officers whose unmarked vehicle was struck by gunfire. It is good news that no officers or members of the public were injured as a result of this incident. 

I know that members of our community may be feeling uneasy after an incident of this nature. If you need support, the Community Crisis Response Program has been activated to provide connections to mental health and well-being services. Residents looking for help can learn more by reading this letter. 

A police investigation into this incident is ongoing. Eight people have already been charged, and sixteen firearms have been seized. If you have any information which would assist investigators, please contact Crime Stoppers by calling 416-222-8477 or submit a top online at www.222tips.com. 

In the coming weeks, I am committed to working with members of our community to discuss how we recover from this incident and strengthen community safety together.

Assault Outside of Chabad of Midtown Child Care Centre

Chabad of Midtown provides culturally-specific child care services for Jewish families at three centres, including one in Davenport. It was deeply upsetting to hear about the recent assault of a parent outside of one of their centres near St. Clair Ave W & Bathurst St, which is now being investigated by 13 Division and the Hate Crime Unit.

Antisemitic hatred and violence is abhorrent and unacceptable in our communities. I’ve asked Toronto Children’s Services to look at immediate opportunities to improve supports for these licensed child care centres that will ensure safety for children and families. I have also been in touch with Councillor Matlow—we’re committed to working together on this issue of concern to both of our communities.

Supporting homeowners with home energy improvements 

The Home Energy Loan Program (HELP) makes it easy and affordable for homeowners to pay for energy efficient home improvements over time and access incentives to reduce costs. Once funding is approved, homeowners can hire the contractor of their choice and complete their renovations. There are various programs and initiatives the City of Toronto offers to homeowners on the pathway to net zero. Find more information on the City’s Better Homes: Green Resources for Residents webpage. 

311 Toronto Survey

The City of Toronto wants to understand how residents, business owners and visitors to Toronto use 311 and what barriers they might face. Whether you use 311 Toronto or just learned about the services, provide your feedback to help make 311 more accessible and inclusive for everyone. Complete the survey by Wednesday, December 4.

November is Radon Action Month

November is Radon Action Month, promoting awareness and testing for radon in homes. Radon is a colourless, odourless gas resulting from natural uranium decay in the soil, capable of entering homes through foundation cracks and gaps. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking, responsible for approximately 850 lung cancer deaths annually in Ontario. Toronto Public Health encourages residents to test for radon. Find more information on the City’s Radon & Your Health webpage.

Empowering women for climate action

The Women4Climate Toronto Mentorship Program empowers female climate entrepreneurs and community climate project leaders with the resources and supports necessary to take their climate-related project, product or business start-up to the next level. Apply for the 2025 cohort by Wednesday, November 20 to become a mentee or by Friday, December 6 to become a mentor. Find details and apply on the City’s Women4Climate Toronto Mentorship Program webpage.  

Other updates

• City of Toronto to raise Métis flag in honour of Louis Riel Day
• City of Toronto and Na-Me-Res to break ground on Indigenous-led affordable housing project at 230 Coxwell Ave.
• City of Toronto celebrates creation of 92 new rent-geared-to-income homes with supports at former shelter-turned-permanent housing at 65 Dundas St. E.
• Maurice Vellekoop wins Toronto Book Award for I’m So Glad We Had This Time Together
• City of Toronto kicks off holiday season with Cavalcade of Lights and arrival of the Nathan Phillips Square Christmas tree
• City of Toronto welcomes environmental innovators and leaders for 20th annual CitiesAlive conference on green infrastructure
• New island in the Port Lands named Ookwemin Minising, place of black cherry trees
• 2024 Vacant Home Tax declaration period opens as part of improved program to increase housing supply