Priority Bus Lanes to be Debated at City Council

Post Date July 22, 2020
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Category City Hall Debates, Transportation & Transit

Next week, Council will consider a recommendation to install about 8.5kms of priority bus lanes on Eglinton Ave E, Kingston Rd and Morningside Ave. These lanes seek to create a more frequent, reliable, and faster transit service along the corridor by giving buses a route uninterrupted by other traffic.

While Eglinton Ave is the only route recommended for implementation this year, a report to the TTC board has also flagged Finch Ave E and Steeles Ave W as priorities to be looked at in “2022 and …

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Vision Of A Main Street On Yonge Still Strong

Vision Of A Main Street On Yonge Still Strong
Post Date January 20, 2020
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Category City Hall Debates, News from Ward 18, News from Ward 23

Image: Community Outreach staff member Jesse James speaks to a group of business leaders during the BIA Brunch Meeting this past October.

Yonge Street is in desperate need of a makeover. But more than a just new layer of asphalt and concrete, our main street needs a new way of thinking — one that makes it more functional for our growing community and the many uses demanded of our public space.

Residents in Willowdale want their stretch of Yonge to be a safe place to …

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Neighbourhood Zoning – “The Missing Middle”

Post Date August 8, 2019
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Category City Hall Debates, Development Issues

Toronto’s housing stock is made up mostly of single homes and highrises – with a relatively small amount of townhouses, duplexes and four-storey walk-ups.

Recently, housing advocates have begun calling for planning changes in areas such as Willowdale, where they believe this “missing middle” should be allowed alongside single homes on neighbourhood streets.

This would be a major departure from rules that exist now, and a reversal of a city promise to residents not that long ago when the city adopted a new Official Plan. Accept high …

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Premier to Open the Floodgates on Development (updated)

Premier to Open the Floodgates on Development (updated)
Post Date June 6, 2019
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Category City Hall Debates, Development Issues, News from City Hall, News from Ward 23

Updated (June 6, 2019):

This week, Bill 108 passed third reading at Queen’s Park and received Royal Assent.  It is now law in Ontario.  There remain many concerns about the passing of this bill, and conflicting information circulating about its overall impact.  Last week, we did some fact checking on the Province’s claims.

In many cases, details about the actual impact to development charges and community benefits have yet to be released by the Province.  That means its not too late to contact our MPP and share …

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Council Addresses Provincial Cuts to Core Services

Council Addresses Provincial Cuts to Core Services
Post Date May 14, 2019
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Category City Hall Debates, News from City Hall

Earlier this week, Toronto City Council met to address the funding cuts announced by the Province of Ontario over the last several weeks.  These were made retroactive to April 1 this year.

Toronto’s City Manager has estimated that the tally of cuts the city is facing is about $178-million, including Provincial reductions for Children’s Services ($85-million), Toronto Public Health ($65-million) and Public Transit ($24-million).  As the City has already passed its 2019 budget – which must remain balanced by law – these cuts put the City …

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Concerned About TTC Upload (UPDATED)

Concerned About TTC Upload (UPDATED)
Post Date April 11, 2019
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Category City Hall Debates, News from City Hall, Transportation & Transit

Premier Doug Ford announced the Province’s plans for transit expansion in the Toronto area this week.  Details remain vague on funding and construction timelines but redesigned plans focus on the Scarborough Line 2 extension, the Yonge North Line 1extension, the Eglinton Crosstown West extension and Relief Line subway.

John immediately spoke out about his concerns around the feasibility of this plan, the delays it is likely to cause and the potential impact on public safety.  Many of the above expansions have been active in the planning stages for the last several years.  Redesigning elements of …

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Council Passes 2019 Budget

Council Passes 2019 Budget
Post Date March 12, 2019
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Category City Hall Debates, News from City Hall

Our city remains in a bad financial situation.  Though this month’s budget may have been the best we could do under the circumstances, there remain ongoing issues that need to be fixed.

City Council approved its 2019 tax and rate combined operating budget in March. This included a 2.55% tax increase for residential properties, 1.28% increase for commercial properties and no increase for multi-residential/apartment buildings as per provincial legislation. With additional levies, including 0.5% to the City Building Fund, the total increase for homeowners will be 3.58%.

The …

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Bill 5, Better Local Government Act, 2018

Bill 5, Better Local Government Act, 2018
Post Date August 10, 2018
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Category City Hall Debates, News from City Hall

Dear Neighbours,

To look on the bright side of the province’s ill-timed decision to reduce the number of Toronto councillors to 25, we have yet another reminder that we should not take our democratic institutions for granted. In a country such as ours, where these are seldom threatened, we need to remember what we value about our political system: consultation, open discussion, and rational decision-making for the clear benefit of the public.

Much has been said about how difficult it will be for councillors to stay in …

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Decision on REimagine Yonge Deferred

Decision on REimagine Yonge Deferred
Post Date April 3, 2018
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Category City Hall Debates, News from City Hall, News from Ward 23, Transportation & Transit

City Council last week deferred consideration of REimagine Yonge. The deferral came after the TTC raised last-minute concerns about potential conflict between bike lanes and a bus lane north of Finch Avenue.  With this issue unresolved, the Transform Yonge option would not likely have passed. John therefore reluctantly supported postponing the decision.
The issue could possibly come back to Council this term or, as the last Council meeting this term is in July, a decision may be delayed until 2019.

 

The Transform Yonge option is recommended by city staff and was supported …

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REimagine Yonge (UPDATED)

REimagine Yonge (UPDATED)
Post Date March 29, 2018
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Category City Hall Debates, News from City Hall, News from Ward 23, Transportation & Transit

UPDATE – March 2018

City Council this week deferred consideration of REimagine Yonge. The deferral came after the TTC raised last-minute concerns about potential conflict between bike lanes and a bus lane north of Finch Avenue.  With this issue unresolved, the Transform Yonge option would not likely have passed. John therefore reluctantly supported postponing the decision.

The issue could possibly come back to Council this term or, as the last Council meeting this term is in July, a decision may be delayed until 2019.

The Transform Yonge option …

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City Builders release Open Letter to Mayor and Members of Council on REimagine Yonge

City Builders release Open Letter to Mayor and Members of Council on REimagine Yonge
Post Date March 23, 2018
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Category City Hall Debates, News from City Hall, News From Our Toronto Mayor, News from Ward 23, Transportation & Transit

This morning, the team at the Ryerson City Building Institute asked John to distribute this open letter addressed to the mayor and members of council regarding the coming vote on PW27.1 REimagining Yonge on their behalf.

How could this many great urban thinkers be wrong?

OPEN LETTER TO TORONTO MAYOR AND COUNCIL RE: TRANSFORM YONGE

March 23, 2018

Dear Mayor Tory and Council,

This is an Open Letter to support the “Transform Yonge” recommendation for Yonge Street in North York. We believe that this is a once in generation opportunity …

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City Accommodation Tax & Short Term Rental Bylaw

City Accommodation Tax & Short Term Rental Bylaw
Post Date February 10, 2018
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Category City Hall Debates, News from City Hall

The City of Toronto is implementing a four-per-cent Municipal Accommodation Tax (MAT) on all hotel accommodations within Toronto as of April 1 and short-term rentals on or after June 1, pending the enactment of the short-term rental bylaw.

The MAT will be applicable to motels, hostels, private and fraternal clubs, condo hotels, short-term rentals, multi-use complexes used for transient accommodation, and all Toronto hotels, including full service, limited service and small hotels.

The short-term rental bylaw is under appeal at the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) and will only come into effect on or after June 1, pending the OMB …

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