February 21st, 2025 · Comments Off on ON THE COVER: Candidates questioned (Feb. 2025)
Green, Liberal, NDP provincial candidates for University-Rosedale respond to our top 4 issues
Meet the candidates for provincial election on February 27. For the first time in the 30 years of our publica-
tion, the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario did not reply to our repeated attempts to include them. PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE CANDIDATES
Every election the Gleaner asks the major candidates a common set of questions. We publish their answers tohelp readers make a more informedvoting choice. The provincial election is set for February 27. We have featured this Q & A with candidates for 30 years. For the first time one major party, the governing Progressive Conservatives, did not reply despite repeated attempts by the Gleaner to include them.
1. What would your party do to help fix traffic congestion in the GTA?
Ignacio Mongrell, Green Party – Traffic congestion in the GTA is a result of poor transit investment, inefficient land use, and policies that prioritize cars over people. Instead of spending billions on new highways that fuel urban sprawl, we need real investments in public transit, active transportation, and smart growth policies.
Invest in Public Transit: The Green Party has long advocated for fare integration, and we will continue pushing for policies that make transit the first choice, not the last resort.
Smarter Urban Planning: By legalizing “missing middle” housing, we can build vibrant, walkable communities where people live closer to work, reducing the need for long commutes.
Expand Safe Cycling Infrastructure: More bike lanes mean fewer cars on the road, easing congestion while making commuting safer and more sustainable.
Commercial Parking Levy: Cities like Montreal have successfully reduced congestion and raised transit funding through a commercial parking levy. According to a Metrolinx report, a $2 per day levy on all commercial parking spots would generate $650 million in revenue for the TTC.
With better transit, walkable communities, and protected bike lanes, we can reduce gridlock and build a more efficient, people-first transportation system.
Jessica Bell, NDP – Tackling congestion in our city means funding and fixing public transit. The Ontario NDP will provide provincial funding for half of municipal transit operations, ensuring transit is reliable, convenient, and affordable for riders. As a lifelong transit rider and founder of the advocacy group TTCRiders, I know how much of a difference this investment can make. We’ll also deliver long-delayed GO rail expansions to Kitchener, Niagara, and Bowmanville that will give commuters coming into Toronto more options— not less—and reduce the number of cars on the road.
It’s clear that congestion on the 401 is hurting our economy and making our lives more difficult. To build a tariff-proof Ontario, the Ontario NDP will develop real alternatives for people and goods to get around which don’t look like the wasteful and drawn-out construction of Highway 413, or Ford’s multi-billion dollar tunnel pipe dream without a completion date. We need a GO rail network that connects people and places, transit that we can rely on, and roads that are safe and accessible for all. Fixing congestion is about making sure there are realistic options with or without a car when getting from A to B.
Pam Jeffrey, Liberal Party – We will fix traffic congestion by making transit reliable, available, and safe. For many people today, transit just isn’t an attractive option because the network isn’t wide enough, frequent enough, or safe enough, and only Ontario Liberals have a plan to make public transit work for everybody.
Under the Conservatives, public transit has become more dangerous and less comfortable. Substance abuse and homelessness have risen dramatically under Doug Ford’s watch, and that has spilled over into our transit system. We need more shelters, but the subway shouldn’t be one of them. You and your kids deserve to feel safe wherever it is you’re going, which is why we’ve pledged to introduce Mobile Crisis Support Teams and other safety measures to the TTC.
The Ford Conservatives talk a big game when it comes to transit, but their record is spotty at best. In the last seven years they haven’t opened the Eglinton Crosstown or the Finch West LRT. They haven’t significantly improved GO service, despite their promises to do so. An Ontario Liberal government will actually get transit built without the endless delays we’ve had to deal with under Tory rule.
2. The Ford government has enacted legislation allowing it to remove bike lanes on Bloor Street and elsewhere.
A. Do you support the intrusion of the province into municipal affairs?
Jessica Bell, NDP – No. New Democrats know that municipal governments understand best the unique needs of their local communities. Doug Ford’s interference in municipal planning undermines local democracies and ignores the voices of residents who depend on this infrastructure.
Cities should have the freedom to make their own choices on transport and infrastructure, without interference or political games. It’s time for Doug Ford to get out of the way of local decision makers and allow municipalities to invest in safe and sustainable transit solutions.
Pam Jeffrey, Liberal Party – Every second Doug Ford talks about bike lanes is time he’s using to distract from the criminal investigation for corruption surrounding his Greenbelt giveaway, the hallway health-care crisis he’s done nothing to address, the youth unemployment rate of 17 per cent, and unaffordable housing.
Ontario Liberals believe in meaningful consultation with our municipal partners in all matters, including road infrastructure, but I am not going to spend one second arguing about culture war issues when that’s exactly what Ford wants us to do. He doesn’t want us to talk about the 30,000 people in University-Rosedale who don’t have a family doctor, but you and your family can rest assured that we’re laser-focused on the issues that matter.
Ignacio Mongrell, Green Party – No, I do not support the Ford government’s interference in municipal decision-making. Cities must have the autonomy to design policies that best serve their residents, whether it’s housing, transportation, or environmental initiatives. Ford’s heavy-handed approach—whether by overriding local zoning laws, imposing unwanted highway projects, or forcing the removal of bike lanes—undermines democracy and local governance.
The Green Party is the first party in Ontario to endorse city charters, which would give municipalities the authority and financial tools they need to govern effectively. A city charter, negotiated between a city and a willing provincial government, would define clear areas of municipal control and ensure stable revenue sources. This would prevent future provincial governments from arbitrarily overruling local decisions.
This is not just about bike lanes—it’s about respecting local democracy. Toronto’s city council voted for bike lanes because they improve safety, reduce congestion, and support local businesses. Ford’s interference sets a dangerous precedent that could extend to housing, transit, and environmental protections. A Green government will empower cities, not undermine them.
B. Do you support the removal of the Bike Lanes on Bloor St West in the Annex?
Pam Jeffrey, Liberal Party – See previous answer.
Ignacio Mongrell, Green Party – No. Removing the Bloor Street bike lanes is a step backward for road safety, climate action, and urban mobility. These lanes were implemented after careful study and community consultation, and they have proven benefits:
• Increased Safety: Protected bike lanes have reduced cyclist injuries by over 50 per cent on Bloor Street.
• Better Business Support: A study conducted before the bike lanes were approved showed that only 10 per cent of customers in the area arrived by car, while far more came by bike, and most by transit. The local Business Improvement Area (BIA) cited this study in its opposition to the removal of the lanes, recognizing that they benefit businesses by increasing foot and bike traffic.
• Reduced Congestion: More people on bikes means fewer cars on the road, easing traffic for everyone.
• Climate Action: Encouraging active transportation is critical for reducing emissions and creating a more sustainable city.
Jessica Bell, NDP – No. If Doug Ford was serious about fixing congestion in our city, he would invest in more options to get people from A to B—not less.
People deserve to feel safe on their way to work or to school. When the Conservatives brought forward their legislation to rip out bike lanes, they added in clauses to avoid any responsibility when vulnerable road users get injured or killed on our streets. It’s heartbreaking, because someone will be hurt in the future. I bike, and my kids bike. It’s how we get around the city. I shouldn’t have to worry about them getting home safely every time they go out. People should be able to depend on their loved ones being safe at the end of the day. It’s time we had a government that was committed to making that a reality.
3. Donald Trump has threatened a 25-per-cent tariff on Canadian goods. How should Ontario respond to this threat and help Ontarians affected by the tariffs?
Jessica Bell, NDP – The Ontario NDP has always stood with working people and those struggling to get by. Right now, people are understandably worried about what the future holds. Life has already become so expensive—for almost everyone. We need a government that fights for every job in the province and will get to work building a tariff-proof Ontario that can withstand any crisis.
That means supporting trade-exposed industries by creating new supply chains and finding new export markets for Ontario-made goods. We’ll work with the federal government on an income assistance program to support people whose livelihoods are impacted by tariffs. We can create good, new jobs by investing in the infrastructure our communities need— from schools and hospitals to major transit projects. Finally, we’ll make life more affordable for those who’ve been most affected by inflation with a monthly grocery rebate to bring down the cost of the weekly shop.
Pam Jeffrey, Liberal Party – I love Canada, and so does everybody in Team Bonnie. Canadians have never backed down from a challenge, and we’re not going to start now.
If tariffs hit, we will work side-by-side with the other provinces and our federal government for a coordinated response, and we will provide a targeted tariff relief plan to stop job losses and other impacts on the economy.
We’ll also provide low interest loans with our Fight Tariffs Fund to provide support to our businesses here that are impacted by America’s callous aggression, on top of the baseline small business tax cut we will institute.
We will also need to diversify our economy away from the United States and spur investment from other nations. Doug Ford has had seven years to insulate our economy from Donald Trump, and we have not seen one lick of that. Instead, he has called an election in a cynical ploy to take advantage of this national crisis. His government is not fit to meet the moment on the international level, on the local level, and every level in between.
Ignacio Mongrell, Green Party – Ontario must take a proactive approach to protecting workers and businesses from potential U.S. tariffs. A 25 per cent tariff would harm key industries including manufacturing, steel, and auto production which are critical to Ontario’s economy.
Strengthen Local Supply Chains: Ontario must invest in local production of key goods, including green technology, auto parts, and sustainable materials, reducing reliance on the U.S. market.
Diversify Trade Partners: We need to expand trade relationships with the EU, Asia, and other markets to reduce dependence on U.S. exports.
Support Impacted Workers: We will introduce transition programs, wage subsidies, and training opportunities for workers in industries affected by tariffs, ensuring they have access to stable, well-paying jobs.
Advocate for Fair Trade: The Green Party will push for strong federal leadership in trade negotiations to ensure that Ontario businesses are protected from unfair tariffs.
Instead of reacting to Trump’s threats, Ontario must build a resilient, self-sufficient economy that is less vulnerable to political instability in the U.S.
4. Ontario is experiencing a family doctor shortage. With many existing family doctors expected to retire soon, the problem will only be made worse. If elected, what would your party do to address this crisis in health care?
Pam Jeffrey, Liberal Party – Like I said above, Bonnie and I have our priorities straight: we will make sure every person in this province has a family doctor covered by OHIP. No ifs, ands, or buts. Thirty thousand people in our riding don’t have a family doctor. Doug Ford may think that’s acceptable, but he’s the only one.
We are going to do that by doubling residency spots and hiring 3,100 doctors, as well as streamlining the process for those trained abroad to practice here. We’re also going to reduce the amount of paperwork your family doctor does, because they should be working with patients, not spreadsheets.
We’re also going to invest in paying nurses, PSWs, and other health-care workers what they deserve, and not drive them away like Doug Ford has by capping their wages below inflation.
But this is only going to happen with a change of government. Doug has wrecked our health-care system, and another four years of Conservative rule in Ontario means he will continue his schemes to privatize our health care. Only Bonnie Crombie and the Ontario Liberal team can take him on and fix health care in our province.
Ignacio Mongrell, Green Party – Ontario’s health-care system is in crisis, and the shortage of family doctors is making it worse. The Green Party will take immediate action to expand health-care access and retain medical professionals by:
Fast-Tracking Credential Recognition: Thousands of internationally trained doctors live in Ontario but cannot practice due to bureaucratic barriers. We will streamline the accreditation process so they can help fill urgent gaps in care.
Expanding Primary Care Teams: Instead of relying on a system that overburdens family doctors, we will invest in team-based care where nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and mental health professionals work alongside doctors to serve more patients.
Improve Working Conditions: Many doctors are leaving Ontario due to burnout and administrative overload. We will reduce paperwork burdens, increase clinic funding, and ensure fair compensation for health-care professionals.
Ontario cannot afford to lose more doctors. We need real solutions that support health-care workers, expand access to care, and ensure that every Ontarian has a family doctor.
Jessica Bell, NDP – Everyone in Ontario should be able to access good primary care regardless of their age, their ethnicity, where they live, or their income. The Ontario NDP has a plan to recruit and support 3,500 new doctors, invest in new residency spots, and refresh budgets to resolve the crisis in primary care.
Family health teams, nurse practitioner-led clinics and community health centres are tried and tested models of care—just like Taddle Creek Family Health Team here in University–Rosedale. They’re rooted in their communities and can respond to distinct local health needs. But for years, Liberal and Conservative governments have frozen their budgets, and clinics like Taddle Creek and their patients have been left behind and often left without family doctors.
An Ontario NDP government will establish more community health centres and fund them fairly so they can recruit the medical professionals and care workers families in our community need. We’ll also provide more funding for administrative support which frees up time for medical professionals to spend with patients, instead of on paperwork. Lastly, we’ll simplify the process so that 13,000 internationally-trained doctors currently living in our province can start practicing here.
February 21st, 2025 · Comments Off on FORUM: We must stand up to the bully (Feb. 2025)
Trump’s economic attack must be met in kind
By Chrystia Freeland
It seems the United States has forgotten what it means to be a good neighbour.
For more than 150 years, the friendship between Canada and the United States has been a model of international cooperation. While other countries have built fences, we have built bridges. We have traded together, innovated together, and defended democracy together. Through war and peace, economic booms and downturns, we have looked out for each other—because that’s what good neighbours do.
But today, the United States is undermining that special relationship. It is seeking to rewrite the rules of our relationship and is even threatening to use economic coercion to do so. By threatening Canadians’ livelihoods with an unjustified and illegal trade war and even musing about making Canada the “cherished” 51st state, the United States is turning its back on the very principles that made our relationship so valuable in the first place.
Like so many Canadians, I have felt immense pride in recent weeks as our country has come together to stand firmly against these attacks. We’re not for sale, and our sovereignty is not up for negotiation.
I was there in 2018, the last time the United States chose conflict over cooperation and slapped tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum. I didn’t hesitate then to push back with targeted, dollar-for-dollar retaliation, and we won. We can win again now, but only if we are strong, smart, and united.
Standing up to this economic attack will require fortitude and determination. When the United States hits us, we must hit back. And we must be smart enough to know that tit-for-tat tariffs will hurt the United States, too.
Canada is America’s largest export market—bigger than China, Japan, the U.K., and France combined. We have considerable leverage and can have a real impact on a number of vital American industries, from dairy farmers in Wisconsin, to appliance manufacturers in Michigan, to orange growers in Florida.
External pressure from American businesses and workers on the White House will have a huge impact. Canada should publish a retaliation list immediately, to maximize pressure on the White House. And it should start with 100 per cent tariffs on Teslas.
As we navigate this moment, we must support one another and capitalize on the opportunity to strengthen our country.
We must create new opportunities for growth, make life more affordable, and secure our sovereignty.
By leveraging the federal government’s resources and working in partnership with the provinces, territories, and Indigenous communities, we can reduce our reliance on the United States and open new markets for our exports around the world.
On the campaign trail I hear time and again that Canadians want us to focus on one thing: the economy.
Canadians are looking for us to take concrete steps to make life more affordable. That is why, if I am elected prime minister, I will cut income taxes for more than 11 million middle-class Canadians, eliminate the GST on new homes for first-time buyers, cap credit-card interest rates, and make sure groceries are affordable.
Building on one of the achievements I am most proud of from my time in government—universal, affordable childcare—I will create 100,000 new childcare spaces at $10 a day.
The threat we are facing from the United States is a wake-up call. We can’t afford to be complacent, and hope is not a strategy. Let’s stand together and turn this challenge into an opportunity by investing in our strengths, securing our future, and building a more unified and resilient Canada.
Chrystia Freeland is member of parliament for University-Rosedale.
February 21st, 2025 · Comments Off on NEWS: An act of acknowledgement and reconciliation (Feb. 2025)
A sacred space for remembrance blooms at Trinity-St. Paul’s
Trinity-St. Paul’s Heart Garden at 427 Bloor St. W. is near completion. BEN HOHENER/GLEANER NEWS
By Ben Hohener
Trinity-St. Paul’s United Church is nearing completion of its Heart Garden, a sacred space honouring Indigenous children who suffered in residential schools. Facing Bloor Street, the small garden has recently undergone its final touches: Two wooden panels constructed by Anishinaabe artist Solomon King. One panel is dedicated to the history of Canadian treaties, the colonization settlement, and the construction of residential schools, serving as an educational display about the often swept-under-the-rug historical mistreatment of the Indigenous population. The other is engraved with a resonant and evocative poem written by Métis author Katherena Vermette. She writes of “an other story …carved on earth, every stone a song, that echoes the erosion…another story…scrolled on wind, painted in blood, every bone sings…”
“We are here to honour our ancestors and make a place for our children,” said Vermette, “It is the only job that matters.”
Between 1927 and 1969, the United Church managed residential schools across Ontario and Western Canada. In 1986 and 1998, the United Church publicly apologized for the pain and suffering that their involvement in the residential school system caused. The church’s tumultuous past cannot be overlooked, and the garden is recognition of that. It is about taking accountability for the church’s part in the history of colonization and taking first steps towards reconciliation.
This was the prayer offered during the initial construction of the garden: “Help us to open our hearts to others, pay attention to our thoughts, words and actions, notice when we have hurt others and change our behaviour in the future. With this Heart Garden we honour the children who were lost or survived the Indian residential school system.”
The garden was constructed in the shape of a medicine wheel, an Indigenous symbol representing the four interconnected aspects of one’s being: physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual. In the summer of 2019, the construction of a nearby parkette uncovered several large stones, and the city gifted two of them to the Heart Garden.
At the website www.thechildrenrembered it states: “In Indigenous culture, stones are regarded as Grandfathers, wise from their countless lifetimes; the earth remembers suffering.”
Over the years, more additions have been made to the garden. Jacqui Lavalley, an Anishinaabe Elder, helped guide the church in planting the four sacred medicines—tobacco, sage, cedar, and sweet grass. Jacqui also often leads the community in Anishinaabe ceremonies and teachings.
As the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC)) came to a close in 2015, the call to create Heart Gardens across Canada came from the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society in a celebration known as Honouring Memories, Planting Dreams. Celebrated in May and June, the event brings together people of all ages to honour the memory of children lost to the residential school system and to honour the survivors and their families. Every year since the closing ceremony of the TRC, the children of Trinity-St. Paul’s create and laminate hearts to plant in the garden.
The project is almost complete, and with it, Trinity-St. Paul’s hopes to keep the garden as a symbol of unity for the community. There is still much to be done in terms of reconciliation, and the United Church seeks to learn from it as a source of healing, with humility. There is a palpable sense of melancholy in the garden, but also hope, which is just as powerful. Recognition and accountability are the first steps towards a brighter future, and Trinity-St. Paul’s Heart Garden hopes to serve as a profound display of a harmonious community working together to create a blooming memorial.
February 21st, 2025 · Comments Off on CHATTER: Watchdog cites Chinese interference in Freeland campaign (Feb. 2025)
The Canadian government has alleged that the Chinese app WeChat, an app similar to WhatsApp, launched a malicious campaign against Chrystia Freeland who represents the University-Rosedale area as its member of parliament.
Currently, Freeland is a candidate seeking the leadership of the Liberal party. If successful, she will automatically become prime minister.
The federal government’s Security and Intelligence Threats to Election task force (SITE) analyzes threats to Canadian federal election processes. In an announcement on Feb. 7, SITE claimed that an anonymous blog was linked to China, and over 30 WeChat news accounts took part in the campaign.
The SITE task force claimed that an estimated 2 to 3 million users took part in the campaign globally, and there were numerous WeChat articles disparaging Ms. Freeland which received over 140,000 interactions.
The release did not state what the derogatory comments were or share names of users involved.
On Feb. 7, SITE issued a statement saying that Global Affairs Canada’s Rapid Response Mechanism had detected coordinated and malicious activity about Ms. Freeland.
The launch of this information operation was traced to WeChat’s most popular news accounts and an anonymous blog that had been previously linked by experts at the China Digital Times to China.
In a social media post, Freeland said, “I will not be intimidated by Chinese foreign interference…having spent years confronting authoritarian regimes, I know firsthand the importance of defending our freedoms.”
Liberal party spokesperson, Parker Lund, said in a statement the party will continue to work with SITE to “further ensure the leadership vote is secure and fair.”
Mark Carney, who is also seeking the Liberal leadership, issued a tweet defending and supporting Chrystia Freeland. He said, “I fully support Chrystia Freeland and her campaign in light of this disturbing report…I am fully committed to defending the integrity of this race and stand firm against any attempts to undermine our democracy.”
—Eleanor Vieira-Silva/Gleaner News
Comments Off on CHATTER: Watchdog cites Chinese interference in Freeland campaign (Feb. 2025)Tags:Annex · News
February 21st, 2025 · Comments Off on CHATTER: Toronto’s first homicide of 2025 occurs in the Annex (Feb. 2025)
A makeshift memorial appears at the scene of the crime: Paul Martel Park on Madison Avenue. ELEANOR VIEIRA-SILVA/GLEANER NEWS
On Jan. 26, at approximately 12:36 a.m. Toronto Police Services (TPS) responded to a call for a “wounding” near Paul Martel Park located on Madison Avenue just north of Bloor. This wounding would later become a homicide, Toronto’s first homicide of 2025.
Darapheakdey “Daral” Sovann, 27, was found Sunday morning with life threatening injuries. First aid was administered at the scene, and he was rushed to the hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. Police ruled this as a homicide, and in a critical incident alert that was sent out by the Community Crisis Response Program, the incident was described as a “swarming.”
A swarming refers to a violent robbery involving two or more assailants. Swarmings are among the most random crimes police respond to, making them even harder to solve, as they are crimes of opportunity.
In relation to this incident, police have arrested two individuals but have not labelled it a swarming.
In a news release given by TPS on Feb. 1, they identified two suspects: Brooklynn Walsh, 24, and Camera Brown, 21, both from Oshawa.
The two have been charged with second degree murder, and the police have stated that there are no outstanding suspects in relation to this homicide.
Both were scheduled to appear at the Toronto Regional Bail Centre, with Walsh’s hearing on the morning of Jan. 30, and Brown’s on Feb. 1.
This homicide not only marks Toronto’s first of 2025, but according to the Public Safety Data Portal provided by TPS it is also the first in the Annex neighborhood in nearly five years.
Police have asked that anyone with any information regarding the incident please contact police at 416-808-7400, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), or at www.222tips.com.
—Amna Ahmad/Gleaner News
Comments Off on CHATTER: Toronto’s first homicide of 2025 occurs in the Annex (Feb. 2025)Tags:Annex · News
February 21st, 2025 · Comments Off on EDITORIAL: Poilievre’s perfect storm (Feb. 2025)
A unified Canada is a nightmare for the Conservative Party of Canada whose leader excels in practicing the politics of division.
Until very recently, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre could feel confident in forming the next federal government with a massive majority. However, a recent poll from Pallas puts the Conservative lead at just 6 percentage points, a huge plummet from the 20-point lead they comfortably had over the governing Liberals just a month ago; that’s a worrisome trend line for Poilievre.
More concerning for the official opposition leader is that the same pollsters put his party and the Liberals in a tie for the popular vote if Mark Carney is elected Liberal leader.
Poilievre can thank Donald Trump and himself for the situation he now finds himself in.
The relentless tariff threats from the U.S. president have rattled Canadians. Trump’s apparently serious musings about making Canada the 51st state present Canadians with something of an existential moment.
The prime minister urged all Canadians to “remain united” and “support one another.” He commended the provinces for developing their own strategic responses. Trudeau promised the federal government “would be there for them” should the American tariffs cause them hardship. He pledged a round of Canadians tariffs of his own, targeting products coming from Republican-held states. This is the same strategy he and then-Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland successfully employed when Trump tried this bully move in his first term.
Contrast this unity message with Poilievre’s blame game and his promise to cut government spending dramatically. His “Axe the Tax” slogan now seems somewhat trite given that the Liberal leadership candidates have vowed to axe the consumer part of the carbon tax. What do the Conservative have left? It’s certainly not their policy initiatives. The “Canada is broken” narrative is no longer what Canadians want to hear.
The Conservatives capitalized on Trudeau’s unpopularity, positioning themselves as the only way to “fire” the prime minister. When Trudeau chose to resign pending the election of a successor as Liberal leader all the wind got sucked out of Poilievre’s sails. Had the Conservative leader not been so successful at blaming Trudeau for everything from petty crime to the price of eggs, he may still have his desired opponent.
The Conservatives are having to pivot their attack from Trudeau to Mark Carney who may be the next Liberal leader and prime minister. Fond of simplicity, they are trying on some new slogans: “Carbon Tax Carney” and “Carney-Trudeau Liberals,” even though Carney was never in government and does not support the carbon tax. Susan Delacourt of the Toronto Star described this recently as “a communications strategy built from Popsicle sticks and Elmer’s glue.”
Premier Doug Ford is not helping the Conservative brand. Caught in a hot mic moment, during the current provincial election campaign, he admitted how glad he was that Donald Trump won even though he knew tariffs were promised. Ford needed the straw man to run against, a vehicle for re-election, a crisis to distract from an utter failure of his own governance.
The Annex Gleaner publishes a Q and A with all the major parties for municipal, provincial, and federal elections. This gives readers an opportunity to comparison shop before they vote. For the first time in 30 years, the candidate for one major party, the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario (PC), is not willing to answer the questions. That speaks volumes about the PC’s lack of respect for democracy, the media, and the voters themselves.
Pierre Poilievre has done no favour to Canadians or to himself for his hateful, divisive messaging. The amount of effort expended in coming up with clever rhymes instead of real policy initiatives suggests they don’t take themselves or the electorate seriously. As leader of the opposition, he has not helped the government be more effective; instead, he is always attacking, not contributing. Poilievre’s lust for power is in plain sight, and Canadians are starting to see him as just that guy who throws snowballs at the bus.
February 21st, 2025 · Comments Off on FORUM: Budget is the news of the month (Feb. 2025)
Property tax hikes are necessary
By Dianne Saxe
I’m glad to see the days getting longer. Thank you to everyone who joined our skating/doughnut party and our climate town hall.
Months of budget work and consultations culminated at council on Feb. 11. This was a great opportunity to hear what residents want from their city and to look hard at what each department can deliver.
Thousands of Torontonians had their say. Most described painful struggles and asked passionately for more money, whether for TTC, small businesses, hunger, the arts, paramedics, homelessness, climate, TCHC, etc…Others objected to tax increases, or to spending on FIFA, Toronto Police Services, or Sankofa (formerly Yonge-Dundas Square).
Toronto’s financial structure was set by the Baldwin Act in 1849 and is unsuitable for today’s city. City revenues grow little while costs skyrocket. Doug Ford makes it worse through downloading services, cutting development charges, keeping people on social assistance in deep poverty, and underfunding health care and housing. The result? A steady deterioration of city infrastructure and services and an explosion of homelessness; no wonder some people think our city is broken.
In this difficult context, property tax increases present real challenges for some. That’s why our budget provides more relief for the poorest homeowners.
On the other hand, there are powerful reasons for the budget spending.
Most residents tell me they support TTC service improvements and a fare freeze, affordable and supportive housing, and more help for small businesses. It’s hugely expensive for us to do so much of the province’s job, but few residents want us to ignore the homeless or hungry schoolchildren.
Much of the rest of the budget goes to the unglamourous but essential work of infrastructure repair. Thank you for understanding that it’s a bad deal to keep property taxes so low that we let infrastructure fall apart—it’s much cheaper to fix small problems than let them grow into big ones.
At the same time, those who pay more rightfully expect something in return. It’s a good start that this budget means faster transit and longer hours for libraries, pools, and youth hubs. More kids will get fed, emergency response will improve, and I’m building 78 new supportive homes in Kensington. But we also need to see visible improvement in basic services such as garbage, litter, and parks. I’ll be pushing for these all year.
Ultimately, we cannot successfully manage the challenges of this city using property taxes alone. Nor can we keep burning the furniture by giving up municipal assets, such as the Gardiner/ DVP. This city needs the province to allow us to have access to revenue sources that grow with the economy such as income or sales tax.
Meanwhile, we are making progress in Ward 11.
After 10 years, the Kensington Market Heritage Conservation Plan is finally approved! At the request of the community, I helped arrange better security at the Chinatown Green P lot and at 35 Elm (TCHC). We are working with 311, transportation, TTC, Toronto Hydro, Toronto Park Authority, and the police to improve the reporting and cleanup of hate graffiti. The Annex asked for and got Toronto’s first residential cargo bike corral. Some of my staff have been handing out meals to those living outdoors.
My team and I are helping to resolve thousands of service requests about encampments, parking, crime, heritage, libraries, parks, noise, traffic, etc…Thanks for your excellent questions at our many community meetings about topics such as hospital expansions, long-term care beds, construction management and pedestrian safety.
Construction this year should start on the Rosedale Valley multi-use trail, the Huron-Washington Playground and an Indigenous-themed park at Sussex/Spadina. The Glen Road pedestrian bridge is finally done. Step-by-step, I am also getting action on these projects: another Indigenous-themed park, the much-needed Ramsden Community Centre, a complete street and planning design for Dupont Street, the expansion of Gwendolyn MacEwen Parkette, and hostile vehicle defence (security measures used to prevent vehicle attacks) for the Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre.
None of it is easy, cheap, or quick, especially since Premier Ford’s cuts mean fewer resources and less local input on what gets built. I am therefore grateful that the 2025 Lunar New Year, the Year of the Snake, is a propitious year for intelligence, strategy, patience, persistence, and precision. We will need them all. Happy New Year to everyone!
Dianne Saxe is city councillor for Ward 11, University-Rosedale.
February 21st, 2025 · Comments Off on GREENINGS It’s harder to cycle safely (Feb. 2025)
Monster vehicles have changed the biking equation
I often bike my kids from our place in the Annex to Little Italy where they do Taekwondo. I will often shout instructions at them from the road as they are still on the sidewalk. I tell them to ring the bell to let people know they are there, say “thank you” when people let them pass, and follow other cycling etiquette as we merrily make our way down.
While ditching the car was an environmental decision we made long ago, I have discovered that cycling gives my kids agency awareness that sitting in a car or taking transit simply does not afford. They are getting exercise just getting there. When we are travelling, they need to make a million decisions to get there safely: Do we cross now? Do we wait for mommy? Do we ring this bell, or will it scare the dog?
They have the power to make decisions that other forms of transport don’t allow. They can decide which side street to take, whether they want to stop off at the park, or whether to bike on the sidewalk or the road (they are allowed on some stretches). They are actively engaged in getting to their destination. It also gives us freedom in terms of timing as we aren’t stuck on a bus schedule (which is getting less reliable with more and more funding cuts).
There are many virtues of cycling so you’d think more people would be doing it. The biggest thing stopping most parents from cycling with their children is the danger from cars. Not just any cars; our cities are getting flooded with monster vehicles.
Toronto is not being spared the SUV bloat pandemic. Cars are getting so big now that pickups can have 15-foot frontal blind spots; in other words, they won’t know they’re running over a child until they feel them under the wheel. It is hard to fault people for not wanting to risk their lives when nothing is being done to regulate the monstrosities that are killing people on our streets. They are nothing short of murder machines. The size serves no other purpose beyond making hurricane season more violent with added carbon in the air.
The size increase has been gradual so it’s hard for most of us to notice. If you do an online search, there are websites that do model by model comparisons of how much car bloat even the same model car has undergone. I had to take my parents’ 1997 minivan this summer for a day. While driving it on the narrow streets of the Annex, I got so close to a pickup truck that we nearly clipped side mirrors, except that my mirror completely passed under his mirror (with an inch or two to spare). That’s when I truly realized how monstrously large vehicles have become over time.
If we want safer streets, get monster cars off the road. This should be council’s first priority. Other jurisdictions have introduced higher parking rates for large vehicles. We need to follow suit with only small and electric vehicles having the lowest rates. Higher parking levies for large and gas-powered vehicles should be a given especially after watching all the climate-related disasters strike our neighbours to the south.
It would be wise to simply abandon certain areas of Florida at this point. We are creating climate refugees from first world countries.
Someone said to me that when they were young, they took their bikes to the park with no helmets, no parents, no shoes. They simply played till dusk and came home for dinner. I said I can’t do that with these monster trucks around. Other parents already judge me for cycling my kids amid all the dangers. I don’t trust jerks in these large vehicles to not run over my kids.
I am not just pleading for the environment’s sake. I am pleading for people to give children a chance to have some semblance of a sane childhood where parents can let go and let their kids run wild. Nothing endangers my children like these monster cars. We must tax these cars out of existence if we want our children to have the free and wild childhood their parents and grandparents had.
Terri Chu is an engineer committed to practical environmentalism. This column is dedicated to helping the community reduce energy use, and help distinguish environmental truths from myths. Send questions, comments, and ideas for future columns to Terri at terri.chu@whyshouldicare.ca.
February 12th, 2025 · Comments Off on ON THE COVER: Mass-timber complex lands at Trinity College (Jan. 2025)
A potential pathway to sustainability
The Lawson Centre for Sustainability is the second timber-build the University of Toronto is erecting on Devonshire Place between Varsity Stadium and Trinity College. Architectural rendering by Mecanno courtesy of Trinity College
By Austin Kelly
The Lawson Centre for Sustainability at Trinity College will be a learning and residential complex that focuses on the environment.
Part of the University of Toronto’s St. George Campus, Trinity’s Lawson Centre is a four-storey building that will serve as both a learning centre and a residential space. It will be a multi-use, zero-carbon space that will help the college reach its goal of eco-friendliness.
The complex, currently under construction on Devonshire Place, was designed by Dutch architectural firm Mecanoo and the local firm RDHA. On its website, Mecanoo outlines the specifics of the Lawson Centre’s functions and features:
“The student residence houses 262 units and 342 beds, combining a mixed arrangement of studios, single and double dorm typologies, of which 15 per cent are barrier-free.” The Mecanoo website describes the design as having a high-performing envelope featuring geothermal heating and cooling, solar panels, and rainwater collection.
The project will result in a high-performance LEED Platinum and CaGBC zero-carbon building and is a major step in Trinity’s Integrated Sustainability Initiative.
Nicholas Terpstra, provost and vice-chancellor at Trinity College, said the building’s green planning was important to the design. “We knew from the start that Trinity College’s new academic and residence building had to be an innovative sustainability building, and the best way to achieve this was through locally sourced mass-timber construction. The “mass” is created using composite manufacturing of smaller wood pieces tied together. Working with our architects Mecanoo and RDHA, Graham Construction, and project partners, every aspect of the Lawson Centre for Sustainability has been thoughtfully planned to truly embody sustainability.”
Trinity College began initiating its sustainability goals in 2019 with a donation of $10 million from Brian and Joannah Lawson as a part of the college’s Living Trinity program. Lawson is the chancellor of Trinity College, as well as an alumnus.
The school aims to raise an additional $7 million by 2025 to help support the building of the Lawson Centre.
Terpstra said the design is an innovation in sustainable building planning: “What makes the Lawson Centre for Sustainability unique is that it features all the major sustainability components in one facility, including a geothermal exchange system and a rooftop farm. In addition, almost all major building materials are sourced in Ontario including mass timber, compressed bricks and limestone. It is also one of the first uses of mass timber for residential construction.”
Mass timber is a rapidly growing building material for eco-friendly architectural projects. A type of wood, mass timber has replaced steel in some builds as an alternative that uses less carbon emissions and is also more energy efficient.
In Toronto, mass timber has been used in numerous projects in recent years including the University of Toronto’s John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design. A 14-storey mass-timber building on Devonshire Place, called the Academic Wood Tower, will be Canada’s largest mass-timber building upon completion. In June, Toronto city council approved a 31-storey skyscraper at College and Henry streets that would potentially be the tallest wooden structure in Canada.
Geosource Energy helped design green infrastructure for the project and installed the geothermal heating and cooling system. Paulina Barnes, director of sales and marketing for Geosource, said the “installation included the drilling of 57 vertical boreholes to a depth of 637 feet. The geothermal system utilizes the earth as a thermal battery, providing onsite renewable heating and cooling, thereby significantly reducing operating carbon emissions.”
The building is projected to be completed around 2025, earlier than the original projected date of 2026, when the building’s planning started back in 2020.
February 12th, 2025 · Comments Off on NEWS: Curbside Cycle weathers assault on Bloor bike lanes (Jan. 2025)
Family business finds its niche and thrives despite Doug Ford
Aaron Enchin carries on the legacy to promote urban cycling. ROSE HABERER/GLEANER NEWS
By Rose Haberer
Since its introduction, the Ford government’s Bill 212: Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act has met with a symphony of local public outrage.
Rumours of Premier Ford drafting legislation to restrict the construction of new bike lanes and remove those on Bloor street began spreading as the summer heat softened in September 2024. Now, at the pinnacle of Toronto’s cold winter, with the bill having passed, the bonfire of protest continues to burn.
An example of this protest in the Annex community was when MPP Jessica Bell spoke at an Oct. 23 bike protest titled Rally and Ride for Road Safety at Queen’s Park, demanding the Ford government allow municipalities the freedom to install and maintain bike lanes without needing the restrictive approvals that Doug Ford insists upon. Hundreds of citizens gathered, ringing their bike bells in a melody of solidarity.
The myriad detrimental effects of the bill on cyclists, safety, active transportation, and the climate are evident. But what about its impact on bike businesses?
In the heart of the Annex, at 412 Bloor St. W., near Brunswick Avenue, sits Curbside Cycle, a hip bicycle shop that serves as a cornerstone of Toronto’s cycling community. Owner Aaron Enchin believes the removal of bike lanes could severely harm establishments like his, but his primary concern lies with cyclists, particularly newer riders, who may feel uncomfortable and unsafe without proper infrastructure.
“When you have good infrastructure, you have more accessibility, especially for people who feel less certain on a bike,” Enchin said.
Enchin dismissed claims that bike lanes cause congestion, deeming them unfounded. He pointed out the numerous studies demonstrating bike lanes’ benefits for neighbourhoods. “The goal is to move people,” he said, emphasizing the need for a cohesive approach to street infrastructure where all forms of transportation work together.
Curbside is a cherished Annex institution with its lineage tracing back to an Annex curb—hence the name. In 1991, founder Don Watterson, stepfather to Enchin, launched the shop as a humble bike repair pop-up beneath a tent. They moved into their brick-and-mortar location in 1994. Don had a sudden realization about the gaps in Toronto’s cycling world: while the demand for urban mobility through biking was evident, there was a lack of bicycles designed specifically for city navigation.
This realization became the foundation of Curbside’s mission—to promote urban cycling and foster a sustainable cycling culture in Toronto. Like a bike alchemist, Don began transforming mountain and road bikes into city-centric creations. Curbside is a pioneer of what is now a vibrant and diverse cycling community. In the time of flip phones and Spice Girls, otherwise known as the 90s, they had already begun morphing road bikes into flat handlebar bikes, giving rise to what we now know as hybrid bikes. Over time, Curbside grew into the Annex staple it is today, importing their specialized city bikes from the bike havens of Europe.
After Don’s sudden passing in 2017, the store was entrusted to Enchin who has upheld and expanded the Curbside legacy. He has continued to cater to urban cyclists, offering products designed to make navigating Toronto’s bustling streets more accessible. A standout example is the Brompton, a bicycle that folds seamlessly like origami, making it portable.
Walking into Curbside today is like stepping into a treasure trove of cycling history and innovation. The air is tinged with the smell of fresh bikes, each one ready to embark on its own journey through the city.
Enchin, who has been working at the store since his preteen years, reflects on what it meant to have the store passed down to him.
“I probably didn’t understand what I was involved in until much later. But keeping the legacy of Curbside alive and keeping Don’s vision alive became very, very important to me,” he shared.
When he took over the store, Enchin made it his mission to give back to the community and support the Annex neighbourhood. For him, that meant building trust with both the community and his customers by curating the best quality brands for cyclists.
“I’m here from the service side for our local customers, as well as being an online resource for people who want to learn about bikes,” he stated. The Bloor Street bike lane, which sits right outside the shop like a red carpet for cyclists, is a motivating feature for Enchin and the curbside staff. It stands as a testament to the accessibility that Curbside promotes. He also highlighted the strong and loyal customer base that continues to support the shop. “Yeah, I think that honours Don’s legacy really nicely. It feels right, and we feel like we’re at home in the Annex,” he added.
According to Enchin, the most rewarding aspect of running Curbside is the store’s deep-rooted connection with the community, a bond that has flourished since its inception. This past fall, Curbside partnered with Fiesta Farms to host a social event that brought their community together. Though a retail business at its core, Curbside goes to great lengths to engage with the local community, even working to address the bike lane issue. Collaborating with organizations such as Cycle Toronto—a nonprofit advocating for safe cycling infrastructure and policies—Curbside aims to make a tangible impact.
“We can come at the issue from a kind of brand or service side where we can help put people on bikes physically, whereas they can encourage advocacy,” he explained.
When asked about the store during his childhood, Enchin shared memories from what he described as a grungier era of Curbside. Back then, they sold both mountain and city bikes, much to his teenage delight. “We would make obstacle courses through the shop and ride our bikes around, trying not to fall over or knock anything over,” he recalled with a laugh.
But how has Curbside changed over the years?
The core mission of Curbside remains unchanged, but the company has evolved by offering a wider variety of bikes to cater to a broader range of cyclists. “The golden thread that runs through Curbside remains the same. We’re still trying to bring bikes to the everyday person,” said Enchin.
Now, with the “golden thread,” Enchin speaks of running through him, it’s clear that the heritage of Curbside continues to burn brightly. Don’s mission of championing everyday people is alive, even as Aaron adds his own unique mark to the legacy.
When asked what lessons he learned from Don, Enchin smiled and shared an inside joke: “Don’t forget about the long-fingered gloves.” Although it may sound humorous, for Enchin this piece of wisdom serves as a microcosm for running his community-oriented business.
“Every item we sell is a person’s story, and we need to have something that serves every single person who walks through our door.”
Enchin shared that Don had a remarkable ability to identify gaps in the market—spaces that reflected real needs—and step into them to transform them for the better. “That’s a lesson I’ve definitely picked up from him. It’s really a Don message,” he said.
The people using bike lanes are not professional cyclists or road racers.
Each bike offered by Curbside represents the everyday cyclist who relies on these lanes for transportation; for instance, a cargo bike might carry a parent with a child in the canopy, while a Brompton folding bike could belong to someone returning home with groceries in a pannier.
A city bike may be used by a university student gripping its handles, and an electric bike might be used by an adult commuting to a 9-to-5 job. The Ford government’s bill is not just a restriction on bike lanes; it is a restriction on the people who depend on them.
Determined to meet every customer’s needs with the same care and attention to detail that Don championed, Enchin continues Don’s legacy—always striving to find the perfect “long-fingered glove” for every individual who walks through the Curbside door.
February 12th, 2025 · Comments Off on CHATTER: Protesters disrupt Freeland’s leadership announcement (Jan. 2025)
BRIAN BURCHELL/GLEANER NEWS
At her official launch event held Sunday, Jan. 19 more than a dozen protestors interrupted Chrystia Freeland’s address. The packed event was held in the gymnasium of the Annex-based St. Alban’s Boys and Girls Club. The protestors displayed flags and banners relating to the war in Gaza. They were quickly escorted out of the gym by staff one by one.
Freeland is the member of Parliament for University-Rosedale and until recently the Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister. She resigned from those portfolios in December. Her quitting the cabinet in a dramatic fashion may have been the final straw, forcing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to announce his resignation pending a leadership contest. The winner will automatically become prime minister and face a combative Parliament keen on a federal election and an aggressive U.S. president threatening a trade war with Canada and Mexico.
Freeland, who stood her ground against the disruptions, said “we welcome different points of view, but this is not okay. It’s not okay to disrupt Canadian democracy.” Eventually, she was able to return to her remarks where she made her pitch to become Liberal leader and prime minister, claiming that she is “battle-tested with the scars to prove it” for a trade war with Donald Trump. Freeland led Canada’s negotiating team during Trump’s first term in office when the North American Free Trade Agreement was in jeopardy.
If Trump fulfills his promise to add a 25 per cent tariff to all goods coming into the United States from Canada, “we will deliver a dollar-for-dollar retaliation” she said. “If you hit us, we will hit back. We love our country as much as you love yours.”
Freeland’s main rival to replace Trudeau is Mark Carney, who is the former governor of the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England.
—Brian Burchell/Gleaner News
Comments Off on CHATTER: Protesters disrupt Freeland’s leadership announcement (Jan. 2025)Tags:Annex · News
February 12th, 2025 · Comments Off on CHATTER: Insomnia Restaurant launches Artist Series (Jan. 2025)
Jasmine Virginia’s exhibit of intricate work opens on Feb. 3. COURTESY INSOMNIA RESTAURANT
Insomnia Restaurant (563 Bloor St. W.) has officially launched their Artist Series, an ongoing celebration of artistry and connection that invites guests to experience exceptional work from talented visual artists.
The Artist Series features rotating exhibits, with artwork displayed on the restaurant’s walls. Guests can meet the artists during the opening and closing parties, learn about their creative journeys, and purchase artwork anytime during the exhibit. The program highlights both seasoned and emerging talents.
“We’ve always strived to create a space where people feel connected—through food, music, and now visual art,” says Insomnia’s Creative Coordinator, Sophia Alexandra. “This series gives artists a platform to share their talent and brings a new layer of creativity and connection to our guest experience.”
The work of John Courtney, who uses a combination of acrylics and mixed media on large scale canvas, is on display until his closing party on Feb. 16. The opening party for Jasmine Virginia’s intricate work is on Feb. 3. To learn more, apply to exhibit, or to make a reservation for one of the artist events, please visit www.insomniarestaurant.com.
—Gleaner News Staff
Comments Off on CHATTER: Insomnia Restaurant launches Artist Series (Jan. 2025)Tags:Annex · News · Arts
