The City of Toronto has been talking about garden suites for years, and on Feb. 2, council agreed to a policy that allows homeowners to build a detached suite in their backyards. 

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The 2022 budget process concluded in late February, followed by a few quick council meetings to address regular business. With the help of my colleagues, and the advocacy of many of you, we achieved notable improvements to a budget that began with glaring gaps in services, while continuing to work to improve safety in our communities. 

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Policing is largely a provincial matter, but faced with massive trucks and bouncy castles clogging up central Ottawa, plus blockades at key border crossings, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had to invoke the Emergencies Act. As usual, Ontario Premier Doug Ford was too focused on the next election to do his job, and he should have to answer for it.

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The 2022 budget process will have wrapped up by the time this publication goes to print, but I still thought I could provide an update on some of the policy pieces I have been working on advancing through my role on the budget committee. 

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Moving into 2022, and as hard as things are right now, I am incredibly grateful to represent a community that is full of people who work so hard to take care of their families, their neighbours, and everyone in our city. As I write this, I know that many of you are facing the stress of another hard winter season with rising COVID-19 cases and frequently changing plans when we were all really looking forward to time in the New Year with loved ones after another long year.

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All levels of government must be engaged in a solution By Mike Layton Years ago, I moved a motion asking the city to begin its work to tackle climate change and the request for this report became TransformTO. The first report was received in 2016 with regular report-backs scheduled in the years ahead, but never […]

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After the city added a temporary bike lane on Bloor Street this year, Brown & Storey added a bi-directional bike lane to its plans for the east side of Avenue Road. This new design would consist of two 1.5-metre bike lanes separated from pedestrians by trees and lighting.

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To build and improve upon this project, the city’s parks department wants to make five more washrooms operational and increase the number of park pathways and trails that get ploughed following a snowfall. High traffic areas and pathways that link parks and community centres to major roadways and TTC stations will be prioritized by this plan.

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Government must be proactive to protect cyclists, pedestrians  By Mike Layton As kids are finally settled into a new school year, road safety continues to be a priority for me. On one of my rides home this past month, I crossed paths with someone not older than 12 using the bike lane on Bloor Street […]

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This federal election, the focus for cities must be on social justice and the recovery. 

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The violence and tactics on display by the City of Toronto in Trinity Bellwoods Park, Alexandra Park and Lamport Park this month is a deeply troubling use of resources and force. The number of armed police present to forcefully remove handfuls of residents experiencing homelessness is disgraceful. idn’t have to be this way and we cannot police our way out of poverty.

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After months of lockdowns, revitalization was at the top of the agenda for the Palmerston Area Residents Association’s (PARA) annual general meeting on June 2. A sustainable and green neighbourhood was second on the agenda for the Association whose boundaries are Bloor, Bathurst, College and Grace.

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