August 8th, 2023 · Comments Off on FORUM: Leveraging a green agenda (April 2023)
Finding impactful uses for community benefit funds
By Dianne Saxe
I hope you are well and enjoying the warm spring weather. I am thrilled to report that over the past few months, I have had the pleasure of collaborating with many of my council colleagues on a range of important initiatives. These initiatives are aimed at improving Ward 11 and our city.
I am grateful to Councillors Morley and Colle, as well as Deputy Mayor McKelvie, for supporting my motions on slope stabilization for ravines, setting a schedule for a restoration plan for the Vale of Avoca, and piloting e-bikes in Bike Share memberships for 100 people on the Ontario Disability Support Program. In addition, Councillor Carroll joined me in a motion to improve snow clearance, with a special focus on sidewalk safety, while Councillor Bravo supported my motion to extend the College Street bike lanes to Lansdowne.
At council, Councillor Myers seconded my motion to invite OMERS to appear at the Infrastructure and Environment Committee to provide a detailed explanation of its plans for climate risk and opportunities while investing our pensions, and Councillor Ainslie seconded my motion to further reconciliation by allowing an Indigenous group to erect storage and meeting structures in a locked corner of Paul Martel Park.
Collaboration is the cornerstone of success for any city, and I am proud to be working alongside my colleagues to make Toronto a better place. Our collective efforts to improve the city are truly inspiring, and I am grateful for everyone who is committed to making a positive difference.
In addition to my other efforts, I have dedicated significant time to examining the complex records of community benefit funds held by the city. My goal is to identify impactful uses for these funds by collaborating with various groups. To this end, I have urged each residents’ association to propose a heritage plaque for their respective areas and recommend ways to enhance the inclusivity of our local parks for girls and women.
This could involve improving lighting and visibility, providing amenities such as washrooms and programming, and addressing key safety concerns that discourage women and girls from using the parks. By leveraging the available funds from sections 37 and 42, I will be able to initiate positive changes that will benefit Ward 11 as a whole.
It is worth noting that the Annex is home to 13 beautiful green spaces, which serve as valuable assets for the community. These green spaces include parks such as Joseph Burr Tyrrell Park, Paul Martel, and of course, Jean Sibelius Park. Each park offers a unique environment and provides a space for community members to relax, play, and connect with nature. As a community, it is important that we take care of these green spaces and work to ensure they are accessible and inclusive for everyone.
At present, one of my primary areas of focus is Jean Sibelius Park where I am working to drive much-needed improvements. Some of the initial items on my agenda include enhancing the big kids’ playground by introducing new features such as a junior bamboo jungle, monkey bars, and a climbing rope. Additionally, I am advocating for step benches to be installed in the corner of the little kids’ playground, an inground trampoline next to the bike share, and a balance beam and body curl bench halfway along Wells, between the hydrant and the vault. By advocating for these improvements, I aim to create a more dynamic and engaging environment that will encourage children and families to spend more time in the park.
At the same time, I am constantly searching for opportunities to protect human health and the natural systems on which our lives depend. I am working with Fleet Services to phase out the city’s use of pre-2008 diesel engines because of their disproportionate damage to human health, while making bikes available for city staff use as they perform their day-to-day duties. We look forward to Municipal Licensing and Standards bylaw officers volunteering to utilize these bikes at their earliest convenience.
Collaboration and community involvement are essential for creating a vibrant and inclusive neighborhood. Through working with my colleagues on the city council and partnering with local groups and organizations, I have been able to drive positive changes in the community, including improvements to green spaces and initiatives that promote inclusivity and accessibility for all residents.
As we move forward, I remain committed to working towards a more vibrant and welcoming ward that benefits everyone. By continuing to collaborate and engage with community members, we can make Toronto welcoming, safe, and enjoyable for all.
Dianne Saxe is city councillor for Ward 11, University-Rosedale.
August 8th, 2023 · Comments Off on FORUM: Ford boosts sprawl, brings in meek renter protections (April 2023)
Annex area renters face a very specific risk
By Jessica Bell
The Conservatives have just introduced some good, bad and ugly legislative changes that impact renters and how we plan and build for our future. Here’s the lowdown.
The government’s Housing Bill 97 allows the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing to not just weaken and eliminate municipal rental replacement bylaws—which is the power they gave themselves in Bill 23—but also strengthen them, which is a modest improvement.
Toronto’s rental replacement bylaw requires developers to return that tenant to their rent-controlled apartment at about the same rent after construction of the new bigger condo and properly compensate a tenant during construction.
This law affects the thousands of our neighbours who live in big purpose-built rentals around Spadina, St. George, Walmer, and Prince Arthur. Eliminating or weakening rental replacement bylaws will make it far cheaper for landlords and developers to set their sights on these buildings and convert them to luxury condos. The affordability of our riding is at stake.
It is essential we pressure the province to bring in a strong provincial rental replacement bylaw and permit municipalities to set their own strong standards. The Annex Residents’ Association and local renters’ associations are working with us to protect these tenants.
In a positive move, Bill 97 also doubles the maximum fine for violations under the Residential Tenancies Act, requires landlords to get a report justifying that renovations can only proceed if the tenant leaves, and gives tenants up to six months after renovations are complete to apply to the Landlord Tenant Board for justice if a landlord refuses to let them move back in, which is their right.
Currently, the tenants only have up to two years to file a complaint which means a landlord can just extend the renovations beyond two years and get away with an illegal eviction.
The residents of 11 Walmer, who have been waiting for years to return to their renovated apartments, could benefit from this change.
The Conservatives, however, have failed to fix the massive loophole of enforcement.
For a landlord to be fined, a tenant must be a volunteer private investigator and good Samaritan for at least a year to make a case to the Landlord Tenant Board.
Successful tenants never get their home back because a landlord can just move a new tenant in, and the maximum compensation tenants get is modest: moving expenses and any additional rent they had to pay for a year.
Since the tenant gains very little from fighting an illegal eviction, the landlord almost never gets fined. To curb illegal evictions, this enforcement loophole must be closed by bringing in stronger rent control and government enforcement of eviction.
In a shocking move, the Conservatives have proposed to radically rewrite Ontario’s planning laws to double down on building more expensive and unsustainable sprawl.
The Conservatives are rewriting official plans and forcing municipalities to open thousands of more hectares of farmland to development, and they are giving municipalities permission to more easily expand their urban boundary and permit more development on farmland in the future.
The Conservatives also want to eliminate density targets that municipalities need to meet in areas already zoned for development.
These radical planning changes could turn the Greater Golden Horseshoe Area into a concrete jungle of highways and low-density, expensive single-family homes that are shockingly expensive for municipalities and taxpayers to service with infrastructure.
Our climate change targets will go up in smoke.
Our office, as well as organizations like Environmental Defence and Greenbelt Promise, are effectively organizing to say no to sprawl and yes to protecting our farmland, our Greenbelt, and building the 1.5 million homes we need in areas zoned for development.
Please connect with us if you want to know more or wish to get involved.
Jessica Bell is the MPP for University-Rosedale and the Official Opposition’s Housing Critic. She can be reached at jbell@ndp.on.ca 416-535-7206.
August 8th, 2023 · Comments Off on LIFE: Harbord House turns 15 (April 2023)
Gastropub caters to a loyal audience
John Oaks, proprietor of Harbord House an adored gastropub on Harbord Street, is all smiles as he celebrates a 15-year anniversary. FOX OLIVER/GLEANER NEWS
By Fox Oliver
Harbord House is the Annex’s very own gastropub. The establishment has been a local favourite for 15 years and draws in the community with elevated takes on classic homestyle dishes.
On March 15, 2008, John Oaks founded Harbord House which now hosts up to 169 people inside and out, seven days a week. “The Harbord House is a local Canadian gastropub featuring homemade comfort food, craft beers, and creative cocktails. We do dishes that everybody recognizes, but we take them to a different level by making nearly everything from scratch in-house with locally sourced ingredients,” said Oaks.
The term gastropub was coined in 1991 by David Eyre and Mike Belben, owners of the Eagle Pub in London, England, when they decided to advance the quality of their food in an establishment that traditionally emphasized drinking over good cuisine.
“I really enjoy people, and I enjoy working with and getting to know them. I’ve been in the pub business for twenty years prior to opening on my own, and I realized there was a market for food that is a little bit more elevated,” said Oaks, on why he chose to open a gastropub.
“I love the idea of a pub, the sense of community that comes from it, and getting to know your guests,” concluded Oaks. Harbord House was originally located at 150 Harbord St., the former site of Rower’s Pub, but was in the process of moving to 124 Harbord Street when the pandemic hit. This provided an opportunity to set up this new (and current) location properly.
The new location was formerly home to Harvest Kitchen, and before that, Kensington Kitchen. All these establishments had the intention of bringing good food to the community, and Harbord House continues to execute this goal with style.
The seasonal and secluded second-storey patio at 124 Harbord St. that seats 40 has always been a favourite throughout the current and previous iterations of the space. A winding Manitoba maple tree weaves through the custom fencing on the patio, furthering the restaurants’ connection with the area.
The pub has a rotating lineup of three to five daily specials, which “lets the chef get creative, and lets the excitement in,” said Oaks. However, the bulk of the menu remains constant, letting the familiar crowd opt-in to their favourites (like the blackened salmon tacos and lamb and rosemary sausages).
“When we opened, we were one of the earlier adoptees of craft beer, a niche that had not been really explored,” added Oaks.
Harbord House also hosts an array of events, including weddings, music launch parties, a monthly sci-fi and fantasy book club (now on their 100th read), and anything else their customers express interest in.
“I love the idea of a pub, the sense of community that comes from it, and getting to know your guests,” concluded Oaks. That passion is what makes Harbord House into a Harbord Home.
Comments Off on LIFE: Harbord House turns 15 (April 2023)Tags:Annex · News · Life
April 12th, 2023 · Comments Off on ON THE COVER: Toronto’s only Black and minority-owned comedy club (Mar. 2023)
Sashka DC performs her comedy set at The Comedy Lab during their Thirsty Thursdays show. COURTESY THE COMEDY LAB
Danton Lamar opened The Comedy Lab at 298 Brunswick Ave. in February 2022 to showcase comics whom he felt weren’t receiving enough stage time.
“When I first got to Toronto in 2019, and when I started trying to get booked in town, I was surprised that every show was (made up of) five straight white dudes and one token minority,” said Lamar.
His reaction, ultimately, was to push back against an industry that felt like an “old boys’ club.”
Lamar has produced comedy shows in Germany, Holland, The Czech Republic, the U.S., and Russia. In Toronto, he started producing acts in different bars before an opportunity came up at Lab416. After a successful test show, the bar’s former overflow space in the basement was transformed into The Comedy Lab where Lamar now runs 24 shows per month. A typical week at The Comedy Lab features two shows a night, Thursday through Saturday. These shows are a mix of professional talent and open-mic nights, both of which welcome and prioritize comics from different minority groups.
They’dies Night, for example, is a themed, monthly open-mic night prioritizing female, nonbinary, and LGBTQIA comics. However, many nights aren’t themed or focussed on a specific demographic because Lamar wants to remind people that comics who are minorities aren’t limited to performing on special events.
“Once you get the room rolling (with laughter), there’s no feeling like having the whole room laughing with you; there’s something ethereal about it,” said Lamar. The audience at The Comedy Lab has similar demographics to most comedy bars and everyone is welcome.
“We are very much an indie club focussed on promoting voices,” said Lamar. “A lot of comics have come (to The Comedy Lab) to do their first sets because they figure it will be a more supportive comedy club than others.”
Lamar finds a lot of his comics through open-mic nights hosted at The Comedy Lab, as well as through peer recommendations. A rotating lineup of commonly underrepresented comedians has allowed The Comedy Lab to grow a reputation for being a welcoming space for new comics of all backgrounds. Setting a tone early on that the space doesn’t tolerate hateful comedy has also let the community know that The Comedy Lab is a safe space for all.
The Comedy Lab is in the lower level of 298 Brunswick Ave. Lamar extends the code WERDCREW to local residents to receive a discount on all of his shows.
—Fox Oliver/Gleaner News
Comments Off on ON THE COVER: Toronto’s only Black and minority-owned comedy club (Mar. 2023)Tags:Annex · News · On the cover
April 12th, 2023 · Comments Off on NEWS: U of T plans two towers for Bloor and Spadina (Mar. 2023)
University chooses developer of Mirvish Village to lead project
A huge swath of U of T property at Bloor and Spadina is planned for re-development with two towers housing residential, academic, and commercial uses. COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO MEDIA RELATIONS
By Fox Oliver
The University of Toronto has decided to partner with Westbank to design, develop, and build the largest university housing development in Canada. The University of Toronto’s Site 1: The Gateway project will be located at the southeast corner of Bloor Street W. and Spadina Avenue and will feature a mix of residential, academic, retail, and outdoor space.
The east portion of the site, where University of Toronto Schools is housed, has undergone a recent significant capital renewal and will remain protected in the re-development. COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO MEDIA RELATIONS
“The Gateway will significantly address the university’s strong demand for housing, advancing the academic mission by adding hundreds of new units to the campus and to downtown Toronto,” stated Scott Mabury, vice-president of operations at U of T. As of 2022, nearly 10,000 students lived in U of T residences across all campuses, but the demand for student housing is still high. The Gateway will likely consist of two towers flanking the University of Toronto Schools’ (UTS) western side, which could provide 700-800 residential units, academic space and a private sector business component. Though building plans have not been completed or publicized, the northern tower (facing Bloor) could extend to 29 storeys tall, and the southern tower (facing Spadina) to 22 storeys, if the university applies to construct the towers to their maximum heights permissible under the view shed restrictions of 1 Spadina Crescent.
“Envisioned as an inviting entrance into the northwest quadrant of the St. George Campus, The Gateway proposes to link the university with the surrounding neighbourhood,” states U of T’s project description. This will be achieved by incorporating retail units, indoor and outdoor amenities, and complementary academic space into the site. UTS and its recent redevelopment will not be affected by The Gateway project.
According to U of T’s press release, “the university’s evaluation committee selected Westbank from a shortlist through a competitive procurement process, led by CBRE.” The Vancouver-based development company, founded in 1992, is currently involved in a mixed-use development at 19 Duncan St., the mixed-use King Condos, and the redevelopment of Mirvish Village (formerly the site of Honest Ed’s) at Bathurst Street and Bloor Street West.
Improved energy infrastructure and sustainable design are key objectives for The Gateway project. These align with the university’s commitment to achieving a climate positive campus by 2050.
“With The Gateway, we saw an opportunity to create an inspiring faculty and student family housing project that will incorporate a high degree of innovation in its response to climate change and a level of city building that the University of Toronto consistently strives to achieve,” said Ian Gillespie, founder and CEO of Westbank, in a press release.
“It was demonstrated to us (during the Mirvish Village Project) that Westbank welcomed consultation, was open to ideas, and was good with sharing plans. The application went through with no appeals; everything was done in the consultation phase,” commends Sue Dexter, a founding board member of the Harbord Village Residents’ Association (HVRA). Westbank owned the property of the Mirvish Village project, allowing them the power to respond to community input as they saw fit. However, the upcoming levels of community engagement with The Gateway project depend on U of T’s willingness to engage and listen, as they own the property.
Julie Mathien, board member of the Huron-Sussex Residents’ Association (HSRO), said “the HSRO supports increased residential units being added to the area,” as the area is in need of student and faculty housing. “We want to help plan with the university so that the development contributes to the surrounding neighbourhood,” added Mathien. However, these conversations will have to wait until U of T selects an architect for the project and further community consultation occurs.
Mathien raises concerns surrounding “the construction of an 11-storey building that is planned to border the back of about 18 housing units on Washington Ave., rendering them unusable in an already tight market.” This is an issue, as multiple area residents’ associations have stated that having the planned 11-storey building expand to the very edge of the laneway behind the houses is not necessary and could be prevented. Since the HSRO’s involvement with U of T’s secondary planning in 1997, it was clear that one of the HSRO’s and U of T’s goals was to “retain the character of residential uses and house form buildings along tree-lined streets (in the Huron-Sussex area),” as described in Section 4.2 of the 1997 secondary plan. However, the current plans for Site 1 would not achieve this goal, as they render housing units unusable.
April 12th, 2023 · Comments Off on FOCUS: Developments on your doorstep (Mar. 2023)
New and continuing developments in the Bloor/Spadina area
By Fox Oliver
The annual Annex Gleaner development synopsis will now be published over a series of editions. The sheer volume of developments in our area requires this. Where possible images of the current site will be presented with architectural renderings of what is proposed/being constructed for that location.
The KESKUS International Estonian Centre design.
9-11 Madison Ave. (KESKUS International Estonian Centre) Construction on the KESKUS International Estonian Centre, located at 9-11 Madison Ave., began in April, 2022.
KESKUS will be replacing the Toronto Estonian House, originally located near Danforth Ave. and Broadview Ave., as the cornerstone for Estonian heritage, community, and culture in Toronto.
The construction of the centre is also meant to encourage business relations between Canada and Estonia.
The interior of the building will feature a large event and performance space that will be made available to the public, as well as spaces for other Estonian services.
This project has a budget of $41 million and an estimated completion date of October 2024. Rendering from Keskus Website.
300 Bloor St. W. Demolition has begun for the 29-storey Cielo Condos at 300 Bloor St. W. and platforms have been prepared to begin the shoring process, according to a statement from the developer.
The condominium will be one mixed-use structure built alongside and behind the historic Bloor Street United Church at 300 Bloor St. W.
The majority of the existing church, built in 1886, and the entirety of the Pigeon House will be retained, with only some of the northern and western parts of the building requiring demolition.
The building will have 284 units, retail/café space, and office space. Worship, community, and office space for the church will also be provided.
The developer is contributing $2.3 million towards capital improvements for new or existing Toronto Community Housing units and/or affordable housing over a 15-year period, as no affordable housing will be part of the new development.
As of October 2022, 90 per cent of the condos had been sold and prices of the remaining units start at $1,253,000. Building occupancy is scheduled for 2026.
316 Bloor St. W. now and to come.
316 Bloor St. W. v After a successful OMB application a condition permit has been issued by the city to construct a new 31-storey mixed-use building with at grade commercial, 403 residential units and 3 levels of underground parking.
Located at the northwest corner of Bloor St. W. and Madison Ave., the 341 units within the building will be a mix of condominium, commercial, and outdoor spaces.
A three-and-a-half office building currently on the site will need to be demolished for construction to occur.
Rendering from State Building Group’s Website.
320 Bloor St. W. now and to come.
320-332 Bloor St. W. This proposed vast 37-storey building, designed by BDP Quadrangle and developed by First Capital, sits at the northeast corner of Spadina Ave. and Bloor St. W., directly across the street from the proposed 334-350 Bloor St. W. development.
While the building has not begun construction yet, the developers are currently waiting for consent to build an overhang in favour of 316 Bloor St. W.
An estimated completion date of 2026 for the building is listed on BDP Quadrangle’s website. The building would contain 366 residential units, which are not currently designated as rental or condo units.
The building is planned to have retail space at grade, two publicly accessible spaces bookending the site, pedestrian access from Bloor St. W. to Paul Martel Park, and access to Spadina Station.
The building’s exterior will feature a distinct vertical terracotta pattern, intended to add depth and design to its facade.
334-350 Bloor St. W. This 35-storey condominium proposed to take over the northwest corner of Spadina Ave. and Bloor St. W. is still in the community planning phase.
Its construction would force out the 7-Eleven, Tim Hortons, and office spaces that exist on the lot currently. On July 27, 2022, Toronto’s Director of Community Planning shared a report recommending that city council approve the decision to construct this building.
The building would be mixed-use, containing 422 residential units, 8,200 square metres of non-residential floor space, and 3,716 square metres of office use space.
An “Urban Living Room,” surrounded by kiosks, would be built on the ground floor, and public art by an Indigenous artist is proposed to be incorporated in the design.
Construction is expected to begin in the spring of 2024 and last for 42 months. The TTC’s original plans to extend the Spadina subway platform in 2040 may be advanced to coincide with this construction which will be happening overhead.
Rendering from the applicant’s submission to the city.
700 Spadina Ave. pre-construction and to come.
700 Spadina Ave. The University of Toronto’s project to construct a 70 metre-high, 23-storey student residence is still underway.
The building is planned to house 508 students and provide student amenity space, as well as retail space along Spadina Ave. A small townhouse is also being built on the site. Above-grade construction began in the summer of 2022, and as of the beginning of the 2023 new year, the seventh and eighth floors are being constructed.
The streetscaping along Spadina Ave. and Sussex Ave. is planned to be completed by the fall of 2023, with the entire project planned to be completed and ready for occupancy by the fall of 2024.
Rendering from University of Toronto Website. More info: https://vporep.utoronto.ca/welcome-to-the-community-page-for-the-spadina-sussex-student-residence-project/
April 12th, 2023 · Comments Off on NEWS: Synagogue renovations focus on accessibility (Mar. 2023)
The First Narayever Congregation opens after three years of renovations
After three years of renovations, the First Narayever Synagogue reopens to the public. The red-tiled exterior pays homage to the red bricks of the original synagogue which has been owned by the congregation since 1940. FOX OLIVER/GLEANER NEWS
By Fox Oliver
The First Narayever Congregation’s synagogue reopened in February after three years of renovations. The congregation’s desire for a space that would meet the needs of a 21st century community was the driving factor behind the renovations.
The upgraded shul is now fully accessible to those with mobility challenges, more environmentally conscious, and is better suited to support a growing congregation.
An elevator provides access to all levels of the multi-story building and is located at the main entrance of the building. Leo Elias, a representative of the First Narayever Congregation, said they “wanted to ensure the elevator fit with the building and didn’t look tacked on, so people knew it belonged, just like any of our members who need to use it.”
Due to the new elevator and other renovations in the basement, the sanctuary of the shul had to be rebuilt. Special care was taken to recreate the sanctuary so it is almost identical to the original. Elias said the room was “held with a lot of fondness by many.”
The most important changes to the sanctuary include making the Aron Kodesh (the holy ark where the Torah Scrolls are kept) and the Bimah (a platform from which the Torah is read) fully accessible. The sanctuary also features an accessible and height-adjustable reading stand, and an improved audio-visual system.
“Lots of communities hold protecting the environment highly in their priorities, and the Jewish community does as well,” said Elias. This dedication to the environment is demonstrated by eco-friendly changes to the building including plans for a solar-panelled roof, a pollinator garden on the balcony, and improvements to the temperature, insulation, lighting, and water management systems.
The renovations also included the addition of another floor which makes room for the Rabbi’s study and office space. The expanded basement has 11-foot ceilings, and pillars were removed to create a room for youth programs and four gender neutral washrooms.
The First Narayever Congregation was founded in 1914 by immigrants from Narayev, Ukraine. The building at 187 Brunswick Ave. was purchased by the congregation in 1940, and since then, small changes have been made to the building, including an expansion project completed in 2000. “This (1999/2000) expansion was nothing close to the size of this project,” said Elias.
In 2015, polls completed by members of the congregation indicated that 82 per cent of respondents were in favour of making changes to the building to improve accessibility, and 85 per cent of respondents were in favour of renovating the existing building as opposed to moving to a new building. The synagogue closed its doors in September 2020 to undergo complete renovations with a budget of $5.5 million, largely funded by donors through the congregation’s Living Our Vision initiative. The new space was designed by LGA Architectural Partners and built by Boszko & Verity Inc. The congregation of approximately 700 members occupied a space at the Leo Baeck Day School during the synagogue’s closure. Now that the shul has reopened and is in use again, the congregation will be celebrating with a street party on Brunswick Avenue on Sunday, May 28.
“I am overwhelmed with joy and gratitude that we have reached this transformative moment in the history of our congregation,” shared Rabbi Ed Elkin of the First Narayever Congregation in a letter to the congregation after the shul’s reopening. “Let those who are looking for beautiful, traditional, egalitarian, davening fill it (the new synagogue) for services,” wrote Rabbi Elkin, inviting those wanting to celebrate their Jewish faith to enjoy the new building which can support a larger congregation than ever before.
April 12th, 2023 · Comments Off on CHATTER: Pink Day returns to University of Toronto Schools (Mar. 2023)
University of Toronto Schools’ Day of Pink celebration seen here in 2018. Toronto Police sent their
mounted unit to show their support. BRIAN BURCHELL/GLEANER NEWS
On April 12, the University of Toronto Schools (UTS) is celebrating the International Day of Pink for the tenth year to stand up against bullying and support its 2SLGBTQ+ community. The Day of Pink will be celebrated with a block party and raffles for the community, in addition to assemblies led by UTS students.
The International Day of Pink, like Pink Shirt Day (which falls in February), is an event which encourages students to wear a pink shirt to stand up against bullying. The Day of Pink, however, focuses specifically on preventing anti-2SLGBTQ+ bullying and hate.
The Day of Pink was first observed in 2007 when two high school students in Nova Scotia noticed their gay peer was being bullied for wearing a pink shirt. The next day, everyone at the school wore pink to stand up for the bullied student, sparking a tradition which has had millions of annual participants since.
“The Day of Pink corresponds directly with our morals and our values (at UTS) of making everyone feel welcome here, no matter what sex, orientation, background, or religious beliefs they have,” said Chris Walasek, a teacher and organizer of the UTS Day of Pink celebrations. “I’ve heard time and time again from students that events like these make all the difference,” said Walasek.
UTS will hold a block party on April 12 on Washington Avenue outside their new building which will feature live music, vendors, raffles, and other student-led celebrations. The raffles, endorsed by the Bloor-Annex BIA and many of its members, will offer a variety of prizes donated by businesses along Bloor Street. Proceeds will go to support Rainbow Railroad, a non-profit organization that helps persecuted 2SLGBTQ+ individuals around the world relocate to safety. The UTS population of over 700 students and staff members invites community members to show their support on the day by wearing pink and joining the fun at their block party.
April 12th, 2023 · Comments Off on EDITORIAL: Ford’s budget is a fail (Mar. 2023)
The province is enjoying a windfall from sales tax on the inflated prices of goods and services. Notwithstanding a legacy of debt, which provincial governments of all stripes have contributed to, this government here and now is swimming in cash. One might have expected a budget with more punch, a budget that makes a difference for the economy, the environment, or for the many Ontarians who are struggling right now—but no. We have a budget that is neither conservative nor progressive, and there appears to be no underlying vision whatsoever, beyond kicking the can down the road.
The finance minister is self-congratulatory. He is forecasting a balanced budget in 2025 on the back of the aforementioned inflationary sales tax bump and a general unwillingness to help out anyone. It’s hardly the “lean mean” fiscal plan one might expect from a Conservative premier. It’s a $195 billion spending plan. Adjusted to today’s dollars, this is the biggest budget the province has ever had and among the least impactful. According to the Globe and Mail’s Andrew Coyne, Ford’s “real spending amounts to roughly $12,000 per capita” more than his Liberal predecessor, Kathleen Wynne, and more even than the former NDP premier Bob Rae, whose real spending was $8,700 per capita. The Conservatives previously took control of the legislature ostensibly to reverse Rae’s wasteful spending, and yet they are now spending 40 per cent more per person, and this is all assessed in today’s dollars.
Not only is spending through the roof, but there is also a lingering debt to carry. Ontario’s debt equals 39 per cent of the economy. This debt-to-GDP ratio is the highest in Canada. The province’s accumulated debt as of March 31, 2023 is $407 billion, and that requires $13.6 billion in annual interest payments. Those payments are in the budget, and that cash is unavailable to support health care, education, or climate change action.
Doug Ford’s government says it will enable the building of 1.5 million homes in the next 10 years. He’s already well behind, as this budget allows for only 80,000 to be built this year. That’s a slide from 2022 when 96,000 were built: the trend is not good. Part of the problem is historic labour shortages in the sector. The province says it will need 72,000 additional construction workers by 2027 to meet its goals. This budget earmarked $3.5 million to help make that happen, but according to the Ontario Home Builders’ Association, that will only contribute to 2000 more workers.
It’s clear this budget does not scream fiscal prudence, but it also doesn’t mean that it is progressive in any way. Low-wage earners have received the equivalent of a kick to the teeth with this budget as the minimum wage has been frozen while inflation hovers around six per cent; pay is now going down. The minimum wage will increase by six per cent in October to $16.55 per hour, but since this only matches inflation, it’s not a real raise. The message to all workers is that the two paid sick days a year Ford gave you during the pandemic are also going down—to zero. This budget contains no provision for rent controls or to prevent “renovictions.” This will impact many Annex residents living in older rental accommodations.
Bill 23 eliminated the municipal power to charge development fees. These are the fees cities use to build infrastructure like roads, sewers, and parks to accommodate new buildings. The estimated loss to the City of Toronto alone is $230 million a year. It’s a gift to the development industry. At the time Bill 23 was introduced, Housing Minister Steve Clark assured municipalities they would be made whole: “There should be no funding shortfall for housing enabling infrastructure as a result of Bill 23,” he wrote.
The budget makes little mention of the climate crisis. In its failed Supreme Court application urging the court to cancel the federal carbon tax for Ontario, the Province of Ontario argued that it was their constitutional right to manage environmental laws and policies. Apparently, in this budget, Doug Ford is showing us it’s his right to do nothing.
In its many failings this budget underscores Doug Ford’s inability and/or unwillingness to govern.
April 12th, 2023 · Comments Off on FORUM: Budget passes in a consensus vote (Mar. 2023)
New support for vulnerable residents
By Dianne Saxe
I hope this message finds you well and enjoying the end of winter. The events unfolding at city hall have been nothing short of extraordinary lately. From the first ever “strong mayor” budget to the mayor’s first loss on a major vote (the Yonge Street Complete Street) to 280 development applications in Ward 11 alone, there’s been a lot going on.
And then, the dramatic resignation of John Tory triggered the largest byelection that Canada has ever seen.
I have been working closely with my colleagues to keep the city running. Together, we engaged in extensive budget negotiations which resulted in consensus motions on Feb. 15 to reallocate $8 million to Toronto’s vulnerable residents.
Council provided $800,000 to pilot a 24/7 warming centre until mid-April, $1.7 million for community organizations catering to the most vulnerable, funds for eviction prevention, $100,000 for the 519, and $1 million for property tax relief for low-income seniors and disabled individuals. Council also reallocated $500,000 to a credit enhancement program which will
expand the Home Energy Loan Program. While there is still much to be done, I am proud to have helped obtain vital funding for those who need it the most.
I am equally proud of the Cecil Community Centre, which has repeatedly gone above and beyond in its efforts to provide a warming centre to those in need during this month’s extreme cold weather.
The Yonge Street Complete Street is now permanent from Bloor to Davisville, thanks to the very hard work of city staff and community activists and to 15 of my colleagues who supported me at city council. Together with the traffic safety study that I requested, this major milestone will improve safety, reduce traffic congestion, and promote sustainability in our city.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to this initiative with their advocacy and feedback.
It’s also great news that Metrolinx finally agreed to move its layover facility out of the Don Valley.
As we navigate the post-John Tory landscape, I will continue to provide steadfast representation and unwavering leadership at city hall, ensuring that the voices of our community are heard, that Ward 11’s needs are met, and that our city takes seriously the risks and opportunities of our climate crisis.
To stay informed on my progress or any other city matter, please sign up for Ward 11’s newsletter here: https://diannesaxe.ca/news/#_newsletter.
Dianne Saxe is city councillor for Ward 11, University-Rosedale.
April 12th, 2023 · Comments Off on FORUM: Conservative budget doesn’t deliver for Toronto (Mar. 2023)
Ford’s budget leaves us hanging
By Jessica Bell
The Conservative’s budget was released on March 23. Overall, the budget increases spending by one per cent, far below the 6.8 per cent rate of inflation. We will be seeing cuts. Here’s the lowdown.
Health care
Funding for health care is about the same as last year, even though demand is growing. The Conservatives are putting more money toward for-profit health clinics in the budget. For-profit health care will worsen staff shortages in the public system, lead to more emergency room closures, and cost Ontarians more.
We are hearing reports of scheduled cancer surgeries in Ottawa being delayed because nursing staff weren’t available to staff the recovery room because they were engaged in “private work.” Nursing staff can earn double at the for-profit orthopedic clinic that rents out operating rooms at the same hospital on Saturdays.
We should resolve the surgery backlog and provide care quickly to Ontarians by investing in public health care, paying health care workers higher wages, and staffing up public operating rooms so they can operate on evenings and weekends.
Mental health
There’s more funding for community mental health care and addictions which is absolutely needed in our riding.
Transit
There’s no new funding for transit operations or maintenance which means the big TTC service cuts in March will remain. In our area, we will see less service on the Line 2 subway line, Queen Street and Dufferin Street. The province used to match the city’s share to the TTC’s budget, and it should do so again.
Housing
The Conservatives announced $202 million each year for two years to homelessness prevention and Indigenous supportive housing.
Don’t think for a second this is new money. Overall, funding to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, which funds housing, is being cut by $124 million.
There is more funding to ease the backlog at the Landlord Tenant Board. To make housing affordable, Ontario must build 1.5 million new homes in areas zoned for development, end exclusionary zoning, stabilize rent, clamp down on investor-speculation, and establish a public builder to construct affordable housing on public land.
Education and childcare
The Conservatives have been falsely boasting about their historic investment in education, but the entire funding increase is coming from the $2.3 billion the federal government gave Ontario for childcare.
We will not know the full extent of the school cuts for a few months. The TDSB is projecting a $61 million shortfall for the coming year and a loss of 522 staff positions. There is sufficient funding to maintain the 50 per cent reduction in childcare fees, with the goal of reaching $10 a day childcare by 2025. Most of this is federal money.
The issue is capacity. This budget doesn’t allocate money to increasing wages to stem the exodus of childcare workers. The budget allocates $226 million to help build the 226,000 childcare spots that need to be created.
Autism
There is no new money to improve Ontario’s inadequate autism funding programs.
Cities
Toronto is getting a seven per cent hike in property taxes and a cut in services and infrastructure because Ford is not giving any new money to cities to help us prosper and pay for the services the entire GTHA uses.
Bill 23 also curtails Toronto’s ability to collect development fees for services, such as transit, affordable housing, and parks.
Unless the federal government rescues us, we’re on track for more property tax hikes and service cuts for years to come.
Poverty
While social assistance rates are now indexed to inflation, the budget did not increase the base rate for Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support Payments. We are calling for a doubling of the social assistance rates because it’s morally the right thing to do, and it’s cheaper.
Climate
There’s no new money for climate action.
We will continue to push for a budget that puts people first, invests in good jobs and public services, makes life affordable, and protects our future.
Jessica Bell is the MPP for University-Rosedale and the Official Opposition’s Housing Critic. She can be reached at jbell@ndp.on.ca 416-535-7206.
