This Saturday marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This day builds on Indigenous community efforts, which established Orange Shirt Day in 2013 to honour Phyllis’ Story, whose new orange shirt was taken on her first day at residential school when she was just six years old. We wear orange to honour survivors, families and those we lost.
After the summer recess and the introduction of the new Mayor, City Hall is moving fast this fall to make changes to improve the lives of Torontonians as we look to create more housing, improve our financial stability, and make the City a safer, more just society. Last week City Council approved the new financial plan, creating a path forward to protecting the services our City needs to grow and prosper.
It is hard to believe it is already September! Students are getting ready to go back to school, the CNE is coming to a close, and people across the ward are preparing to enjoy one last long summer weekend. I want to wish everyone a safe and happy one, and all the best to the students getting set to return to school on Tuesday.
Two important reviews are currently taking place that will affect our ward for the years ahead: the Noise Bylaw and the Night Economy Review. While separate reviews, together they will play a role for both residents and business in our downtown communities.
At the start of their development application for Ontario Place, the Province agreed to respect the City’s planning review process and public engagement framework. Alongside City staff, I have worked to ensure the process is democratic and transparent. That means allowing the public to consider the proposal – and any changes – with full details and with facilitation of City staff in public forums – not through public relations messaging by one of the Province’s lease holders.
I am incredibly honoured to be appointed first Deputy Mayor of Toronto by Mayor Olivia Chow and my fellow councillors. I love Toronto. It’s my home. And I believe that everyone should be able to imagine a future here.
There is nothing quite like summer in the City! This long weekend events are taking place all across Spadina-Fort York, that we’ve shared more about here. I’m especially excited to celebrate Caribbean Carnival with the Grand Parade this Saturday.
This week we held our first City Council meeting with Olivia Chow as our new mayor. Despite only a week in the role, the Mayor and Council have come together to increase funding for refugee settlement, declare gender-based violence an epidemic, and approved the Ontario Line Subcommittee construction recommendations.
This week at City Council, a two-month pilot program to allow personal alcohol consumption in select parks across our City was approved to run from August 2 to October 9. In our ward the two parks have been selected, Roundhouse Park and Trinity Bellwoods Park.
In a city like ours, we should be able to welcome people fleeing persecution and looking for a better life. The City of Toronto should have the resources committed by the federal government to do this – and it is unacceptable that is not the case.
The Subcommittee on Metrolinx’s Ontario Line Construction approved the City’s Recommendations for Metrolinx's Ontario Line Construction. They outline clear direction to Metrolinx and the Provincial Government on how to build and implement the Ontario Line to ensure the best results are achieved for Toronto residents.
A new Mayor means new opportunities for our City, and I look forward to working with Mayor-Elect Olivia Chow on building a more just and equitable Toronto. Olivia will take the declaration of office and officially assume the role of Mayor next Wednesday, July 12.
I’ve heard from many of you about the construction on Adelaide Street, and I share your concerns about the safety and accessibility of the street while work is happening. I am pleased to share a few updates as I continue to work with city staff for better in the circumstances.
Today we opened Love Park, a beautiful new green and public space at York St and Queens Quay West which transformed an old off-ramp into the literal heart of our waterfront! It's an inspiration for this city I know we love, and the ways we show it. Here's three ways that we have coming up.
Councillor Ausma Malik (Ward 10, Spadina-Fort York) introduced a motion on June 15, 2023, seconded by Jennifer McKelvie (Deputy Mayor), to pass critical measures to restore ecology and preserve the history and culture of Hanlan's Point Beach.
I was glad to vote yesterday at Canoe Landing Community Recreation Centre in the Mayoral By-Election. There is just one ballot, so you can vote in any advance poll location across the city! Your vote is your voice for the city we want. I am also working to ensure community voices are heard as part of a robust and transparent public engagement process for the development application at Ontario Place.