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Bulletin of Events, Activities and Trends |
FoNTRA Newsletter - December 2024 |
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Dear Association Contact
This email is the twelfth edition of our monthly eNewsletter - with information on upcoming meetings, surveys and other activities across the City. Please share with your members.
December is the month of various seasonal celebrations with many cities hosting Christmas markets, light festivals, and winter carnivals. The Winter Solstice occurs on December 21st and this is the shortest day and longest night in the Northern Hemisphere.
Our lead articles this month focus on the work of two large advocacy groups including 'Charter City Toronto' and 'Cycle Toronto'. Both groups are campaigning to change and reduce the provincial interference in the planning matters in the City of Toronto. FoNTRA applauds their efforts.
Feel free to share the contents with fellow residents and neighbours.
Best regards,
Geoff and Cathie
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City Councillors Propose Citizens’ Committee to Study City Autonomy, Protection from Provincial Interference |
Image Credit: Charter City Toronto |
Member Motion - MM24.15: Important Step for Charter Cities at Toronto City Council - December 17, 2024
"Doug Ford’s threat to rip out bike lanes in the city of Toronto has re-ignited interest in a City Charter for Toronto and other Ontario municipalities as a way to protect us all from undue provincial interference in local affairs.
Doug Ford has so little regard for local democracy in this province that he won’t even allow our city of three million people to design our own streets—a routine undertaking for every other city in the world.
Whenever Doug Ford attacks local democracy—by slashing Toronto city council, overriding local planning decisions, rescinding the right to ranked ballot elections or cutting the revenues cities need to do their work—people get upset and call for fundamental change in the relationship between cities and the provincial government."
Call To Action
"Toronto councillors Josh Matlow (St Paul’s) and Jamaal Myers (Scarborough North) are asking city council to create an advisory body of citizens that will examine ways to give Toronto the power, authority, jurisdiction and resources it needs to function as a 21st century city.
Ask your City Councillor to Vote Yes on a new Citizens' Committee to Study Charter Cities
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Support from residents across the city is necessary to build momentum for this initiative.
We fully expect any advisory board on Municipal Autonomy and Effective Local Governance would recommend a constitutionally-protected City Charter as the best means available to achieve that goal for Toronto and other large municipalities in Ontario.
A copy of FoNTRA's letter along with submissions from other residents' groups can be found on the City's website HERE.
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Charter City Toronto
The goal of "Charter City Toronto" is the adoption of a constitutionally protected City Charter for Toronto and other large Ontario municipalities who want one.
A Charter would assign greater autonomy, new sources of revenue and protection from undue provincial interference in local affairs.
We're a group of independent residents of Toronto who believe cities are the most important level of government in our confederation, and that they should be accorded the respect, authority, resources and protection necessary for them to fulfill their responsibilities.
The Charter City Toronto website can be found HERE.
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Court Challenge to Anti-Bike Law |
Cycle Toronto: Court challenge against Ontario’s anti-bike lane law |
(Cycle Toronto Board Chair Dana O'Born addresses media at this morning's press conference at Queen's Park alongside Bronwyn Roe and Eva Stanger-Ross.) |
Excerpts November 19, 2024 - Cycle Toronto Press Release
"Bill 212 might be law now. But we told you the fight wasn’t over.
This morning, Cycle Toronto launched a Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms Section 7 challenge to the provincial government’s Bill 212 — Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act, 2024, arguing the law’s mandated removal of Toronto’s bike lanes will put lives at risk. The lawsuit also seeks an immediate injunction to prevent the removal of target bike lanes on Bloor Street, University Avenue, and Yonge Street.
Section 7 of Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms reads: “Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of the person and the right not to be deprived thereof except in accordance with the principles of fundamental justice.”
Bill 212 is not just dangerous legislation. It is an infringement on the principles of fundamental justice. Without evidence, the Government of Ontario claims removal of the bike lanes addresses traffic concerns and that they could be replaced by bike lanes on secondary routes. Those routes do not exist.
The bill is not about tackling congestion, working with municipalities for data-driven solutions, or giving people more transportation options. It’s an unprecedented jurisdictional overreach that will cost taxpayers millions of dollars and jeopardize public health."
More details about the court challenge and the Cycle Toronto organization can be found HERE.
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Residents' Groups find the Study Report is lacking and recommend further consultation
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PH17.2 - EHON Neighbourhood Retail and Services Study Phase Two Final Report at Toronto City Council - December 17, 2024
FoNTRA made a submission to the Planning and Housing Committee on December 5, 2024 on this matter. Many other residents' groups provided submissions and recommendations with respect to this report.
An excerpt of FoNTRA's letter is as follows:
"We note that there is considerable concern being expressed that the proposal has not been adequately consulted upon, and consequently there are several requests for deferral to allow for further community consultation. We believe this is part of a wider concern about the pace of change in planning policy, but there is also a lack of discussion of the interrelationship of the various EHON and other City initiatives.
There appears to be the potential for significant overlap between the various initiatives, and therefore confusion as to what is being proposed. While overlap is not necessarily a bad thing, it needs to be understood and communicated For example, the Major Streets policies expand some commercial uses into areas designated Neighbourhoods. After all, locations deep in the Neighbourhoods designated lands (such as minor roads, and cul de sacs) are unlikely to be suitable for neighbourhood retail and services. "
As such we request: That there be further consultation on the Neighbourhood Retail and Services proposals, That PHC recommend to City Council that City Planning be directed to report back on the overlaps and interrelationships of the EHON and related initiatives (such as Neighbourhood Retail and Services, Avenues, Major Streets, Mid-Rise) both at a policy level, and by application in the geography of the City, and the status of each.
The full text of the FoNTRA letter along with submissions from other residents' groups can be found on the City's website HERE.
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City of Toronto: Public Engagement Calendar The Public Engagement Calendar on the city's website features active and upcoming public engagement and consultation events. You can view all of the items on the Calendar HERE. |
The City of Toronto’s Parkland Strategy and Parks and Recreation Facilities Plan are two 20-year plans used to guide growth and investment in parkland and recreation spaces.
Help plan the future of parkland and recreation spaces across Toronto by taking this online survey. Choose between a short or detailed version based on your available time.
When: Comment period ends December 18, 2024
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Have your say about Toronto’s current and future waste management needs and help the City meet its aspirational goal of zero-waste.
When: Comment period ends December 20, 2024
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The City of Toronto is creating a new Action Plan for the TransformTO Net Zero Strategy, the City’s long-term climate strategy.
This survey will ask questions about how you are experiencing climate change, how you are adapting to or plan to adapt to climate change.
When: Comment period ends January 31, 2025
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Eventbrite: Neighbours of the Lake - A Creative Discussion on the Port Lands |
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This panel discussion will explore the transformative role of sustainable and creative approaches in urban design, focusing on how innovative, eco-conscious planning can reshape our cities. By integrating multiple perspectives, we can create a dynamic blueprint for carbon-neutral, creative, and active urban spaces.
Prior to the panel discussion, don’t miss a unique opportunity to join the Culturans team for an intimate, hands-on workshop looking back at the Port Lands Flood Protection project. With limited capacity, this inspiring session explores social design and cultural research while addressing real-world challenges through empathy, co-creation, and impact-driven solutions. Don’t miss this opportunity to collaborate with global changemakers and discover how your creativity can make a difference!
Space is limited, further information workshop cost and registration please email mwaxer@ocadu.ca.
Date: Saturday, February 1, 2025 Time: 4:00 PM - 6:30 PM EST Location: 130 Queens Quay East Toronto, ON M5A 0P6
Cost: Free
More information and registration is found HERE.
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Affordable Housing Committee |
FoNTRA and FoSTRA now have an Affordable Housing Committee - Volunteers Welcome |
FoNTRA and FoSTRA have established a new joint Affordable Housing Committee with Rita Bilerman as the Chair. The Committee will consolidate research and analysis efforts to review new proposals from the Federal government and provincial parties. The Federal and Provincial governments must cooperate and provide new funding to change the status quo.
If you are interested in joining the committee, please forward your contact information to info@fontra.ca
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FoNTRA recommended read for the month is a recent book by Carolyn Whitzman - Home Truths - Fixing Canada's Housing Crisis. |
Home Truths is the definitive book on the Canadian housing crisis. Carolyn Whitzman explains what went wrong, why, and the extent of the damage, and then draws from compelling examples in Europe and Asia to identify viable solutions that will scale. Karen Chapple, director, School of Cities, University of Toronto |
Photo Credit: LinkedIn, School of Cities (UofT) |
New Book: Home Truths - Fixing Canada's Housing Crisis
"This is the book that Canadians must read to understand, confront, and solve our housing crisis.Hundreds of thousands of Canadians exist on the edge. Renters fear eviction, homeowners feel trapped, and both are vulnerable to becoming homeless with a single stroke of misfortune. Unaffordable housing in Canada is tearing communities apart as long-time residents seek affordable housing elsewhere and businesses shutter because they cannot find staff who can afford to live nearby. For two generations, Canadians have watched affordable housing vanish while other nations have been tackling the problem.
In Home Truths, housing expert Carolyn Whitzman reviews the decades of policy that have gotten us into this mess and shows how all levels of government can work together to provide affordable housing where it is needed. Her compelling arguments for policy solutions are backed by ideas from researchers, planners, politicians, developers, and housing advocates at home and abroad.
Home Truths addresses Canada’s crisis from all sides, including exploring what adequate housing looks like, providing ideas on how to resolve homelessness, explaining why nonmarket housing is crucial for Canada, and showing how and why to tackle ever-growing wealth disparities between renters and those who own.
From policymakers, planners, developers, and observers needing to understand Canada’s housing struggles through to Canadians seeking ideas for a new way forward, Home Truths is a critical read for a nation on edge."
You can find a link to the publisher's promotional page HERE. |
If you are aware of any upcoming events that may be of interest to residents' associations across the City, please let us know. Send the information about the event to info@fontra.ca |
Check out the FoNTRA website for the latest updates on events and activities across the city. If you would like to subscribe to our newsletter, use the following link to SUBSCRIBE |
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