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Bulletin of Events, Activities and Trends |
FoNTRA Newsletter - February 2024 |
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Dear RA contact
Happy leaping year February ... enjoy your extra day of volunteer work!
This email is the second edition of monthly eNewsletter - with information on upcoming meetings and other activities across the City.
We have had a positive response to our first edition. If you can think of any ideas to be included in the eNewletter, please let us know.
Feel free to share the contents with residents and fellow neighbours.
Best regards,
Geoff and Cathie
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New Framework for Multi-Tenant (Rooming) HousesStarting March 31, 2024, all operators of multi-tenant (rooming) houses will be required to obtain a licence. Operators are invited to information sessions in February to learn more about their roles and responsibilities and the new licence application process.
A multi-tenant house is a building with four or more rooms that may have a shared common washroom and kitchen. These rooms may also have a private washroom or kitchen, but not both.
On December 14, 2022, Toronto City Council adopted a new regulatory framework for multi-tenant houses. The Zoning Bylaw was amended to permit multi-tenant houses across all of Toronto and a new Multi-Tenant Houses Licensing Bylaw was also adopted. This new bylaw will introduce consistent standards, regulatory oversight and effective enforcement to protect the safety of tenants and respond to neighbourhood concerns.
There will be five information sessions in February 2024 and all sessions will be identical. Operators are invited to pick one session that best suits them and register online.
Information Session For Operators
- Date: Thursday, February 15
- Location: Virtual
- Time: 6 to 7:30 p.m.
- Register online.
Check HERE for information on the other sessions.
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Ontario Nature: Hold Government of Ontario Accountable for Weakening Species at Risk ProtectionsPlease join Ontario Nature in urging Minister Khanjin not to proceed with proposed regulatory changes which would weaken protections for Ontario’s most vulnerable plants, animals and ecosystems.
The proposed amendments are an example of the Government of Ontario’s relentless drive to prioritize development over environmental protection.
Redside dace and butternut, for example, are two of many species at risk found along the proposed Highway 413 corridor, a project being pushed by the government.
The deadline for submissions is Tuesday, February 20.
Here is the link to the ACTION ALERT.
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Heritage Register Review: Public Information Session- Date: Monday, February 26
- Time: 6:30-8:00 p.m.
- Location: Virtual Meeting
Toronto residents are invited to an online Public Information Session to learn about the City’s Heritage Register Review project. The purpose of the meeting is to share information about the project and answer questions. This project has been initiated to develop a strategy for responding to amendments made to Section 27 (Heritage Register) of the Ontario Heritage Act that came into force on January 1, 2023. Listed properties that are not designated by December 31, 2024 will be eliminated from the Heritage Register unless designated in the meantime (and not permitted to be re-listed for 5 years). The Heritage Register Review project is focused on developing an ongoing strategy to prioritize the designation of properties that are currently listed on the Toronto Heritage
Please click the HERE for registration.
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Options for Homes: Special Presentation to FoNTRA members on the activities of this development group- Date: Tuesday, March 5
- Time: 6:30-8:00 p.m.
- Location: Virtual Meeting
Options for Homes is a non-profit real estate developer that strives to spread wealth across society by giving more people a chance to experience the benefits of home ownership. They do this by building affordable housing as well as with their progressive boost down payment system. They also go above and beyond in achieving their goals by presenting free seminars on taking the proper steps toward buying condos.
They began their efforts 25 years ago when they successfully competed affordable developments in Toronto’s Distillery District. Since then, they’ve successfully helped people move into over 3,100 homes throughout the GTA.
Mark your calendars, the agenda and meeting invitation will follow soon.
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Improving Community Consultation in the Development Review Process - In-person SessionsFirst Meeting- Date: Tuesday, March 12
- Time: 6 to 8 p.m. – (Presentation at 6:30 p.m.)
- Location: Metro Hall, 55 John Street
- Third Floor, Rooms 308 & 309
Second Meeting- Date: Wednesday, March 20
- Time: 6 to 8 p.m.
- Location: Etobicoke Civic Centre, 399 The West Mall
- Committee Rooms 1, 2 & 3
Ongoing changes to the City’s development review process, including significantly reduced decision-making and approval timelines under Bill 109, have made it harder to residents to feel included in the community planning and consultation process for new developments.
In October 2023, Council requested City Planning undertake stakeholder and public consultation on the City’s pre-application consultation process (PAC) and Community Consultation Meetings (CCM) to ensure that residents are well informed, and have opportunities to provide meaningful feedback in the planning of their communities.
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Toronto Board of Health begins public consultations for Toronto Public Health’s new Strategic Plan
This plan will serve as the guiding blueprint for Toronto Public Health (TPH) as it strategically navigates key priorities, ensuring continued delivery of high-quality programs and services to the diverse population of more than 3 million residents in Canada’s most multicultural city.
Help shape Toronto Public Health’s new strategic plan. Your feedback is an important part of the process. Online survey
Submit your feedback by completing the survey by Sunday, March 17. Start HERE Host your own Community ConversationConnect with friends, family, colleagues or neighbours to discuss priorities for the health of Toronto’s population. This option gives communities the opportunity to voice their opinions and ideas in a format and space that works best for them.
Submit your comments and feedback to TPHconsult@toronto.ca
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Popup Working Group – Major Streets in Neighbourhoods - The FoNTRA Working Group was expanded to a Popup Working Group to include interested RA's from across the City.
- The Popup Working Group format was quite successful and will be used in some of our future advocacy activities.
- Proposing up to 6 storeys on Main Streets (outside Avenues) in Neighbourhoods
- Report to PHC on Sept 28, 2023 for approval to proceed with public consultation
- EHON Major Streets team organized two webinars for Resident Associations and community organizations plus a number of open house consultations around the city
- Working Group prepared a letter identifying eight key issues. You can find the Working Group letter HERE.
- Planning staff will consider comments in January and February and report back to PHC in Q1, 2024
- FoNTRA will advise Work Group members of any movement on this file.
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FoNTRA Working Group - Avenues Mid-rise and Proposed replacement of rear angular plane - This proposal is sometimes referred to as the 'Wedding Cake Design' initiative
- Replacement of angular plane that was established to protect adjacent neighbourhoods from loss of sun and impact of higher development on Avenues to allow for more boxy buildings that can be cheaper to build. Proposed 6 storey base adjacent to houses is too high. FoNTRA letter objected.
- Planning report did not show the differences or provide information or considerations about the impacts of the change.
- FoNTRA letter submitted and deputation was made at November 30, 2023 PHC. Read the FoNTRA letter HERE.
- Final City Planning Report not yet scheduled.
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FoNTRA Working Group - Participation at the Committee of Adjustment Stakeholder Meeting- FoNTRA Working Group (five) members attended the in-person session on January 16, 2023. There were about 30 other residents' association members in attendance.
- The meeting was an engagement session on the Committee of Adjustment (CoA) KPMG Recommendations and other CoA transformation initiatives.
- City Planning staff provided an update on the KPMG CoA Review recommendations implementation plan and the larger CoA work plan, as well as solicit feedback on how to engage stakeholders on specific recommendations.
- City Planning staff also gathered feedback on the COA hybrid hearings, which were launched in July 2023
- City Planning's slide presentation can be found HERE.
- FoNTRA will reach out to all City residents' associations to determine interest in a Popup Working Group. Stay tuned.
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Ford government's moves to evade court scrutiny face challenges - G&M February 12, 2024
Globe & Mail reports that the Ontario government has embedded clauses in some of its recent legislation that are aimed at immunizing itself from lawsuit and reducing the ability for judicial review.
Ontario Place for All has recently vowed to fight a government motion filed in court last month that cites the new law as a reason to toss out the group's case.
The government recently passed legislation deeming that MZOs did not need to comply with provincial policy. Laura Bowman, a lawyer with Ecojustice, argued that this legislation is a challenge to the rule of law.
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Tall Towers – Two developments on Bloor Street requested for additional storeys/height at Committee of Adjustment- Several instances of requests for additional storeys beyond previous City Council decisions referred to Committee of Adjustment rather than regular planning approval process
- Residents were concerned that the CoA not appropriate venue for these applications. The proposed changes were clearly not 'minor'
- Councillor Diana Saxe made a motion at PH9.13 - Committees of Adjustment and Minor Variances to address this issue. The decision was as follows:
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PHC directed the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to review and report back to the Planning and Housing Committee by the fourth quarter of 2024 on whether the City should adopt a by-law under Section 45 of the Planning Act to establish criteria that would limit what qualifies as a minor variance when applicants request additional height for large-scale multi-storey development proposals that already hold site-specific zoning permissions as an outcome of a private application for rezoning.
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More Darkness in Ontario’s Democracy - Sandford Borin's post of February 8, 2024
Here is a short extract from Professor Sandford Borins’ recent blog post.In the realm of Canadian politics, the practice of writing mandate letters plays a crucial role in shaping government priorities. After an election, first ministers (such as premiers) send these letters to their cabinet colleagues, outlining specific deliverables and objectives. While some governments, like those led by Trudeau, McGuinty, and Wynne in Ontario, make these mandate letters publicly available, others, including Harper and Ford, do not. Despite their confidentiality, these letters provide essential guidance to the bureaucracy and serve as a tool for holding the government accountable.Recently, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled on a case involving the Ford Government’s secret mandate letters. The CBC had requested access to these letters through freedom-of-information legislation, but the court ultimately upheld their confidentiality as part of Cabinet decision-making. This decision sets a precedent with national implications, potentially compromising transparency and public accountability by allowing governments to keep their mandate letters hidden from scrutiny.
You can find the full text of the blog post HERE.
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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
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Check out the FoNTRA website for the latest updates on events and activities across the city. The link to the FoNTRA website is HERE.
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1601 Bayview Ave, Toronto, ON, M4G 4G8, Canada
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