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Bulletin of Events, Activities and Trends |
FoNTRA Newsletter - November 2024 |
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Dear Association Contact
This email is the eleventh edition of our monthly eNewsletter - with information on upcoming meetings, surveys and other activities across the City. Please share with your members.
November is named for the ninth (novem) month in the early Roman calendar, into a social time of health awareness and general elections. November marks the beginning of the winter holiday season for most folks, even if the winter solstice doesn’t occur until late December.
Our lead articles this month focusses on the work of the Alliance for a Liveable Ontario (ALO). The first article highlights ALO's affordable housing plan and FoNTRA's endorsement this plan. The second article summarizes the recent press release from ALO where the Ford Government receives a failing grade in its response to the housing crisis.
Feel free to share the contents with fellow residents and neighbours.
Best regards,
Geoff and Cathie
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The Alliance for a Liveable Ontario |
FoNTRA: Endorses ALO's Five Ways to Make Homes Affordable in Ontario |
FoNTRA hosted Franz Hartmann's Presentation of the ALO's Affordable Housing Plan
FoNTRA invited Franz Hartmann from the ALO to make a special virtual presentation at our November 19th General Members Meeting. The presentation was titled 'Five Ways to Make Homes Affordable in Ontario.' Residents' associations from FoSTRA and the Scarborough United Neighbourhoods (SUN) attended the session.
The presentation was followed by a Q&A session providing perspectives from many diverse neighbourhoods from across the City. Franz highlighted the need for urgent coordinated action given the prospect of an early provincial election in the spring.
The FoNTRA General Member's Meeting followed the ALO presentation and the members voted to endorse ALO's 'Five Ways Plan'.
Additional information on the Five Ways Plan can be found HERE.
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The Alliance for a Liveable Ontario
"The ALO includes people and groups representing hundreds of thousands of Ontarians from many different sectors. We want to build a liveable Ontario and stop the Provincial Government policies that falsely claim they will solve the housing issues facing us, while harming our communities and undermining the protection of our farmland, natural areas and democratic institutions."
FoNTRA is a supporting member of the ALO.
The ALO website can be found HERE.
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ALO: Ford Government receives Failing Grades in New Housing Report Card |
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Excerpts November 19, 2024 - ALO Press Release
"The Alliance for a Liveable Ontario, a coalition of farmers, environmentalists, housing activists, land use planners, health care providers and community groups released a new report card evaluating the actions that the Provincial government has taken to solve the housing crisis. It concludes that they have only made it worse."
“Anyone looking to buy a home or rent an apartment knows things are worse today than in 2022 when Premier Ford promised to solve the housing crisis,” said David Crombie, former Toronto mayor and a founder of the Alliance for a Liveable Ontario. “A key reason for this is because the province has sent the wrong signals to developers and municipalities and encouraged the wrong type of housing in the wrong places at the wrong prices.”
“The Province has the power to help solve the housing crisis but it has used it to do the opposite of what is needed,” said Victor Doyle, former Manager of Provincial Planning for Central Ontario. “Almost every action taken by the Ford government under its housing agenda either has nothing to do with housing or has missed the mark in supporting the types of housing people need, in the places they want to live at prices they can afford.”
The report examines key housing bills passed by the Province since fall 2022. It evaluates whether the bills help or harm getting the right type of housing built in the right places at the right prices.
“The Province needs to reverse course immediately if it wants to help solve the housing crisis,” said Franz Hartmann, Coordinator of the Alliance for a Liveable Ontario. “It’s time to stop helping developers build more expensive sprawl housing and instead use provincial powers to help build the homes Ontarians need and want.”
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The Avenues They are A-Changin' |
Kyle Knoeck, Acting Chief Planner and Gord Perks, Chair of Planning & Housing Committee |
PH16.1: As-of-Right Zoning for Mid-rise Buildings on Avenues and Performance Standards
Planning and Housing Committee was held on October 30, 2024 Cityc Council sessions were held on November 13 & 14, 2024
Summary of Proposal
This report recommends a zoning by-law amendment to permit as-of-right heights and densities for mid-rise buildings on lands identified as Avenues and designated Mixed Use Areas in the Official Plan. The recommended zoning by-law amendment implements urban design performance standards, including updated standards for rear transition for that include increased height and density permissions and new setback regulations. The recommendations do not apply to areas subject of secondary plans with the result that few FoNTRA areas are impacted. These changes will enable and expand mid-rise development on the Avenues without the need for a site-specific zoning approval. Property owners would continue to be able to seek additional height or density through a minor variance where appropriate. The recommended changes have the potential to unlock an increase of almost 61,000 dwelling units above the approximately 21,500 dwelling units achievable under existing zoning standards. The as-of-right zoning permissions would apply to permit buildings with heights up to 11 storeys within the designated avenues depending on road widths. For example, properties on Yonge north of Blythwood would be limited to 8 storeys
FoNTRA Submission
FoNTRA's submission to City Council raised three issues. The first issue was a procedural matter concerning the posting of the proposed zoning bylaw changes only one and a half days before the Council hearing. How could we consult with our members on the detailed bylaw changes in with such a short time frame. The second was that the reports on this proposal have never included illustrations of their impacts on adjacent residential neighbourhoods that mainly contain houses.
Finally, our proposal was rejected to have the same setbacks from adjacent neighbourhood properties as from areas designated for open space. The Planning report also recommended reporting on additional residential intensification through further Housing Action Plan work program reviews.
FoNTRA's letter is available HERE.
Councillor Amendments
Councillor Fletcher motioned an amendment asking for a City Planning report list of older avenue studies and recommendations to upzone height, density and built-form permissions.
Councillor Bradford motioned an amendment asking City Staff to consider increasing the height to 12 storeys in certain circumstances. City Council observers wonder why the Vice-Chair of the Planning and Housing Committee did not make the motion during the earlier Committee discussions.
Council Decisions
Council approved the City Planning report recommendations and also approved the two Councillor's amendments listed above.
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Future Zoning Initiatives for Avenues |
Photo Credit: City of Toronto |
Implementing Zoning for Avenues with completed Avenue Studies As-of-Right Zoning for Mid-rise Buildings (New Avenues and Mixed Use Areas) Zoning Review for Transition Zones |
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.
We have highlighted items of city-wide interest to residents' associations. Click on the underlined titles below to access the survey page.
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Checkout the Interactive Map Image Credit: City of Toronto |
The Davisville Complete Street project is an opportunity to reimagine Davisville Avenue from Yonge Street to Mount Pleasant Road as a Complete Street.
Share your comments on where improvements are needed on Davisville Avenue between Yonge Street and Mount Pleasant Road using the interactive mapping tool.
When: Comment period ends December 5, 2024
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The City of Toronto is developing a strategic framework for managing motor vehicle public parking, both on-street and in parking lots. Learn more by watching the introductory video and providing your feedback on the ideas presented in the online survey.
You can also read the complete Strategic Parking Framework report and provide detailed feedback via email. Your feedback will inform the staff report to Council and decisions on how the strategy may be implemented in the coming years.
When: Comment period ends November 26, 2024.
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The City of Toronto is surveying the public to better understand the awareness and usage of 311 services among Toronto’s residents, businesses, and visitors. You can help in two ways.
Help promote the survey by sending the link to friends and family or by sharing posts on the City of Toronto and 311 Toronto social media channels.
When: Comment period ends December 4, 2024.
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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 working towards a cleaner, greener and quieter future which includes transitioning to the use of zero emissions outdoor power equipment, such as electric leaf blowers, lawn mowers and human powered tools like rakes and brooms. The transition means two-stroke engines including gas-powered leaf blowers and hedge trimmers will be phased out of use in Toronto.
When: Comment period ends November 30, 2024
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Eventbrite: After the Flood - Panel Discussion |
Join us for a thought-provoking panel discussion featuring three speakers—John Lorinc, Angela DeMontigny, and Luke Moslenko—as they share their unique perspectives on the critical issues surrounding water, its preservation, and the ways in which human activity impacts this precious resource.
Together, these three speakers will engage in a rich dialogue that bridges scientific, cultural, and policy-driven approaches to water management. They will discuss the urgent need for sustainable practices, the integration of Indigenous knowledge into environmental stewardship, and the collective responsibility to protect water for future generations.
Date: Thursday, November 28, 2024 Time: 6:00 PM - 9:30 PM EST Location: Charles Street Video, 76 Geary Avenue, M6H 2B5
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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The FoNTRA recommended read for the month is a recent post found on the Ontario Nonprofit Network (ONN) website. The ONN is the independent network for the 58,000 nonprofits in Ontario, focused on policy, advocacy, and services to strengthen Ontario’s nonprofit sector as a key pillar of our society and economy.
Here is a summary of the article. |
Image Credit: Ontario Non-Profit Network |
Democracy cannot thrive without the nonprofit sector
Across various demographic groups, income classes, and regions, nonprofits play an essential role in providing people with vital programs and services, and avenues to support causes that help the province (and beyond) thrive.
As an expression of democracy ourselves, nonprofits also have a critical role to play in activating and stewarding a thriving democracy. Governments make, implement, and enforce public policy. But it is the people – the citizens – who should drive it.
Nonprofits Face Significant Barriers
Nonprofits face significant barriers in rallying communities to support democratic processes, primarily due to a lack of public trust in government. This distrust makes it challenging to motivate civic action, such as voting, as people become increasingly apathetic towards politics. This apathy affects the nonprofit sector's public policy and advocacy work, creating a vicious cycle where disengagement leads to unaddressed concerns, further discouraging civic participation. However, nonprofits have an opportunity to change this dynamic, as they are increasingly trusted to provide social services, disseminate information, and coordinate public policy advocacy.
Political Polarization
Another major barrier is the overt polarization within communities, both politically and socially. Political polarization leads to extreme ideological divides and gridlock, undermining civil discourse and trust in government institutions. Social polarization exacerbates divisions and reduces social cohesion, making it difficult for nonprofits to have a collective voice on key priorities. This polarization is further fueled by populist movements and the prevalence of misinformation, which increases apathy towards the democratic process among stakeholders.
Roles of Nonprofit Organizations
To overcome these barriers, nonprofits can leverage election periods to influence policy platforms and encourage civic engagement. They can act as stewards of critical information, providing nonpartisan overviews of election platforms, and catalyzers of civic engagement by educating stakeholders on the electoral process. Additionally, nonprofits can advocate for public policy by meeting with candidates and supporting debates, and mobilize by uniting with like-minded organizations to make collective policy demands. With upcoming elections, nonprofits have a crucial role in strengthening democracy and bringing communities together.
Residents are encouraged to read the full contents of the article by author Javil Joujoute and provide comments back to FoNTRA.
You can find the full article 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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