May 2, 2020
Dear Neighbours,
I want to thank everyone for your efforts during this very difficult time. It is very important for all of us, to the best of our ability to follow the mandatory social distancing bylaw!
City of Toronto launches first of three pothole repair blitzes planned for May
The City of Toronto has planned three pothole repair blitzes in May to help keep roads safe and in a good state of repair. The first blitz is today, Saturday, May 2, followed by repair blitzes on Saturday, May 9 and 23, weather permitting.
Crews have already been busy all spring repairing as many potholes as possible on Toronto’s expressways, major roads and neighbourhood streets. City staff will work a 12-hour shift today with appropriate physical distancing measures in place.
Traffic volumes on Toronto’s roads are down between 45 and 65 per cent as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. During the month of April, staff fixed more than 12,000 potholes while making daily pothole repairs. Today’s event will see up 48 crews and 146 people repairing potholes throughout the city. People driving or biking for essential travel today are advised to expect minor delays. The public is asked to be safe by respecting work zones and giving crews space while they make repairs. Please read the news release for more information.
Toronto Public Health warns of callers posing as TPH staff
Yesterday, Dr. de Villa warned that there may be people calling residents in our community who are falsely claiming to be Toronto Public Health staff. In one instance, the individual was asked to provide their banking information and their social insurance number. Dr. de Villa stressed that Toronto Public Health would never request this information because it is not relevant to public health work. Anyone who receives a suspicious call requesting financial information should not give out any personal information and call the Toronto Police Service non-emergency line at 416-808-2222. Anyone with questions about public health operations can contact Toronto Public Health at 416-338-7600.
Experience virtual cherry blossom bloom during closure of High Park
During High Park closure, residents can enjoy the cherry blossom bloom virtually. Throughout the closure period, the City will provide a continuous livestream of the cherry tree grove in High Park, plus multiple live events and videos featuring virtual walk-throughs of the blossoming Sakura (cherry blossom) trees. BloomCam, the continuous live stream, is now live: toronto.ca/cherryblossoms
The use of city parks during COVID-19
As nicer weather approaches, the City wants to leave parks open for residents to enjoy for respite, serenity, and as an escape to nature and green space in our city. However, at this time, the park is not meant to be a destination and all park amenities remain closed. Residents may walk, run or bike through park and ravine green spaces, beaches, trails and boardwalks. Dogs can continue to be walked on-leash. Fishing (with a licence), boating, kayaking and canoeing is also permitted.
Property tax and utility bills
The 60-day grace period for property tax and utility bill payments and late penalties ends May 15. Customers already enrolled in the City’s pre-authorized payment plan don’t have to re-enroll – payments will start again automatically after the grace period ends. Property owners will be receiving a letter in the mail regarding payment due dates. Please visit Property Tax and Utility Bills section of the COVID-19: Changes to City Services webpage for more information.
Residential permit parking renewal
The May 31 deadline for residential permit parking renewal applications has been extended until further notice. Toronto Police will continue to use discretion when enforcing permit parking areas. Learn more at toronto.ca/covid19 under Parking.
Regular updates are being made to the COVID-19: Changes to City Services webpage.
City of Toronto update on COVID-19 cases and enforcement
The City of Toronto continues to respond to COVID-19. Residents are reminded of the importance of reducing all contact with others as much as possible and staying home except for essential outings to help stop the community spread of the deadly virus. As of this afternoon, there are 5,967 cases of COVID-19 in Toronto. Cases include 5,366 confirmed cases and 601 probable cases. There are 375 cases hospitalized, with 112 in intensive care units. We continue to see COVID-19 deaths; to date 398 people in Toronto have died from COVID-19. Case status data can be found on the City’s reporting platform.
Enforcement of the City’s physical distancing bylaw and the Province’s Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act orders is ongoing. Yesterday, the City received 116 complaints involving people using outdoor amenities or not practising physical distancing in parks. Bylaw and police officers issued one ticket – bringing the total number of tickets issued since April 3 to 588. Bylaw and police officers have spoken to more than 13,500 people in City parks about the closures and public health measures. The City also received 43 complaints yesterday related to non-essential businesses remaining open. Since March 24, Municipal Licensing & Standards and Toronto Public Health have issued 99 tickets and 210 notices to non-essential businesses.
Targeted spring cleanup across the city
Targeted spring cleanup is taking place across the city over the next few weeks. Spring cleanup activities include:
· Illegal dumping cleanup
· Boulevard and laneway cleaning
· Litter and debris removal in parks
· Fence-line litter clearing
· Street sweeping to clean up dirt and debris from Toronto’s streets.
During the pandemic, the City has been working hard to keep public spaces clean and safe. Staff are out each day picking up litter, emptying street and park waste bins and sweeping streets. The public can do their part to help keep Toronto clean and safe by properly disposing of items in available street bins and not littering. You can also report litter hot spots to 311. In light of the COVID-19 situation, the City does not want the public handling items that have been discarded on the ground in Toronto’s public spaces or organizing community cleanup events. If residents find personal protective equipment or other trash discarded on their property, they are advised to use gloves to pick it up and to discard it in the garbage, along with the gloves and then wash their hands.
Pride will be celebrated virtually in Toronto this year
Pride Toronto has announced that, in lieu of its annual Pride Festival Weekend in June, this year’s celebration will run virtually. Virtual Pride 2020 can be accessed through Facebook here.
Please click here for a list of food banks and soup kitchens in the Ward 24
Please remember to call ahead to book to ensure they are properly stocked. For those interested in volunteering, food banks are always looking for volunteers, so please feel free to save and share this information.
Please click here for a list of food banks in Scarborough
Essential Government Information for COVID -19
Public Health’s information line & 311 are experiencing high call volumes. Residents can get the information they need online at www.toronto.ca
The City’s website has a tool that can translate pages into 51 different languages.
If you need info on COVID-19, please visit the following websites:
Official Global Travel Advisory
The City’s website is updated daily with the latest health advice, and information about City services and social supports. Check https://www.toronto.ca/covid-19/ for answers to common questions before contacting the Toronto Public Health COVID-19 Hotline or 311.
I am continuously updating my social media platforms and my website with up to date information:
Website: www.paulainslie.com
You can also reach me by: telephone at 416-396-7222 or email me at councillor_ainslie@toronto.ca
All my Best,
Paul