Words From Eastern Toronto

Dear Scarborough-Guildwood Neighbours

Happy Toronto Day! Today we celebrate 186 years since the official incorporation of the City of Toronto. Toronto Day is an opportunity to learn more about the City of Toronto’s history and significant symbols.

The Toronto Flag and The Coat of Arms are official symbols of the City of Toronto. The City of Toronto Motto, Diversity Our Strength, refers to the multicultural dimensions of the city and the seven municipal governments that now form the City of Toronto. History on the Toronto Flag, Coat of Arms and more can be found here.

With March Break, right around the corner, museums, cultural centres and attractions will be hosting fun filled opportunities across the city. Check out the City’s exhibits and events calendar, register for Recreation Programs, visit your local Toronto Library Branch or visit the Toronto Zoo for your March Break activities.

Some fun facts about the City of Toronto:

–          The PATH is the largest continuous underground shopping mall in North America, featuring over 1200 stores

–          There are approximately 7500 restaurants in the City of Toronto

–          Over 180 languages and dialects are spoken in Toronto, with 79 multi-lingual publications published in Toronto

–          Toronto has more than 1500 parks covering 8000 hectares

–          There are 100 Toronto Public Library branches

Toronto is home to more than 2.9 million people whose diversity and experiences make this great city Canada’s leading economic engine and one of the world’s most diverse and livable cities.

Happy Toronto Day Everyone!

All my Best,

Paul W. Ainslie

Dear Scarborough-Guildwood Residents

On Tuesday February 18^th I held a Town Hall meeting in the South Cedarbrae Community. At this meeting we discussed community safety concerns, traffic concerns, community involvement and resources available to the neighbourhood.

In attendance were guests speakers from Toronto Police Services (TPS) and officers of its 43 Division. We spoke heavily on community safety and the resources that are available to residents such as the non-emergency number 416-808-2222 and online resources to report issues and view open data. We learned of the importance utilizing the non-emergency number in community engagement and data collection to help determine where resources are needed. Also available, are Community Officers from TPS’ 43 Division who are embedded in a few of Ward 24’s neighbourhoods. These officers work together with first responders to attend to community needs. 

Thank you to everyone who was able to attend. Please contact my office for any questions or concerns.

On Wednesday February 19^th Toronto City Council gathered for a special meeting for a final discussion in the 2020 City Budget process. City Council unanimously approved a 2020 tax-supported operating budget of $11.6 billion and a 10-year tax-supported capital budget of $27.9 billion. The budget ensures that the City is able to preserve all 150-plus existing services, while making new investments in key capital infrastructure, including funding for transit and housing.

I am proud to report that the Cities for Digital Rights motion that myself and Councillor Joe Cressy put forward has been approved. This motion supports a new position for the Toronto Public Library to lead Digital Safety and Literacy Programming.

This Digital Safety and Literacy Programming aligns with and supports Toronto’s Poverty Reduction Strategy goals to expand digital access and literacy to ensure residents can effectively access programs and services online and to increase services access and availability. This new position focuses on providing accurate information about the technological, algorithmic and artificial intelligence systems that impact the lives of Torontonians and providing training and access to supporting technologies for library customers. More details on the 2020 City Budget can be found here.

I would like to wish everyone good weekend!

All my Best,

Paul W. Ainslie

Dear Scarborough-Guildwood Residents

I would like to wish everyone a Happy Family Day in advance. The City of Toronto invites you and your families to celebrate the day at select City recreation facilities, historic museums, conservatories and the Toronto Zoo.

Nathan Phillips Square is hosting a skating party sponsored by Tim Hortons from 1 to 4pm on Monday February 17th. Outdoor rinks, skating trails and indoor arenas will also be open. Other winter activities like snowboarding, skiing, and tobogganing will also be available, details here.   

The Toronto Zoo will offer daily animal-keeper talks, carnivore feedings and other exhibits over the Family Day long weekend. Additionally, the Terra Lumina night walk is available to book from 6:30pm to 8pm on Family Day.

For more family day activities please visit this website.

This week the Executive Committee met to discuss the considerations and recommendations for the 2020 Budget from the Budget Committee. Over the last two months, the Budget Committee has collected comments and feedback from residents across the City through mail, e-mail and public deputations. More details on the February 13^th Executive Committee meeting here.

The City’s budget is the financial plan of how much money the municipal government will raise and invest and determine the level or services provided to Toronto residents, businesses and visitors. Over 150 City of Toronto services impact your life each day, this is why the City’s budget is so important.

Final recommendations to the 2020 City of Toronto Budget will brought to the February 19^th City Council meeting. More details on this City Council meeting will be posted here.

Again, I would like to wish everyone a happy, fun and safe Family Day!

All my Best, 

Paul W. Ainslie 

Dear Scarborough-Guildwood Residents

I hope that everyone is keeping warm and staying safe on the roads.

The City’s most recent snow event is expected to cross overnight into the early weekend expecting flurries and light snow with winds increasing to gusts of 40-60km/h. Saturday is expected to be mainly sunny and cold.

Up to the minute updates can be followed on Transportation Services twitter account at @TO_WinterOps. You can also track real-time locations of plows, sidewalk plows and salt trucks and identify which roads have been services by winter snow clearing vehicles and crews with the City’s PlowTO map here.

I am pleased to report that on February 5^th the Scarborough Community Council supported my request to look into the property damages as a result of mechanical sidewalk snow clearing in the 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 winter season across Scarborough.

This item requests Transportation Services to report back to the Scarborough Community Council on June 9 2020 on the nature of the complaints, the number of received complaints, number of repairs required, the cause of issues and remedies, and of any cost the City would incur for the repairs and if the contractors are financially responsible.

Explore Toronto’s food culture at this year’s Winterlicious event up until February 13, 2020. The City of Toronto has over 200 restaurants participating across the city with 13 culinary events. Participating restaurants offer delicious three-course prix fixe lunch and dinner menus at three different price points. Participating restaurants, menus and reservation details here.

Scarborough, step up to the plate and let Toronto taste what you have to offer – if you know a restaurant in our community that’s interested in participating in the Winterlicious or Summerlicious programs check out the application process and details here.

All my Best,

Paul W. Ainslie

Dear Scarborough-Guildwood Residents

To date, our office and Ward 25’s Council office has received over 200 complaints regarding sidewalk snowplowing from December 19, 2019 to January 20, 2020. Majority of these complaints entail damages to private property, uncleared windrows (driveway entrances), and poor quality of work. I am confident that this issue spans across the entire City.

A high volume of the damaged property reports advise that either the blades of the sidewalk plows are the wrong size or the tracker itself is too large or in some cases the work has been done poorly. Given these claims, it would be beneficial for a report to come forward to aid Transportation Services’ snow operations as these services have an effect on the City budget for removal and repair of any damages.

An assessment is required to bring a report forward to the Infrastructure and Environment Committee clearly outlining the number and nature of complaints received by the City due to sidewalk snowplowing to determine the causes in order for them to be rectified to decrease future costs to the City and damage to residential and commercial private property.

It is recommended that the Scarborough Community Council:

Request the General Manager, Transportation Services report to the Scarborough Community

Council on April 7, 2020 on sidewalk snow clearing damages to private property in 2019/2020 across the City. The report is to clearly include:

1. Definitions of the nature of the complaints in categories;
2. The number and complaints received under each category of complaint;
3. The number of repairs that are required;
4. The cause of the issue and remedies to address them;
5. Outline the cost to the City, if any, for the repairs of the damages including a timeline for
6. repair and if the sidewalk snow plow contractor is financially responsible for the repairs;
7. If the contractor is not financially responsible, how the repair work will be contracted out.

This item will be presented at the February 5^th Meeting of the Scarborough Community Council – find the agenda here and tune in to the meeting here.  

All my Best,

Paul W. Ainslie

Dear Ward 24 Residents,

Toronto Community Housing would like to formally launch the 2020 Investing in Our Diversity Scholarship Season. Applications are also now live and open for tenants to apply, https://www.torontohousing.ca/IIODS.
Applications are due Thursday, March 26, 2020 at 5pm (electronically or hard copy).

Please note that applications are now open to students up to the age of 29 entering any year of study as long as they have not received an IIOD Scholarship in the past.

Investing in Our Diversity Scholarship Program
The Investing in Our Diversity Scholarship program offers up to $4,000 to deserving young leaders across Toronto entering/ attending post-secondary or trade school. The program also provides valuable employment support and professional networks that pave the way for academic and career development. These scholarships reward students who have shown leadership in diversity and anti-racism initiatives, demonstrate financial need, and represent different neighborhoods across the city.

Who is eligible?
High school students and/or high school graduates involved in anti-racism, diversity and/or building safe and healthy communities, AND those who can answer yes to all of the following:
• A Canadian citizen or permanent resident
• 29 years old or younger as of May 31, 2020
• Not a previous recipient of an IIOD Scholarship
• Toronto Community Housing (TCHC) tenant or person living in the Scadding Court Community Centre (SCCC) catchment area (Lake Ontario to the south, Bloor Street to the north, Yonge Street to the east, and Lansdowne Avenue to the west)
• Currently studying or planning to attend a recognized Canadian postsecondary education or training school (i.e., college, university, career academy or apprenticeship) in the upcoming academic year
• Able to demonstrate a need for financial assistance

If you have any questions, please contact youth@torontohousing.ca or 416-981-6300.

Please let anyone know who you think may qualify!

Let’s give our youth all the help they can get!

All my Best,

Paul

Dear Ward 24 Residents,

For the snow event of January 18, here is an update on Transportation Services’ winter operations plans as of January 20 at approx. 7am.

***Note: These plans are estimates only and subject to changing conditions such as timing of the event and the amount of precipitation.***

Weather: Dry and cold Monday with considerable sunshine. Dry Tuesday as well with sunny breaks. Looking ahead it’s looking dry Wednesday, Thursday and Friday with partly cloudy skies and high temperatures around 0C.

Roadway Salting:
– Salting on expressways & main roads are complete as of Sunday afternoon. Cleanup operations continue for bike lanes, layby parking areas, etc.
– Salting operations on local roads were completed Sunday evening but will resume Monday morning where required & continue throughout the day

Roadway Plowing
– Cleanup operations on main roads are continuing focussing on parking areas, centre left turn lanes, etc.
– Plowing operations on local roads were completed Sunday afternoon.
– Cleanup operations will continue through the day Monday focussing on missed streets, parked car locations, etc.

Trails & Separated Bike Lanes
– Salting & plowing of the Martin Goodman Trail & Humber Bay Waterfront Trail was completed on Sunday and will resume Monday if required.
– Salting & plowing of the separated bike lanes was completed on Sunday and will resume Monday if required.

Sidewalks & Bus Stops
– 2nd round of sidewalk clearing on high & low pedestrian volume sidewalks was completed Sunday evening.
– 3rd round of sidewalk clearing will be deployed on Monday am if required.

If you see areas which have not been cleared of snow properly please call my office at 416-396-7222 or contact 311

All my Best,

Paul

Dear Scarborough-Guildwood Neighbours

There are over 150 City of Toronto services that impact your life each day. From the delivery of clean, drinkable water to the paved roads we travel on. The City’s emergency response teams who keep our communities safe to the City’s waste management teams who keep our communities clean. The City creates countless opportunities from festivals, business and tourism growth to investments in new infrastructure and affordable housing.

From 311 to 911, the City government delivers programs throughout the day with many services available 24/7. That is why the City’s budget is so important, it is the financial plan of how much money the municipal government will raise and invest, and determines the level of service provided to Toronto residents, businesses and visitors.

City of Toronto launched a 2020 tax-supported budgets outlined below:

–          Maintains existing services plus $67 million in new and enhanced investment

–          Continues partnership with other levels of government including $77 million for refugee support expected from the federal government

–          City staff-recommended total 2020 operating budget of $13.53 billion

o   $11.59 billion tax-supported plus $1.59 rate-supported

o   Approved by City Council on December 17, 2019

–          City staff-recommended total 10-year capital plan of $43.46 billion

o   $27.94 billion tax-supported plus $15.52 billion rate-supported

o   Approved by City Council on December 17, 2019

Learn more about the budget here.

Have your say on what is important to you and get involved by making deputations at budget subcommittee sessions:

January 20, 2020

–          Toronto City Hall, Committee Room 1; 9:30am to 5pm and 6pm onwards

–          Scarborough Civic Centre, Council Chamber; 3pm to 5pm and 6pm onwards

January 21, 2020

–          Etobicoke Civic Centre, Council Chamber; 3pm to 5pm and 6pm onwards

–          North York Civic Centre, Council Chamber; 3pm to 5pm and 6pm onwards

If you cannot attend in person, you can submit a written deputation to the Budget Committee by email to buc@toronto.ca, or by mail to Toronto City Hall, 100 Queen St. W, 10^th floor, West Tower, Toronto, ON, M5H 2N2

You can also send an email to my office at councillor_ainslie@toronto.ca

All my Best

Paul W. Ainslie

Dear Scarborough-Guildwood Residents

I would like to wish everyone a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year and hope everyone had a joyful holiday season. There are many opportunities to take part in and look forward to this year.

Starting off right, on Wednesday January 8^th, I brought forward a number of items to the Scarborough Community Council, including a request to re-open an item heard in December 2019 where I had asked for the reduction of speed limits, I was able to gain support on my motions to reduce speed limits on specific minor and local arterial roads and collector roads in Ward 24 Scarborough-Guildwood. The purpose of this item is to bring awareness and address the very important safety concerns on our roads. SC11.8 – Scarborough Minor Arterial and Collector Road Speed Limit Reductions as Part of Vision Zero Speed Management Strategy.

The City’s Speed Management Strategy aims to reduce the number of traffic-related injuries and fatalities associated with speeding through short and long-term measures, which includes revised speed limit setting practices, road design improvements, automated speed enforcement and more. More details about the City of Toronto’s Speed Management Strategy are in the June Vision Zero 2.0 – Road Safety Update.

Also part of the City’s Speed Management Strategy is the installation of Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) cameras and signage on our streets in an effort to increase road safety, reduce speeding and raise public awareness about the need to slow down and obey posted speed limits. 

In addition, items also adopted were the SC12.19 – All-Way Stop Control Review – Dale Avenue and Cromwell Road and the SC12.20 – Compulsory Stop Controls – Botany Hill Road Area

Lastly, I would like to invite you all to my Annual New Year’s Celebration on Saturday, January 11 at the Cedar Ridge Creative Centre (225 Confederation Dr.).

All my Best,

Paul W. Ainslie

Dear Scarborough-Guildwood Residents

I would like to wish everyone a wonderful merry Christmas and a happy holiday season, and also a friendly reminder to stay safe and warm during our colder months.

The City of Toronto’s Holiday Wish List is live on the City’s website. The Holiday Wish List is a perfect way for you, your family and friends to spread a little holiday cheer and for ways to help people who are homeless and vulnerable this holiday season, you can make a donation to a community agency that serves them.

The Holiday Wish List provides details about agencies’ name, location, and about what type of donations they need. You can also volunteer with a community agency. The City of Toronto’s Holiday Wish List can be found here.

Toronto residents and visitors will be able to take advantage of many City programs and attractions this holiday season, from outdoor winter recreational activities to indoor seasonal traditions. Details can be found here.

The Toronto Zoo’s Terra Lumina: An Enchanted Night Walk into a Bright Future opened on December 13^th taking visitors on a journey through a luminous vision of our planet’s future. For tickets and more information on the outdoor immersive multimedia experience here.

The CNE presents this year’s Aurora Winter Festival. Toronto’s Ontario Place will be transformed into a magical winter wonderland with beautiful skating rink, a tube park, massive light displays, a Christmas Market and more. For tickets and more information visit this website.

The City of Toronto’s Transportation Services’ winter operation plans are in full effect this winter season. Full details on the City’s Winter Operations can be found here.

You can follow the City’s Transportation Services on Twitter @TO_WinterOps and the PlowTO Map where you can track real time locations of plows, sidewalk plows and salt trucks which also identify which roads have been serviced by winter snow clearing vehicles and crews. The PlowTO Map can be found here.

To report any snow related concerns, please call 311, email 311@toronto.ca, or use the 311 app available online.

I wish everyone safe, warm and happy holidays.

All my Best,

Paul W. Ainslie