News and Updates

September 19 - Town hall meeting on proposed use of jets at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport

The City of Toronto is hosting a town hall meeting tomorrow as part of its public consultation on a request to permit jet airplanes at the Billy Bishop Toronto City Centre Airport. The meeting will provide an opportunity for attendees to talk with City staff and technical consultants, and to share ideas.

The meeting tomorrow evening - Thursday, September 19 - will be held at the Direct Energy Centre (Salon 105), Exhibition Place, 100 Princes' Blvd. The town hall will open with a drop-in period from 6 to 7 p.m., followed by presentations and discussion from 7 to 9 p.m.

Letter to the Toronto Port Authority about the Cherry St. Bridge

The Toronto Port Authority recently announced its plans to permanently close one of the lanes on the Cherry St. bridge when it reopens (learn more here). This bridge is one of few access points to the Port Lands. Reducing traffic to one lane will decrease access to our shared waterfront. I am very concerned about this plan, and worked with MP Craig Scott  to submit a joint letter for the TPA's Annual General Meeting on Wednesday September 4.

Public consultation on use of jets at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport

The City of Toronto is conducting a public consultation process on a request to permit jet airplanes at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport. The focus of the consultation is to assess how changes to the airport would impact the city, including the ongoing revitalization of the waterfront and nearby communities on the waters edge.

Specific issues to be considered include:

Finalists announced for 2013 Toronto Book Awards

The City of Toronto and the Toronto Public Library today named the five finalists for the 2013 Toronto Book Awards. Established by Toronto City Council in 1974, the Toronto Book Awards honour authors of books of literary or artistic merit that are evocative of Toronto.

The finalists are:

• Kamal Al-Solaylee for his memoir, Intolerable: A Memoir of Extremes, published by Harper Collins Publishers Ltd.

October 5 - Nuite Blanche

City of Toronto announces full program for Scotiabank Nuit Blanche 2013

The City of Toronto today released the entire artistic program for the eighth edition of Scotiabank Nuit Blanche, which will take place Saturday, October 5 from 6:51 p.m. until sunrise. This year's lineup includes 112 art projects created by more than 500 local, national and international artists who will transform the streets of Toronto for a single night.

August 22 - Official Naming of the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal

The City of Toronto invites you to attend the

Official Naming of the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal

&

the Unveiling of "Jack's Got Your Back" 

Stronger Together: The Layton Memorial

Gifted by the Ontario Federation of Labour

Thursday, August 22, 2013

11:45 a.m. at  9 Queen's Quay West

New TTC explainer video: Pape Station closure

The Toronto Transit Commission today released a new, four-minute video to help explain the 12-day closure of Pape Station this Aug. 19-30, including the diversion of three bus routes. The closure will help hasten construction and modernization work that is under way at the station today. The station re-opens at the start of service on Sat., Aug. 31.

Pape Station Temporary Closure

Start Date: August 19 2013* End Date: August 30 2013*

*Timelines are subject to change, content is accurate at time of printing

Work Description & Purpose

In order to speed up the completion of construction at Pape, the station will be temporarily closed from Monday, August 19 until Friday, August 30. The station will re-open on Saturday, August 31.

Housing Services Public Consultations

Shelter, Support and Housing Administration is developing a Housing Stability Services Planning Framework, which will guide the planning, management and delivery of housing and homelessness services in Toronto over the next five years. A report is expected to come to Council in the fall. Learn more about this consultation here.

Housing is a critical issue for Toronto to confront, with the wait list for public housing growing and few spaces opening up each year. Your input is important, and I encourage you to participate in the public consultations for this initiative. You can fill in an important survey about housing on the city's website.

Storm Update & Letter to the City Manager

Following the recent storm, it is important for the City to ask questions about how well we responded and how prepared we are to respond to similar storms in the future. I have asked the City Manager to update Council on these key issues.

WWW.ASPIROADVENTURE.COM/BROCHURE/JS/

Read my letter to the City Manager

While east of the Don we weren't badly impacted by power outages, rolling black outs continued in the west end and for some power has only been very recently restored. Toronto Hydro is asking us to conserve as much energy as possible. You can lend a hand by turning off your air conditioner or setting it to a higher temperature (26 degrees), turning off non-essential lighting, and limiting the use of major appliances like dishwashers. Energy conservation is also a great way to reduce our environmental footprint all year long.