News and Updates

A lovely day for a (city-sponsored) game of golf

by Rob Roberts (National Post)

Councillor Paula Fletcher marked the opening of golfing season today by teeing off at one of Toronto’s five city-run golf courses (including the Don Valley Golf Course, above). The Post’s Melissa Leong went to Dentonia Park Golf Course to see if the councillor could hit a hole-in-one:

9:49 Ms. Fletcher, chair of the parks and environment committee, arrives with a red golf bag slung over her shoulders. She looks like she means business.

Budget 2009 Q & A

I have received some questions about Toronto’s budget process and how tax and public dollars are spent. Many enquiries addressed the same issues so, for your convenience, I have provided the following Q&A to help you understand how our decisions were reached.

Beaches-East York Mirror- OMB turns down SmartCentres plan

OMB turns down SmartCentres plan By DAVID NICKLE - Beaches-East York Mirror In a long-awaited decision, the Ontario Municipal Board has turned down a plan to build a giant retail complex on Eastern Avenue in Leslieville.

The proposal would have seen a 700,000 square foot retail complex, likely anchored by a Wal-Mart, put on lands currently occupied by Toronto Film Studios between Eastern and Lakeshore Boulevard to the west of Leslie Street.

National Post Editorial - Leslieville big box refusal right call

The National Post published my editorial on the City and the community's victory at the OMB.Read below or go here

The word on everyone's lips these days is "economy.''

Within the first few pages of every newspaper we are reading about deficit spending, bank bailouts and of course job losses. The federal and provincial governments are scrambling to present a stimulus package to create activity that will lead to jobs.

Road construction means improvements to roads, protection of infrastructure assets

The City of Toronto today announced plans to spend more than $240 million to improve the quality of the City’s roads and bridges as well as other transportation programs that support transit initiatives, cycling infrastructure and pedestrian environments.

“The City of Toronto is committed to maintaining and upgrading the quality of our transportation infrastructure,” said Mayor David Miller. “Toronto’s transportation network is a critical component of our community and we are investing in our infrastructure assets to ensure the safety of all road users. Performing this work is another example of the City’s efforts to create jobs in difficult times - doing what is necessary to improve the economic well-being of our community.”

Reconfiguration of Intersection – Coxwell + Fairford

At a May 2008 public meeting organized by Councillor Paula Fletcher, residents generally accepted a conceptual plan  to normalize this intersection for pedestrians and provide more green space.

Click to download the Reconfiguration of Intersection – Coxwell + Fairford

Riverdale goes Solar

The City of Toronto is helping our neighbourhood become a Solar Neighbourhood.

[caption id="attachment_489" align="alignnone" width="200" caption="The Solar Neighbourhoods Program provides grants and loans to install solar heated water in your home."]

Protecting your family from lead in water

Some of you may be concerned about lead in drinking water.

[caption id="attachment_486" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Paula hands out free water testing kits at the Lead in Water information meeting"][/caption]

Toronto Water and Public Health have indicated that homes that were built before 1955 with lead pipes may have levels of lead in their drinking water. Toronto homes with lead service pipes and that have occupants who are expectant mothers or children under six years should have their water tested for lead.  

City and Community Win Victory at OMB on South of Eastern Employment Lands

MEDIA RELEASE

Wednesday March 4, 2009

TORONTO – The City of Toronto and the residents of east Toronto have won a historic decision at the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB). After a 5-month hearing, the OMB has ruled against the conversion of employment lands to Big Box Retail.

 

“This is a victory for not only my community but also for anyone who supports good planning and good jobs for our City” says Councillor Paula Fletcher.

Queens Quay Revitalization Public Meeting

PUBLIC MEETING & DROP-IN CENTRE Queens Quay Revitalization Environmental Assessment & East Bayfront Transit Environmental Assessment March 25 & March 28

Waterfront Toronto, Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) and the City of Toronto have undertaken comprehensive Environmental Assessments to revitalize Queens Quay from Parliament Street to Lower Spadina Avenue and introduce new transit services to the East Bayfront.  The studies have explored how to implement long standing City of Toronto policy objectives to transform Queens Quay into a scenic waterfront drive, provide transit priority and complete the Martin Goodman Trail through the central waterfront.  Together, the Queens Quay Revitalization Environmental Assessment and the East Bayfront Transit Environmental Assessment have undertaken the development and analysis of alternatives related to the urban design and functional plan for the overall Queens Quay corridor, and the evaluation of alternative streetcar tunnel and portal locations.