News and Updates

City of Toronto modifies services to adhere to and support new provincial regulations and stay-at-home order

The City of Toronto continues to strongly recommend all residents stay home as much as possible to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

On January 12, 2021, the Province of Ontario declared its second state of emergency.  At 12:01 a.m. this morning, the Province’s new stay-at-home order came into effect in Toronto and across the province. The City is supportive of strengthened measures to stop the spread of COVID-19, protect our healthcare system and save lives, and has adjusted City services and operations to comply with the new provincial regulations.

City of Toronto launches 2021 tax-supported budgets

Today, the City of Toronto's Budget Committee began the process of reviewing the staff-recommended tax-supported operating and capital budgets for 2021. The budgets will be reviewed and debated by Budget and Executive Committees before being finalized and approved by City Council at its meeting on February 18.

The City has experienced significant financial impacts in the form of both added costs and revenue losses as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic. These impacts are expected to continue into 2021, with anticipated financial pressures of approximately $1.6 billion.

Toronto Public Health launches new case-control study focused on residents who recently tested negative for COVID-19

Today, Toronto Public Health (TPH) will launch a retrospective case-control study to identify exposure settings and activities that are associated with significantly increased risk of becoming infected with COVID-19 in Toronto. This study will include a focus on residents who recently tested negative for COVID-19 – a new approach for public health units in Canada – and will focus on issues like work environments, living arrangements and other activities including social gatherings or visits to public spaces.

City of Toronto supporting new provincial regulations and stay-at-home order

The City of Toronto continues to respond to COVID-19. Today, Mayor John Tory, Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health Dr. Eileen de Villa and Fire Chief and General Manager of the Office of Emergency Management Matthew Pegg provided an update on the City’s measures to combat the resurgence of the virus in Toronto and local impacts of the Province of Ontario’s declaration of a second state of emergency and stay-at-home order.

Toronto neighbourhood has had enough of all the new cannabis stores

January 12, 2021 Tanya Mok, BlogTO

Complaints have arisen once again about the large influx of weed stores trying to open up in Toronto's Riverside neighbourhood.

For the past several months, the stretch of Queen East around Broadview Avenue has become the site of some serious cannabis clustering: when a number dispensaries open (or apply for authorization) in close proximity to one another.

Ontario Declares Second Provincial Emergency to Address COVID-19 Crisis and Save Lives

January 12, 2021 - The Province has issued a Stay-at-Home Order and has introduced enhanced enforcement measures. The Province has also declared a second provincial emergency under s 7.0.1 (1) of the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act (EMPCA).

Effective Thursday, January 14, 2021 at 12:01 a.m., the government is issuing a stay-at-home order requiring everyone to remain at home with exceptions for essential purposes, such as going to the grocery store or pharmacy, accessing health care services, for exercise or for essential work. This order and other new and existing public health restrictions are aimed at limiting people's mobility and reducing the number of daily contacts with those outside an immediate household. In addition to limiting outings to essential trips, all businesses must ensure that any employee who can work from home, does work from home.

City of Toronto launching initial COVID-19 immunization clinic to prepare for City’s role in vaccine distribution

The City of Toronto continues to respond to COVID-19. Today, Mayor John Tory, Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health Dr. Eileen de Villa and Fire Chief and General Manager of the Office of Emergency Management Matthew Pegg provided an update on the City’s measures to combat the resurgence of the virus in Toronto, the rollout of vaccines to priority groups and wider immunization planning.

City Hall Live Spotlight online performances kick off with award winning Colombian-Canadian artist Lido Pimienta

Today, Mayor Tory announced that the City of Toronto, in partnership with Unison Benevolent Fund, is launching City Hall Live Spotlight, a weekly livestreamed concert series, as part of ShowLoveTO, to support the local music industry and provide Toronto residents with music experiences at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. Residents are encouraged to make a night of it by ordering in their favourite takeout and settling in for a concert in the comfort of their own home.

City of Toronto working with Province and healthcare partners to vaccinate all long-term care residents, workers and caregivers; working with hospitals to vaccinate frontline paramedics

The City of Toronto continues to respond to COVID-19. Today, Mayor John Tory, Medical Officer of Health Dr. Eileen de Villa and Fire Chief and General Manager of the Office of Emergency Management Matthew Pegg provided an update on the City’s measures to combat the resurgence of the virus in Toronto.

There are 65,521 cases of COVID-19 in the city, an increase of 837 new cases today. There are 406 people hospitalized. In total, 56,410 people have recovered from COVID-19. To date, there have been 1,988 COVID-19 deaths in Toronto. Case status data can be found on the City’s reporting platform: www.toronto.ca/home/covid-19/covid-19-latest-city-of-toronto-news/covid-19-status-of-cases-in-toronto/.

Coxwell Underpass Update

The Coxwell Underpass is the fourth underpass in the East End Bridges to Art series to receive a mural. There are two short-listed design concepts from Indigenous artists being considered by the Local Advisory Committee - and we need your feedback!

You can review the designs and respond to the survey online. This survey is open until 11:45 pm on January 10, 2021.