News and Updates

City of Toronto to begin opening community gardens and allotment gardens

May 4, 2020

On April 25, the Province of Ontario announced amendments to an Order under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act that permit the use of allotment gardens and community gardens. To help increase the resiliency of and food security for Toronto’s residents during the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Toronto will open its community and allotment gardens for the 2020 gardening season. The City will follow a phased approach in opening its 81 community gardens and 12 allotment gardens to ensure public safety while providing access to an essential source of fresh food.

City of Toronto launches CurbTO plan to address more than 100 hot spots

27-Apr-2020

Today, Mayor John Tory today announced a new program developed by Toronto Public Health and Transportation Services to help the City's ongoing efforts to protect public health and save lives.

Although pedestrian traffic has dropped dramatically across the city as people follow public health advice to stay home as much as possible there are hot spots on some sidewalks in some areas. Over the last several weeks, Toronto Public Health, Transportation Services, and Toronto Police have been working with the Mayor's office and Councillors' offices on a common sense approach to these hot spots that will help further encourage physical distancing in areas where it is challenging due to lineups for essential businesses.

Councillor Fletcher, MPP Tabuns call on Premier Ford to stop evictions of small business owners as rent is due for many on May 1

April 30, 2020 Beach Metro News

Toronto-Danforth Councillor Paula Fletcher and Toronto-Danforth MPP Peter Tabuns have sent a joint letter to Premier Doug Ford calling on the province to put a moratorium on evictions of small business owners by commercial landlords.

The call comes as May 1 approaches, and many business owners who have been mandated to shut the doors of their businesses due to COVID-19 restrictions will be expected to pay their rents.

City Council extends the declaration of the State of Emergency in Toronto

News Release

April 30, 2020

City Council extends the declaration of the State of Emergency in Toronto

Today, Toronto City Council unanimously voted to extend Mayor John Tory’s State of Emergency declaration in the city of Toronto until the COVID-19 municipal emergency has ended, in accordance with advice from Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health and the Office of Emergency Management.

Implementation plan for up to 250 modular supportive housing units released, CMHC’s Affordable Housing Innovation Fund to cover 40 per cent of capital costs for Phase I

News Release

April 29, 2020

Implementation plan for up to 250 modular supportive housing units released, CMHC’s Affordable Housing Innovation Fund to cover 40 per cent of capital costs for Phase I

Today, Mayor John Tory announced the proposed implementation plan for a modular supportive housing initiative to create 110 modular homes on two City-owned sites. The new modular homes are expected to be ready for occupancy by September 2020 and will provide stable, affordable housing and support services to individuals experiencing homelessness.

Residents can experience virtual cherry blossom bloom during closure of High Park

News Release

April 29, 2020

Residents can experience virtual cherry blossom bloom during closure of High Park

Based on the recommendations of the Medical Officer of Health to stop the spread of COVID-19 and save lives, the City is taking action to prevent crowding and gathering in High Park during the cherry blossom bloom.

With the peak bloom period about to begin, the City of Toronto is closing High Park starting tomorrow, Thursday, April 30. During the park closure, residents will be able to enjoy the cherry blossom bloom virtually.

Trudeau unveils 75 per cent commercial rent relief program, but some say the plan falls short

April 24, 2020 By Richard Trapunski, NOW

Rent relief is coming in Ontario for small businesses and residential tenants and landlords – but not everyone is relieved.

Today, the federal government and provincial government announced they've partnered on a commercial rent relief program

City of Toronto begins targeted spring cleanup across the city

April 24, 2020

City of Toronto begins targeted spring cleanup across the city

The City of Toronto will have a targeted spring cleanup 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.

Rent subsidy needed to save main-street businesses amid COVID-19: survey

April 22, 2020 By David Nickle, Toronto.com Wage subsidies and small business loans are doing little to help small businesses on Toronto’s main streets — but rent relief would go along way to keeping those businesses running, a survey of more than 500 businesses across the city has found. “It’s the only thing they need,” said Philip Kocev of the Broadview-Danforth BIA, which conducted the

61% of Toronto's small businesses will close within next few months without needed rent relief

Toronto, ON – A survey of small business tenants and landlords across Toronto shows that 61% of businesses who took the survey will close down for good within the next three months if they only have the current relief programs in place to sustain them. 76% will close within five months without rent relief.

561 businesses and 137 landlords took part in the survey which was developed by the Broadview-Danforth Business Improvement Area (BIA). Half of Toronto's 83 BIAs participated.