Wednesday April 14th, 2021 Hon. Doug Ford Premier of Ontario Legislative Building, Queen’s Park. Toronto, ON M7A 1A1 Hon. Christine Elliot Minister of Health College Park 5th Floor Toronto, ON M74 2J3 Dr. Brown & Dr. Schwartz Co-Chairs Ontario COVID-19 Science Table 155 College St. Toronto, ON M5T 3M7 Re: Offer Pre-Registration for Ontarians Not [...]
Economic & Community Development Committee 10th floor, West Tower, City Hall 100 Queen Street West Toronto, ON M5H 2N2 April 11th, 2021 Re: Enjoying a Drink Outdoors: Providing Safe, Responsible and Equitable Options for All Torontonians Dear Chair & Committee Members, The first few months of the pandemic saw the City take dramatic measures such [...]
Preserving the Past, and Protecting the Future of Little Jamaica– by Councillor Josh Matlow, seconded by Councillor Michael Thompson Recommendations City Council direct the Chief Planner, Executive Director, City Planning to prioritize a survey of the cultural heritage resources of Little Jamaica in the 2021 and 2022 City Planning Study Work Program as a part of the [...]
Councillor Josh Matlow's amendments to EX21.2: 1.City Council request the City Manager, in consultation with appropriate City Divisions and Agencies, to report to the Executive Committee in fourth quarter of 2021 on the establishment of first-response services to support the following: a. street-involved individuals; b. gender-based violence and domestic disputes; c. racialized youth; and d. [...]
Members Motion- by Councillor Josh Matlow, seconded by Councillor Paul Ainslie Recommendations City Council request the City Manager to report to the June meeting of Executive Committee on options for Scarborough transit that includes a: Technical assessment of moving forward with the Scarborough LRT, including length of construction time and new platform location at Kennedy [...]
Summary: As Toronto's Seniors Advocate, to better support the health and safety of our seniors and to ensure that large scale and deadly outbreaks in Ontario's long-term care homes never happens again, I'm requesting that you consider and adopt the following recommendations: stabilize the long-term care workforce, accelerate vaccine distribution and increase efforts to promote [...]
January 13, 2021 Re: The More Time Lost, The More Lives Lost Dear Premier, Minister and Ret. General, This public health emergency has quickly turned into a humanitarian crisis with seniors in long term care accounting for 66% of Ontario's COVID-19 deaths. As Toronto's Seniors Advocate, I request that you consider the following immediate changes, [...]
Innovative Program to Support Oakwood & Vaughan At-Risk Youth Launched Amidst Pandemic Community Service Agency to focus on providing opportunities and Counselling for at-risk young people starts online Toronto – The City of Toronto, in partnership with the For Youth Initiative (FYI) took a step toward addressing the roots of youth violence in the Oakwood and Vaughan neighbourhood [...]
Dear residents, The arrival of a COVID-19 vaccine in Canada means we’re now starting the beginning of the end of this pandemic. However, how soon we arrive at the finish line, and how many of us get there, will depend on all of us. Let’s continue to take care of each other. As we work [...]
Council Approves New Youth Space in Oakwood-Vaughan Neighbourhood Community Hub will focus on providing opportunities and support for vulnerable young people City Council took a step toward addressing the roots of youth violence in the Oakwood & Vaughan neighbourhood by approving a new space to support vulnerable youth in the community. The program will offer [...]
MEMBERS MOTION Moved by Councillor Matlow, Seconded by Councillor Ainslie Summary: The 7-stop Scarborough LRT would provide more service, for fewer dollars, and can be up and running sooner. It’s finally time for Council to make the right decision to serve Scarborough residents. The LRT was approved, funded, and shovel-ready when it was cancelled in [...]
City Council Approves Expansion of Sidewalk Snow Clearing As many of you know, I've been advocating for the harmonization of sidewalk snow clearing services across all City of Toronto neighbourhoods for many years. However, with the COVID-19 pandemic forcing us all to be outdoors, I've been urging my colleagues on Council since September to get [...]
Re: Questions Regarding Police & School Board Safety Communications Dear Superintendent Narine, Dr. Kathy Witherow and Dr. Brendan Browne, As a City Councillor, and local parent, I want to express my gratitude and support for the police investigation that took place yesterday and continues to take place today in the Allen Road and Eglinton Avenue [...]
Dear residents, I hope this finds you and your family healthy and well during these challenging times. My family and I wish you and yours a very happy Thanksgiving. This year, Melissa, Molly and I will be having dinner together while joining our extended family and friends by Facetime and phone. We'll be reaching out [...]
Clearing the Path Towards a Safe & Accessible Winter- by Councillor Josh Matlow, seconded by Councillor Mike Layton Recommendations: City Council direct the General Manager of Transportation Services to provide an update on the Winter Maintenance Program Review that includes, but is not limited to, a plan on harmonizing sidewalk clearing standards for neighbourhoods in [...]
Supporting Black-Owned and Operated Businesses & Preserving the Cultural Heritage of Eglinton Avenue West's "Little Jamaica"- by Councillor Josh Matlow, seconded by Councillor Michael Thompson Recommendations Councillor Josh Matlow, seconded by Councillor Michael Thompson, recommends that: 1. City Council request the Province of Ontario to introduce rent control legislation for commercial units along Eglinton Avenue [...]
September 14th, 2020 Ministry of Education 5th Floor 438 University Ave. Toronto, ON M5G 2K8 Re: Request for Smaller Class Sizes Dear Minister Lecce, As a City Councillor and parent myself, I am writing to respectfully request that smaller class sizes be mandated for elementary students from grades K to 8 throughout the duration of [...]
September 11th, 2020 Re: Extend Protecting Small Business Act & Rent Support for Small Business Owners and Landlords Dear Premier Ford and Minister Sarkaria, On behalf of many small business owners, I want to commend each of you for your efforts on passing the Protecting Small Business Act, which temporarily halted or reversed evictions of [...]
Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur To those celebrating in our Jewish community this month, I wish you a Shanah Tovah and a meaningful fast this Yom Kippur! A Safe Return to School As Molly's dad, I completely understand the stress and anxiety families are feeling as they prepare for back to school. Whether or not [...]
September 11, 2020 Dear Midtown resident, We want to thank you for contacting us in the past about the Roehampton shelter initiative. We're writing to you today to provide an update on the work that has been underway to develop a School Safety Plan for the program. We appreciate the dedication and hard work of [...]
Re: Community Safety at Roehampton Shelter Dear Ms. Bédard, We appreciate the critical need to provide housing for Torontonians in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. You and your team have done an admirable job to quickly move more than 3,500 people to create required physical distancing in the shelter system, including securing permanent housing [...]
Dear residents, Our community is united in its support and compassion for our city’s homeless population- and certainly in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, and an opioid and housing crisis. However, the behavioral impacts on Midtown residents’ safety from the new shelters at the Roehampton Hotel and 55-65 Broadway are not acceptable and [...]
August 13th, 2020 Hon. Doug Ford Premier of Ontario Legislative Building, Queen’s Park. Toronto, ON M7A 1A1 Re: Provincial supports needed for Yonge-Eglinton area shelters Dear Premier Ford, Two temporary housing sites at Broadway and Roehampton have been opened by the City of Toronto in recent months in the Yonge-Eglinton area to protect street-involved residents [...]
Dear residents, I know that our community has been deeply impacted by the shelters located at Broadway and Roehampton. The needles, break-ins, public defecation and harassment are completely unacceptable. The following update that Mayor Tory and I requested City Staff to provide contain a number of measures that should have been in place before the [...]
COVID-19: Toronto Enters Stage Three of the Recovery Today, the Ontario Government announced that Toronto will move to Stage 3 reopening on Friday, July 31. This decision was based on positive local trends of key public health indicators, including a lower transmission of COVID-19, ongoing hospital capacity, capacity for rapid case and contact management and [...]
Planning and Housing Committee 10th West Tower, City Hall 100 Queen Street West Toronto, ON M5H 2N2 July 13, 2020 Re: PH15.10 City of Toronto Submission on Bill 184 - Protecting Tenants and Strengthening Community Housing Act, 2020 Dear Chair & Committee Members, City Staff have provided a strong and thorough submission to the Province [...]
The provincial government needs to provide support for tenants who are unable to pay their rent due to lost income because of the COVID – 19 crisis. Renters and Landlords in Ontario are in need of assistance to ensure that they are not in financial ruin when the crisis is over. It is unacceptable that [...]
Under the leadership of the Mayor, the Medical Office of Health and the Executive Director of Municipal Licensing and Standards, the City of Toronto urged Landlords and Owners of multi-tenanted buildings to adopt new health and safety guidelines and a rigorous cleaning routine to reduce the risk of residents from COVID-19. Unfortunately, several months later, [...]
MEDIA RELEASE June 22nd, 2020 Councillor Matlow and SEIU Healthcare call for public judicial-inquiry and transformational change in Ontario's Long Term Care homes Toronto – Councillor Josh Matlow, Toronto-St. Paul's, is joined by SEIU Healthcare, the union that represents over 60,000 frontline healthcare workers in Ontario, in calling for a full public judicial-inquiry into the [...]
Planning and Housing Committee 10th floor, West Tower, City Hall 100 Queen Street West Toronto, ON M5H 2N2 June 15, 2020 Re: PH 14.3 Housing Now Initiative - Annual Progress Report Dear Chair and Committee Members, I am writing to request that you consider the accompanying recommendations to protect tenants from unfair rent increases on [...]
Members Motion for Toronto City Council: Submitted By Councillor Josh Matlow, Seconded by Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam We watched the video of George Floyd being murdered by a Minneapolis police officer with horror, sadness and anger. We watched the video of Amy Cooper in New York weaponizing white privilege by calling the police on a Black [...]
I watched the video of George Floyd being murdered by a Minneapolis police officer with horror, sadness and anger. I watched the video of Amy Cooper in New York weaponizing white privilege by calling the police on a Black person who was birding in Central Park. I’ve seen citizens peacefully protesting police brutality met with [...]
This motion requests that the province give back control of construction by-laws as granted in the City of Toronto Act. Specifically, Limitation 2 to Ontario Regulation 130/20 , enacted April 7, 2020, does not allow the City to regulate or prohibit noise in connection with construction to the detriment of our residents. Limitation 2 allows [...]
Dear residents, I hope this finds you and your family healthy and well. Although the pandemic’s impact on people has understandably been our focus over the past few weeks, we have actively been working on the many public policy priorities and issues that need our attention in our community. And while the pandemic has been obviously shocking and unprecedented, it [...]
May 26th, 2020 Hon. Doug Ford Premier of Ontario Legislative Building, Queen’s Park. Toronto, ON M7A 1A1 Re: Open Letter To Premier Ford Regarding Need For Public Inquiry Into Long Term Care Homes Dear Premier, As Toronto’s Seniors Advocate, I am following up on my letter dated May 19th urging you to call a full Public Inquiry [...]
A Call to Reform Ontario's Long Term Care Homes: As Toronto’s Seniors Advocate, I commend the Minister of Long Term Care- Merrilee Fullerton's announcement on a review into Ontario’s long term care system. The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has been particularly devastating to our elder population, especially in long term care homes where, in too many cases, it has [...]
May 19th, 2020 Hon. Doug Ford Premier of Ontario Legislative Building, Queen’s Park. Toronto, ON M7A 1A1 Re: A Call to Reform Ontario's Long Term Care Homes Dear Premier, As Toronto’s Seniors Advocate, I commend today's announcement by Minister Fullerton that your government is proposing the launch of an independent Commission into Ontario's long term [...]
UPDATE: Midtown Supports New Tenants In Critical Need of Housing In my last e-newsletter update, the email address information for the Republic Residents’ Association (RRA), the group organizing a community drive to collect everyday items to support the new tenants at 55-65 Broadway, was written incorrectly. Fortunately, we were immediately able to register that email address to [...]
A Special Public Service Announcement from Molly Matlow: My daughter Molly asked me to share her latest public service announcement with you all. Please click here to view it. Support Needed for Small & Medium Sized Business Owners and Landlords: I speak with small and medium sized business owners every day of this crisis, and many of of them [...]
Show Your Support for the Frontline Staff & Residents at Toronto's Long-Term Care and Retirement Homes: As many of you know, COVID-19 has been particularly virulent with elders in our community, especially in long-term care and retirement homes where it has been running rampant. As Toronto’s Seniors Advocate, I’m very concerned about, and deeply saddened [...]
April 24, 2020 News Release Ontario renters impacted financially by COVID-19 crisis left vulnerable with May rent due in a week Tenants and Landlords both still waiting for Province to provide a plan Toronto – The provincial government is being called on to provide support for tenants who are unable to pay their rent on [...]
How To Protect Yourself and Others: There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19. According to Toronto Public Health, the best way to prevent infection is to avoid being exposed: Stay home as much as possible Only go out for essentials (e.g. groceries, medications) once a week Practice physical distancing when you are out Wash your hands [...]
Hon. Doug Ford Premier of Ontario Legislative Building, Queen's Park. Toronto, ON M7A 1A1 Re: Changes to City of Toronto Act regulations concerning construction by-laws Dear Premier Ford, I am writing to respectfully request that you provide the public with a rationale for Limitation 2 to Ontario Regulation 130/20 of the City of Toronto [...]
Dear residents, I hope this finds you and your family healthy and well under the unprecedented circumstances we all find ourselves in. I’ve been reading the emails in my inbox- the many hundreds of them every day. In the midst of a global pandemic, every person has their own story and real challenges. While it’s [...]
Hon. Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade 7th Floor, 56 Wellesley St. W Toronto,ON M7A 2E7 March 31st, 2020 Re: Rent support for small business owners and Landlords Dear Minister Sarkaria, I am writing to you as the Associate Minister of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction on behalf of [...]
March 31st, 2020 Toronto – The provincial government needs to provide support for tenants who are unable to pay their rent tomorrow, April 1st, due to lost income because of the COVID – 19 crisis. While Premier Ford took a good first step by freezing eviction orders during the course of the pandemic, renters and [...]
Dear Residents, This a follow-up to my last update to you on the COVID-19 pandemic with recent government announcements and a focus on several of our community's priorities. First of all, I hope this finds you and your family healthy and well. I know that this is an extremely difficult and even surreal experience for us all. But [...]
March 26, 2020 Hon. Steve Clark Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing 17th Floor 777 Bay St. Toronto,ON M5G 2E5 Re: Premier Ford's Statement on Providing Immediate Rent Relief for Tenants Minister Clark, I am writing to seek clarification on Premier Ford's comment regarding support for Ontario tenants during the COVID – 19 crisis. In [...]
How To Protect Yourself: There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19. The best way to prevent infection is to avoid being exposed to this virus. Prevention measures include: Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 15 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer Avoid [...]
Dear residents, I know that many of you are feeling anxious about our constantly changing reality with regard to COVID-19. That’s understandable. However, I’m very confident that if we work together, and follow the advice of our public health experts, the world will become far more recognizable again over time. On a personal note, I deeply [...]
Toronto - I have just been informed that I came into contact this past Thursday, March 5th, with an individual who has tested positive for COVID – 19 (Novel Coronavirus) upon their return from a conference in Washington, DC. While I am completely asymptomatic, out of an abundance of caution, and on the advice of [...]
MEDIA RELEASE March 3rd, 2020 Councillors Proclaim Tuesday March 3rd, "Shop Eglinton Day" Ontario’s [...]
MEDIA ADVISORY [...]
Tuesday, March 3rd is “Shop Eglinton Day" You’re invited to join me and Councillor Mike Colle this coming Tuesday, March 3rd, 2020, 11:00am at Jerusalem Restaurant (955 Eglinton Ave. W.) as we proclaim March 3rd "Shop Eglinton Day"! Ontario's Minister of Transportation, Caroline Mulroney has been invited to join us along with local residents, business owners and BIAs to have lunch. Following [...]
MEDIA RELEASE New Colour-Coded Rating System for Toronto's Apartment Buildings Has Renters Seeing Red Councillor and Tenant Groups that initiated program raise concerns about City roll-out Toronto – The long-awaited RentSafe signage program has been released by City Staff. The apartment building rating system, similar to the City's "Dinesafe" program, will require landlords to post [...]
MEDIA ADVISORY Councillors Call for a 3-Point plan to address Eglinton Crosstown Delay Toronto, ON - Councillors Mike Colle and Josh Matlow will be holding a press conference today at 5:00 p.m. at the RioCan Yonge Eglinton Centre, at the northwest corner of Yonge and Eglinton, in response to today's announcement by Metrolinx that the [...]
Community Skating Parties This Weekend! I’m co-hosting TWO community skating parties for Midtown residents this weekend - in the west with MP Carolyn Bennett and in the east, with Carolyn Bennett and MP Rob Oliphant. Lace up your skates and join me and my family! Stop by Cedarvale Park's outdoor arena (off of Arlington Avenue) on Saturday from 1:30pm [...]
Media Advisory TTC Budget Balanced on the Backs of Vulnerable Students Councillors join Student Unions to fight against unfair fare increases Toronto – Councillors Josh Matlow (Ward 12 – Toronto St. Paul's) and Mike Layton (Ward 11 – University Rosedale) will be joined by Student Union leaders from Toronto's post-secondary institutions to fight against unfair [...]
January 8, 2020 Infrastructure and Environment Committee 100 Queen Street West Toronto, ON M5H 2N2 Re: IE 11.8 - Logistical and Legal Implications of Eliminating Right of Way Occupancy for Private Construction Projects and Potential Provision of Construction Management Plans at Rezoning Stage Dear Chair and Members, I am writing to request that you consider [...]
2020.TE12.23 - 24-26 Imperial Street - Zoning Amendment Application - Preliminary Report http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2020.TE12.23 2020.TE12.30 - Yonge-St. Clair Planning Framework http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2020.TE12.30 2020.TE12.32 - Construction Staging Area Time Extension - 281-289 Avenue Road http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2020.TE12.32 2020.TE12.37 - Residential On-street Permit Parking - Status Update on the Expansion of On-Street Permit Parking in the Toronto and East York Community [...]
Season's Greetings! Is the Mayor's Housing Plan providing value for money? Mayor Tory should be applauded for recognizing that providing more affordable housing is necessary to ensure that Toronto remains an inclusive city that supports our diverse and vibrant residents. With out of control rents, crumbling social housing, and far too many Torontonians in shelters [...]
December 6th, 2019 Dear Residents, As your new City Councillor, there is nothing more important to me than the safety of our community. The repeated acts of violence committed over many years in our Oakwood-Vaughan neighbourhood is extremely upsetting and unacceptable. The fear and vulnerability residents in our community, and across our city, feel as [...]
Economic and Community Development Committee 10th floor, West Tower, City Hall 100 Queen Street West Toronto, ON M5H 2N2 Re: EC 10.8 Seniors Services and Long-Term Care Implementation Plan and Update November 29th, 2019 Dear Chair and Committee Members, I am writing to request that the Committee consider the Staff recommendations in EC 10.8 Seniors [...]
Protecting Tenants’ Health, Safety and Quality of Life: Toronto’s RentSafe Program Strengthened Leaking roofs, stained carpets, non-functioning elevators, and pest infestations are far too common for renters in Toronto. Some landlords have ignored City orders to fix their properties for years with little consequence; they treat the small fines as the cost of doing business, drag [...]
November 26, 2019 Will Council Stand up to Protect Toronto's Tenants? RentSafe program and Rent Controls to be debated at Council tomorrow Toronto – Councillors will have an opportunity to protect tenants tomorrow through approving a strengthened RentSafe program and enforcing rent control on properties that have received City funding. Both of these measures are [...]
Tonight's Pumpkin Parades I welcome you to join me and my family at two pumpkin parades this evening. To check out the parade happening at Wychwood Barns Park (south of the splash pad), I welcome you to arrive with your pumpkin and its candle at 6:00pm. If you're available to swing-by Davisville's pumpkin parade happening [...]
While the proposed new transit deal with the Province of Ontario reduces the City's capital burden for new transit, the plan itself does not provide good value for the available funds. To demonstrate the absurdity of the plan, for the same cost that the province is paying to bury the Eglinton West Crosstown Extension and [...]
Provincial Cuts Equal $177.65 million download to City of Toronto Premier Doug Ford has continued his devastating cuts on Toronto. A report from our City Manager at this week's Council meeting estimated the pressure on the City of Toronto's already-approved 2019 Budget from Ford's actions to be $177.65 million. The cuts include: $84.8 million for [...]
City Council Unanimously Supports Changing the Culture in Toronto's Long-Term Care Homes: More Caring, Respectful and Supportive For the first time in history, there are now more Torontonians over the age of 65 than children aged 15 and under. Looking ahead, the number of people in Toronto aged 65 and over is expected to almost double [...]
One of the most important things you can do to help end this pandemic is to get vaccinated. This will not only keep you safe, but your family, friends and neighbours, too. Vaccination is underway for Phase 1 and Phase 2 in the Province’s vaccination program. Details about Phase 3 timing, who is eligible and the status of completed vaccinations for Ontario is on [...]
April 21, 2021 2021.TE24.8 - (10:00 AM) 350 Vaughan Road - City-initiated Zoning By-law Amendment - Final Report (Ward 12 - Statutory: Planning Act, RSO 1990) http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2021.TE24.8 2021.TE24.18 - (11:00 AM) 63-91 Montclair Avenue - Zoning By-law Amendment and Rental Housing Demolition Applications - Request for Direction Report (Ward 12) http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2021.TE24.18 2021.TE24.23 [...]
Have your say: City Planning Begins Consultations on Garden Suites The Garden Suites Study is one of several studies that the City Planning Division is leading to expand housing options in Neighbourhoods as part of the Expanding Housing Options in Neighbourhoods (EHON) work program (EHON website), endorsed by City Council in July 2020. To learn [...]
Update on 63-91 Montclair Avenue Development Due to the developer's appeal to the LPAT (Local Planning Appeal Tribunal) back in December, City Planning is reporting back to Community Council to get Council's direction for the upcoming hearing for this development. The meeting agenda was published just last week, and includes a detailed staff report that [...]
49 Jackes City Planning has received an application for an Official Plan and Zoning By-law amendment proposing a 29 Storey building at 49 Jackes. While this site is located just outside of Ward 12, I will be supporting the Deer Park Community and Councillor Layton in the City's review of this development proposal. When: Monday, [...]
The Future of Yonge and Eglinton's Canada Square: Supporting Midtown Residents' Quality of Life The Bus Barns site on the Canada Square lands have sat as a derelict eyesore for almost two decades, serving as a staging ground for construction of the Eglinton Crosstown. However, the site (bounded by Eglinton to the north, Yonge to [...]
As I had written in my previous e-newsletter, this month's City Council discussed a proposal for a complete streets pilot project on Yonge Street, between Bloor and Davisville, this spring. After a month of consultation and discussion with numerous stakeholders, and an avalanche of support from the local community (and beyond), Council voted resoundingly in [...]
Job Description: Schedule, organize and maintain Google and Outlook calendars; determine the importance of internal and external meeting requests, prioritize and schedule accordingly to constantly changing priorities Field and direct phone calls received and assist with coordinating conference calls, relay messages in order of importance, prioritize emails and messages Responsible for general administrative operations of [...]
