News   Mar 28, 2024
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News   Mar 28, 2024
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Mayor John Tory's Toronto

To prepare for Metrolinx’s construction of an Ontario Line connection to the TTC’s Queen Station beginning this spring, the City is working closely with Metrolinx, contractors and the TTC to ensure that traffic congestion and construction impacts are reduced as much as possible by holistically reviewing capital construction plans, upcoming road restrictions and accessibility around all construction zones downtown.

The City will be launching Priority Travel Routes around Ontario Line construction zones that will be kept clear of as many road restrictions as possible – including non-emergency utility work – to ensure that there are alternative and parallel routes for people to get around.

The City recognizes the vital need for the unprecedented transit expansion underway alongside the need to keep people – pedestrians, cyclists, transit riders, and drivers – moving within Toronto. Once completed, the Ontario Line will make travel within Toronto faster and easier by providing a 15-station subway line running from Exhibition Place, through downtown, to the Ontario Science Centre. The new subway line will also offer significant crowding relief within Toronto’s existing transit network.

Starting Monday, May 1, Dundas Street, from Jarvis Street to Bathurst Street, will be the first Priority Travel Route as Ontario Line construction will fully close Queen Street from Victoria Street to Yonge Street and Yonge Street to Bay Street. Until summer 2024, this stretch of Dundas Street will only have emergency work; on-street parking will be restricted and CaféTO Curb Lane cafes will not be installed to keep the roadway as clear of restrictions as possible.

More Priority Travel Routes will be identified as Ontario Line construction progresses. To keep traffic moving along these routes, some existing permits and bylaws may be cancelled or amended. Where necessary, these may include not installing CaféTO curb lane cafés, changes to on-street parking and deferring requested road closures for events.

Other ways the City is preparing for Ontario Line construction include actively assessing all construction permit applications and related Traffic Management Plans to minimize the overall disruption caused by construction. Staff will work to ensure plans promote the safety of people travelling in the area; reduce noise and parking impacts as much as possible; modify traffic signals to allow for the efficient flow of traffic; deploy paid duty Police officers and Traffic Agents to regulate and direct traffic; maintain access to properties; and identify key site access points and haul routes for construction vehicles.

City of Toronto Traffic Agents will be deployed to key intersections during the morning and afternoon peak traffic periods to actively manage the movement of all road users, reduce delays and improve safety. Traffic Agents will be placed where they are needed most based on evolving traffic demands. More about the Traffic Agents Program is available on the City’s Traffic Agents webpage
Just in time for the TTC to be reducing service in May!

https://www.thestar.com/news/city_h...nt-drive-if-possible-city-says-heres-why.html
 

Plans to cut Toronto riding ‘a slap in the face,’ say local politicians

.From link.

Local lawmakers say Elections Canada’s proposal to cut a federal riding will decrease representation at all levels of government.​

All of Toronto city council — barring one member — are demanding Elections Canada cancel plans to cut a federal riding from Toronto, a decision they fear will end up losing the growing city crucial political representation at all levels of government.

“Don’t touch Toronto,” said Coun. Lily Cheng (Ward 18 Willowdale), at a press conference Monday, flanked by Liberal MP Michael Coteau and Liberal MPP Adil Shamji, who both represent Don Valley East, which will effectively be split into three and eliminated if the North York riding boundary redistribution is finalized.

“By reducing the number of ridings in Toronto, the federal government is further silencing the diversity in our community,” said Cheng.

Both Coteau and Shamji criticized the consultation process, which they say failed to give the community a chance to weigh in on proposed changes and the impact it will have, with Shamji pointing to the discussion around moving the Ontario Science Centre to Ontario Place as an example of the need for strong local representation.

Coteau has said provincial legislation, including the Representation Act and the City of Toronto Act, mean that a loss of a federal riding will almost certainly result in a loss of a provincial riding and a council seat.

“I think it’s actually a slap in the face,” said Coun. Jon Burnside, Ward 16 (Don Valley East), arguing that this decision will especially impact newcomer and racialized communities, which form a significant part of the riding, without their input. According to the 2021 census, about one-fifth of the riding is Muslim and about 18 per cent are not Canadian citizens.

Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie said there will be conversations with the province about what a federal riding change will mean for the number of city councillors, which was already cut in half by Premier Doug Ford in 2018.

The federal government did not kick in any money to cover the city’s $815-million COVID-related shortfall from 2022 and the books are being closed with only provincial contributions, McKelvie said.

Nevertheless, the city is still asking for 2023 COVID bailout money from Ottawa as well as funding for transit, shelters and refugees, along with a new fiscal framework for funding municipalities.

“We need as many MPs as possible on the Hill advocating for that,” McKelvie said.

Cheng and other councillors presented Coteau with a letter, signed by all councillors other than Coun. Stephen Holyday, supporting Coteau’s efforts to stop Toronto from losing a riding.

Holyday said he has “been consistent over the years in supporting a smaller city council, as has been the public.”
 
Toronto ridings mostly have fewer people than other ones throughout the GTA. We're slightly overrepresented right now compared to other urban areas, though obviously quite underrepresented compared to rural areas and the north.
 
Just a random bit of Toronto news that seems UT report worthy, but not its own thread worthy.............

Apparently someone(s) made off with at least 20M in gold and other high value items from Pearson.

 
Just a random bit of Toronto news that seems UT report worthy, but not its own thread worthy.............

Apparently someone(s) made off with at least 20M in gold and other high value items from Pearson.


How the hell do you do that without someone noticing?
 
The insiders would have just tipped off the people who stole it. I suspect they then had a plan to walk out with it in a convincing way rather than paying off everyone who might have seen them.
 
I think more likely it was someone implementing policy regardless of good sense. If we let this man maintain a garden, what's to stop other residents from making undesirable modifications to common elements.
 
In respect of the above, I don't see anyone having asked the City/TCHC for a clear statement about why this was done.

I'm inclined to think the removal of a lovely landscape feature for no obvious reason is unwise/foolish.

However, looking at the above, if this was done w/o permission, where is the water coming from? Where is it draining too? Is there a parking level underneath the landscaping, was their any impact on the foundation? Who was paying for the water?

I would like to know those things before drawing a definitive conclusion. None of the above necessarily makes removing the garden a good choice. It really looked quite lovely. But I still wish people complaining would make some effort to get all the facts.

I don't even know what site this is; which makes it a difficult for me to do any digging.
 

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