Starting January 1, 2026, the City of Toronto will no longer manage recycling collection. Under the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act of 2016, this responsibility will shift to producers, with Circular Materials taking over Blue Bin collections for all residential properties, schools, long-term care facilities and retirement homes.
At our April City Council meeting, we adopted a comprehensive Congestion Management Plan which includes a series of measures designed to keep everyone's commute safe and efficient. Here are a few key highlights of the plan which have the most impact on Ward 13:
I am happy to share that after years of advocacy and a year and a half since my motion was adopted by Council, we now have a comprehensive City-Wide Dog Off-Leash Strategy in place. I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Toronto Dog Park Community, Paws for Parks, and the residents of Toronto Centre for their persistent advocacy and input throughout this process.
I hope everyone is well. As the weather gets colder and winter gets closer, let’s use this time to recharge, stay connected, and keep showing up for each other, our schools, and our communities.
The Dundas and Sherbourne Community Action Plan is part of the City's broader Dundas–Sherbourne Neighbourhood Revitalization Plan, which focuses on creating social and economic equity as the neighbourhood grows and develops. Working with the Moss Park Coalition, this plan brings together residents, agencies, and service providers committed to safety, wellbeing, and inclusion.
The October City Council meeting involved lengthy discussion about the Automated Speed Enforcement program which, which was recently banned by the Provincial government. Despite this focus, we discussed several other ways to enhance safety; on the TTC, on our roads and sidewalks, and at home.
I want to extend my sincere thanks to all the residents who joined us at our six town halls across Toronto Centre as well as virtually. It was fantastic to connect, hear your concerns, and discuss our shared vision for a more livable, inclusive community.
The conversations were open and thoughtful, even when the questions were challenging. Together, we discussed important issues such as homelessness, addiction, traffic safety, and street cleanliness. While some of these matters extend beyond the City’s authority, I remain committed to advocating strongly on your behalf to other levels of government to ensure your voices are heard.
Updated flu and COVID-19 vaccines are now available for everyone aged six months and older at participating pharmacies and primary care offices. Vaccines for children aged six months to four years old are also available at Toronto Public Health (TPH) community clinics. It is safe and convenient to receive both vaccines at the same appointment.
Participatory Budgeting has been a long-term project from my office since 2023. Following the lead of Councillor Shelley Carroll, Ward 13 is the first downtown ward to have this type of resident engagement style community project. Each year, we select different neighbourhoods to participate. Today, I’m glad to bring you updates on recent successful projects that are being or have been installed in our neighbourhoods.
On November 4, I was excited to join community members and Dixon Hall for the opening of new housing at 504 to 508 Parliament Street. With 31 new homes now open at 504, 506, and 508 Parliament Street, the City is taking an important step toward providing much-needed affordable housing in our community.
I recently had the opportunity to tour the Regent Park Energy District, an innovative facility that plays a vital role in powering our community sustainably. Owned by Toronto Community Housing and operated by a contracted partner, the Energy District supports our shared commitment to building a greener, more resilient city.
I hope you and any little ghouls and ghosts in your life had a tremendous Halloween this past Friday. Also, I want to especially thank everyone who attended one of my six town halls over the fall. I host these town halls because I think it’s important to give you an opportunity to ask me tough questions and voice your concerns directly to me. Thank you again for coming out.
A recent report by the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO)–where I am a Caucus Chair–predicts that homelessness in Ontario could triple by 2035. I’ve heard a lot of concerns at my town halls about homelessness–which has doubled since 2021–and associated issues with addictions and mental health. Residents, even those that express sympathy with those living on our streets and in tents in parks, are understandably furious about the perceived lack of action on these issues. The rise in complaints has followed several supervised consumption service sites being shut down by the province last April.
The City’s Women4ClimateTO Mentorship Program empowers and supports emerging women climate leaders working on innovative projects that will help to mitigate the impacts of climate change. Learn more and apply by Thursday, November 20 on the City’s Women4Climate Toronto Mentorship Program webpage.
Congratulations to everyone who participated in Participatory Budgeting 2025!
This year, we focused on three clusters of neighbourhoods in Toronto-Centre: Cluster 1 (Bay Cloverhill, Church Wellesley, Upper Jarvis and Bloor East), Cluster 5 (St. Lawrence) and Cluster 6 (Canary District, Corktown and Distillery District). After a feasibility and costing review was done by staff and our office, 15 capital ideas were put forward to go through the voting phase by residents of participating neighbourhoods, and we now have the results.
You're warmly invited to attend my Toronto Centre Holiday Banquet at St. Lawrence Hall on December 5 from 6:00pm to 9:00pm! Space is limited, so RSVP ASAP!