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.
On April 5, the Saturday Farmers’ Market moves to the newly opened St. Lawrence Market North Building, located at 92 Front Street East. A Toronto tradition since 1803, the market remains a vibrant hub for fresh, local food and historic charm. Visitors can support local farmers and be part of this exciting new chapter.
On March 6, my office held our first “Toronto Centre Talks” (TC Talks) event at the St. Lawrence Community Recreation Centre to talk about something that has been bothering a lot of us lately: noise. A neglected topic across health and enforcement, this was a forum to allow advocacy and staff to discuss this topic together.
A road historically named Eastern Avenue is getting a new name - Old Foundry Road! Following a proposal on my Toronto Centre Projects website, I will be bringing a motion to the upcoming Toronto East York Community Council meeting on May 1, with the goal of having new signage installed by the end of 2025.
Warmer days are still ahead, but I hope that you and your family had a chance to enjoy some time for yourselves in March as we leave winter and enter spring. I for one cannot wait to see the trees and gardens in full bloom!
A federal election has been called, with election day coming April 28. This comes shortly after the provincial election. I would not blame anyone for feeling some election fatigue, but this election will be important too. In February, I spoke to issues I felt needed to be raised on doorsteps with provincial candidates, and want to likewise encourage you and your network to engage with federal candidates knocking on your door this month.
The City of Toronto’s Love Local campaign encourages Torontonians to shop local and support Canadian products and businesses. This is just one of ten immediate actions in the Mayor’s Economic Action Plan in Response to United States Tariffs aimed at protecting small businesses, strengthening local supply chains and ensuring economic resilience. More information about the Action Plan can be found on the City’s Responding to United States Economic Policy webpage.
The measles virus continues to spread in many parts of the world, including in Canada. Residents are encouraged to stay up to date with their routine vaccines to help prevent the spread of measles. Vaccines are available from your primary health care provider or at a Toronto Public Health community clinic for school-aged children. Learn more on the City’s Measles fact sheet and book an appointment at TPHbookings.ca.
Calling all budding poets! To celebrate spring, the City of Toronto is hosting its first Children’s Spring Poetry Contest! Children ages six to 14 are invited to write a poem about what they love most about Toronto’s parks. Children are encouraged to be creative and expressive in their poems to highlight their favorite memories at a local park.
I hope you will be able to join me, my staff and the Easter Bunny on Friday, April 19 for our Toronto Centre Easter Events in Allan Gardens and the newly completed North St. Lawrence Market. Please RSVP! I hope to you there!
Monday, April 21 will be a statutory holiday so my offices will be closed. Happy Easter!
After struggles with the Vacant Home Tax (VHT) last year, I'm please to announce that 94.5 per cent of residential property owners have confirmed for the 2024 VHT declaration. However, despite the dramatic improvement that still equates to thousands of homeowners that are set to be taxed on the assumption that their home is lying empty for most of the year. If your property is being used by yourself or tenants, it's imperative that you declare before Wednesday, April 30 to avoid a hefty charge.
Amidst the trade war with the United States, developing an Economic Action Plan was a top priority for City Council on March 28 and 29.
Recently, the Friends of Allan Gardens (FOAG), in partnership with the City’s Parks and Recreation department, released the newest iteration of the envisioning document that will serve as the masterplan for the future of Allan Gardens. This initiative, "Growing with the City," reflects our shared and ongoing commitment to engagement, fundraising and stewardship in the development of cultural and capital projects within the park and in service of the people that use it.
At the end of March, five safe consumption sites across Toronto are slated to close as a result of the Community Care and Recovery Act, which prohibits safe consumption sites within a 200 metre radius of schools and child care centres. As we prepare for this change, I wanted to provide an update and answers to some frequently asked questions.
