June 26 - Update

Dear Friends and Neighbours,

Today, the Province announced 111 new cases of COVID-19 in Ontario, which marks the lowest increase the province has seen within a 24-hour period since March 25. The Province also conducted a record 30,780 tests for COVID-19 yesterday.

The City’s Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) program will begin issuing tickets to speeding drivers on Monday, July 6.There are 50 cameras installed city-wide and each ward has two ASE cameras that will capture and record images of vehicles travelling in excess of the posted speed limit. Signage is installed in advance of all ASE locations so that motorists are aware of their presence. I announced back in December the two locations in Ward 5 that would be getting Automatic Speed Enforcement Cameras:

• Bicknell Ave between Juliet Cres & Avon Dr

• Brookhaven Dr between Fox Point Rd & Nordale Cres

To find out more about Automated Speed Enforcement in Toronto, please click here.

Yesterday, Mayor Tory put forward recommendations in a report titled Changes to Policing in Toronto, which will be considered at next week's meeting of City Council (agenda item CC22.2).I support the Mayor’s recommendations. They provide a comprehensive framework for a calculated approach to reallocating police funding toward community-led crisis intervention programs, and propose to re-align the City’s budget priorities to put an even greater focus on a robust system of social supports and services, including ongoing investments in Black, Indigenous and marginalized communities.

The Toronto Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) has completed the Black Creek at Rockcliffe Special Policy Area Flood Remediation and Transportation Feasibility Study. The results were presented to the Board of Directors of the TRCA today. The report is available online here. The relevant report is Item 7.1. I will be holding public consultations on the findings of this report. Please don’t hesitate to contact my office if you have questions about it.

The City is beginning to reopen outdoor pools today. More information will be available on pools in York South—Weston in the coming days. The splash pad at Weston Lions Park is now open. More info is available below under the City of Toronto weekend update on services.

The former Bank of Montreal building on Weston Rd near Lawrence Ave W (1939 Weston Rd) has a new tenant! Church’s Texas Chicken will take possession on July 1st to start renovations to create a restaurant space. I’d like to welcome Church’s Texas Chicken to the neighbourhood and look forward to their opening!

On Monday June 29, Metrolinx crews at Caledonia Station will be pouring concrete to form a wall and a street level slab. During the pour, westbound Eglinton Ave W will be reduced to one lane only between Blackthorne Ave and Gabian Way. Please click here to view the construction notice. 

Wishing you all a wonderful and safe weekend! Please remember that while the City is slowly beginning to reopen, the best ways to protect yourself and others from COVID-19 are to wash your hands regularly, avoid touching your face, and maintain physical distancing. It is advised to wear a face covering in situations where physical distancing is not possible. 

Sincerely,

Frances

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City of Toronto weekend update on services, amenities and ActiveTO The City of Toronto continues to safely and gradually open services and amenities. As residents head outside this weekend and enjoy some of the businesses and services permitted under Toronto’s Stage 2 reopening, they’re reminded of the importance of adhering to Toronto Public Health’s advice to wash their hands often, stay within their social circle of no more than 10 people, avoid crowds, practise physical distancing, and wear a face covering or non-medical mask to protect others when in settings where physical distancing cannot be maintained. 

Residents are reminded that bonfires and the consumption of alcohol are not permitted in parks, beaches or public spaces. Enforcement officers will issue tickets related to the consumption of alcohol and bonfires, with fines of up to $300.

For a detailed list this weekend’s service openings and impacts, including ActiveTO, the Toronto Island Park ferry service, splash pads and pools, beaches, parks and amenities, St. Lawrence Market and washroom facilities, read the news release.  Update on Sanitation and Washroom Services In response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the City opened a number of facilities with showers, washrooms and drinking water for all individuals in need of these services, including those experiencing homelessness and other vulnerable individuals. 

As the City transitions from crisis response to restart, temporary sanitation services are adjusted to align with ongoing response efforts and proactive preparedness activities. The following is a list of recent and upcoming service changes to washrooms and sanitation services:

·       On June 20, the City opened approximately 200 park washrooms for public use. 

·       As of end of day June 28, five facilities will transition out of sanitation services in order to begin preparation for the CampTO programs, which begin in July. These facilities include: Wallace Emmerson Community Centre, Regent Park Community Centre, Scarborough Village Arena, Amesbury Area, and Domenico Di Luca Community Centre.

·       Starting June 29, Harrison Pool, an existing downtown sanitation facility, will increase its services and operate seven days a week to accommodate additional traffic.

For up-to-date washroom and shower locations, operating hours and amenities, please visit the City’s website.

Anyone using public washrooms should maintain a distance of two metres or six feet from others at all times while waiting in line, and should wash hands or use hand sanitizer. It is also recommended that cloth face coverings are worn, especially when physical distancing is difficult. The guidelines for using public washrooms during COVID-19 are available here. 

Toronto Public Health collaborates with hospitals on pilot project to reduce COVID-19 spread As part of the City's ongoing efforts to reduce COVID-19 spread, Toronto Public Health (TPH) announced a new pilot partnership with Michael Garron Hospital and the University Health Network’s, Toronto Western Hospital. This pilot will enable enhanced collaboration and information sharing between these health system partners to identify and contact COVID-19 cases faster, thereby reducing virus spread in Toronto.

Through this unique collaboration, these health system partners are testing a process to share positive COVID-19 lab results directly from the Assessment Centres to Toronto Public Health. Accessing results directly from assessment centres will help TPH identify and isolate people who test positive for COVID-19 and their close contacts, sooner. This case and contact management work is critical to reduce virus spread as Toronto moves forward with reopening the city. 

More information on COVID-19 data can be found on the City’s reporting platform.

City of Toronto child care centres set to reopen beginning June 29 Beginning June 29, 11 of the 47 City of Toronto-operated Toronto Early Learning & Child Care Centres (TELCCC) will reopen to support parents returning to work and to help with the restart of the economy. The Province of Ontario announced that licensed child care services could begin to operate as of June 12 as part of the Province’s reopening plan.

Child care centres are required to follow strict operational requirements to help ensure the health and safety of children, their families and staff. The City is taking a careful and gradual approach to reopening centres with the majority of the remaining centres planned to reopen in July and August.

City of Toronto joins Pride at Work Canada The City of Toronto is proud to announce that it has joined Pride at Work Canada, a leading national non-profit organization that promotes workplace inclusion on the grounds of gender expression, gender identity and sexual orientation. The City will now have access to resources and supports that can help create more inclusive spaces and contribute to deepening inclusion of Toronto’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Two-Spirit (LGBTQ2S+) communities.

The City is launching a new Understanding Gender and Sexual Orientation e-learning for City staff, which outlines each employee’s role in building an inclusive workforce and offers practical tips to be an LGBTQ2S+ ally in daily life. In addition, the City is also launching a new Accommodation Framework for Transitioning Employees, which is a new management tool that will support employees who are transitioning. This is accompanied by the City’s existing guidelines for accommodating gender identity and gender expression.

Toronto residents who are interested in providing advice on priority issues to support the elimination of barriers and inequities experienced by LGBTQ2S+ communities in accessing City of Toronto programs and services are welcome to apply at toronto.ca/ServeYourCity. City of Toronto update on COVID-19 cases  There are 14,134 cases of COVID-19 in the city, an increase of 40 cases since yesterday. There are 233 people hospitalized, with 60 in ICU. In total 12,215 people have recovered from COVID-19. To date, there have been 1,072 COVID-19 deaths in Toronto. Case status data can be found on the City’s reporting platform.

Provincial Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act orders, the City bylaw on physical distancing, and laws prohibiting consumption of alcohol on City property and in unlicensed public areas remain in effect. The COVID-19 enforcement team continues to patrol parks and beaches, particularly problem areas, with a focus on providing education. Yesterday, the City received 103 complaints related to parks use and physical distancing. Officers have spoken to or cautioned more than 6,600 people this month. Bylaw officers issued nine tickets yesterday in City parks or squares.

For the latest updates from the City of Toronto, please click here.

For the latest updates from the Federal Government, please click here. 

For the latest updates from the Province of Ontario, please click here.