Ward 15 race in Now Weekly

The race in Ward 15 is starting to get some more attention, including an article in this week's NOW magazine.

Ward 15 - All candidates meeting

Just got word of this -- a chance for residents in Ward 15 to hear the candidates in person.

Eglinton-Lawrence Ward 15
Candidates Meeting

Candidates:
Josh Colle
Rob Davis
Tony Evangelista
Ron Singer
Eva Tavares

Tuesday October 5, 2010
Columbus Centre, Columbus Room
901 Lawrence Avenue West
7 – 9 pm
(Doors open at 6:30 pm)

 

If anyone has more news about events in Ward 15 or 16, please leave a comment or send us an email.

Municipal Election - TV Debates

I note that Dale Goldhawk will be hosting a series of televised All Candidates Debates on Rogers TV, and that Ward 15 (west of Bathurst) and Ward 16 (east of Bathurst) will both be on Tuesday, September 28th.

Tune in a meet your candidates! (To the extent that one can "tune" their TV's in this day and age, anyways.)

More info here. (PDF link)

Is there a progressive choice for Ward 15?

With the retirement of long-serving councillor Howard Moscoe, there is a wide-open, incumbent-free race in Ward 15 the upcoming municipal election. (The boundaries of Ward 15 mostly correspond to the west half of the profincial/federal Eglinton-Lawrence riding, except where it dips south of Eglinton west of Wiona and north of it east of Winona).

So far, the local campaign has been very low profile. In fact, I received my first piece of campaign literature this week, from perpetual far-right fringe candidate Ron Singer, who has allied himself with the cringe-inducing policies of angry blowhard Rob Ford.

Is there a progressive candidate in Ward 15? Someone who will step forward and announce they are committed to a fair society, to transit, to the environment? Are they out knocking on doors? Will we hear from them at our doorsteps?

The election is going to be here sooner than we know it, so let's hope anyone courting the progressive voters in Ward 15 makes themselves known.

Reboot / Mayoral Debate

Let's try and get things re-started around here!

Any help in the form of local events or links to interesting things would be appreciated!

Meanwhile, there is a mayoral debate in our neighbourhood tomorrow night:

A mayoral debate will be held at Villa Colombo, 40 Playfair Ave., Tuesday, Sept. 14, from 7 to 9:30 p.m.

The debate, organized by the National Congress of Italian Canadians-Toronto District and the Canadian Italian Business and Professional Association, will include candidates Rob Ford, Joe Pantalone, Rocco Rossi, George Smitherman and Sarah Thomson.

Senator Art Eggleton will act as moderator.

Rally for a Public Inquiry Concerning the Actions at the G20

Rally for a Public Inquiry Concerning the Actions at the G20

Date:	Thursday, July 1, 2010
Time:	5:30pm - 11:30pm
Location:	Queens Park (in front of the legislature)
Street:	Queens Park Crescent
City/Town:	Toronto, ON
	View Map

Description

Our Chief of Police misinformed the public as to laws that were passed. Our police arrested innocent and peaceful protesters. Those protesters were held in detention centres with little food or water.

We want to know why the Black Bloc were allowed to trash our city! We want to know why police barged into people's homes in the middle of the night! We want to know why the police thought that misinforming the public was a good idea!

Are you outraged? WE ARE! Come join us for a peaceful protest!

Those of you not in Toronto: We will be having solidarity protests in various cities on the 17th. Please join this group and help organize and spread the word!

http://www.facebook.com/specialshi?v=wall&story_fbid=751379792437#!/event.php?eid=139227296091761

Not on facebook? Go to http://torontoparticipates.ca/ for details!

G20 March Info

New Democrats from across the province will join our brothers and sisters in the Ontario Labour Federation for a rally and march during the Toronto G20 Summit.

We demand that world leaders put people first and create a world that is sustainable, with decent jobs for everyone, and protects human rights. 

Saturday, June 26th, 1:00pm

Queen's Park, South Lawn

Remember to wear orange and bring bottled water.

For more information, email: Ndpg20@gmail.com

G8/G20 Rally - June 26

People First! We Deserve Better!

G8 & G20
PUBLIC RALLY and MARCH

Saturday, June 26 @ 1:00 p.m.
QUEEN'S PARK - TORONTO

March ends at Trinity Bellwoods Park (Queen Street West @ Trinity Drive)

WHAT'S THIS ALL ABOUT?

The G8 & G20 Summits taking place in Ontario from June 25-27 offer Canadians a rare opportunity to speak out on priorities that the world's most wealthy and powerful nations should adopt on economic recovery, environment, human rights, decent jobs, and social justice.
Decisions taken by the G8 & G20 governments impact on millions of lives in Canada and around the world.

Join us on June 26. Show the world that Canadians still share the dream of a better world for everyone.

Toronto Area Council Launch Sat March 27th

This is the culmination of a lot of work, and could be an important vehicle for ensuring our local priorities are being heard:

Friends, New Democrats are doing exciting things in Toronto. After Cathy Crowe's exciting campaign in Toronto-Centre, we're organizing to keep setting the agenda. The Toronto Area Council is holding their first meeting this Saturday March 27th. A full agenda for the inaugural meeting is copied below and background information on the council is available on their website www.torontondp.ca. I hope you will join me, members of my caucus and special guests for a "Members' Levee" - an evening of entertainment and a free social following the business portion of the meeting at 5pm. Andrea Horwath

INAUGURAL ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING TORONTO AREA COUNCIL SATURDAY MARCH 27, 2010 STEEL HALL 25 Cecil Street Toronto, Ontario

10:00   Registration Opens 11:00  Establishing the Toronto Area Council: How can it help?  What can it do? ·       Working groups break-out sessions 1:00     Lunch ·       Light lunch will be provided 2:00    Business Meeting ·       Elections and adoption of by-laws 5:00    Social ·       Cash bar and entertainment

Voters in Eglinton-Lawrence have been getting a lot of these. Will we start to feel lonely or less-appreciated if the steady stream of mail from random Conservative MP's stops?

MPs vote to stop mailing flyers outside ridings on taxpayers' dime

OTTAWA–MPs have voted to put a stop to the practice of mailing taxpayer-funded political flyers to voters outside their own ridings.

In a surprisingly close result Tuesday, MPs passed a Liberal motion to scrap the so-called 10-percenters by a vote of 140-137.

New Democrats, who had argued in favour of retaining the right to communicate with voters all across the country, ended up supporting the motion, which included several other proposals aimed at saving the government more than $1 billion annually.

The Bloc Québécois also supported it while Conservatives, who've made the most use of the mailouts, were opposed.

The controversial 10-percenters – so named because MPs can send one-page flyers to distant voters in numbers equal to 10 per cent of the electors in their own ridings – are estimated to cost up to $10 million each year.

Unlike other opposition motions that the government can ignore, Liberals maintain Tuesday's motion is binding. It was worded as a directive to the Speaker of the House of Commons and the board of internal economy, which set the rules for MPs' mailing privileges.

The flyers have been the source of considerable tension among the various parties over the last couple of years. They've been used increasingly to launch vicious partisan attacks against political opponents.

 

Community Consultation Meeting: Proposed Yonge-Eglinton Urban Growth Centre Boundaries

For those in the east half of our riding, and especially those down towards Yonge & Eg, there's a "community consultation" coming up tomorrow:

Community Consultation Meeting

 

Wednesday March 3^rd, 2010

7:00PM

North Toronto Memorial Community Centre

200 Eglinton Avenue, West

Main Floor Meeting Room

 
 

Proposed Yonge-Eglinton Urban Growth Centre Boundaries

 

The Planning Department and Councillors Stintz, Walker and Jenkins invite you to a public consultation meeting to discuss the proposed boundaries of the Yonge-Eglinton Urban Growth Centre and necessary amendments to the Yonge-Eglinton Secondary Plan.

 

The Provincial Growth Plan identifies areas of intensification called Urban Growth Centres in cities throughout Ontario.  In Toronto the Province has identified 5 Urban Growth Centres: Downtown/Waterfront, Scarborough Centre, North York Centre, Etobicoke Centre and Yonge-Eglinton Centre.  In 2008 the Province released their boundaries for these Centres which the City must incorporate into its Official Plan in order to comply with the Provincial Growth Plan.

 

The City does have the ability to make only minor adjustments to the Yonge-Eglinton Growth Centre boundaries established by the Province.  As can be seen from the small map the Provincial boundaries extend east of Yonge Street to include most the area roughly bounded by Yonge St. on the east, Mt. Pleasant on the west, a line north of Erskine Avenue on the north, and a line north of Soudan on the south.   The Growth Centre extends just west of Yonge Street between Orchard View and Berwick.  After consultations with community representatives staff are recommending only two minor changes to the Yonge-Eglinton Urban Growth Centre boundaries established by the Province.   Amendments to the Secondary Plan policies would seek to concentrate development with the highest heights and density at the four quadrants of the Yonge-Eglinton intersection, with descending heights and densities on Eglinton Avenue East as one gets farther from Yonge Street.  The 'Apartment Neighbourhoods' east of Yonge Street would be considered to be stable areas with compatible infill permitted on truly underutilized sites with existing apartment buildings.  Development on Yonge Street north of Roehampton and Mount Pleasant Road south of Eglinton would be mid-rise buildings with retail at-grade.

 

In addition, in response to the suggestions of community representatives to strengthen the Secondary Plan, some of the policies that have now been put in place for the 'four corners' of the Yonge-Eglinton quadrant that deserve broader applicability, are proposed to be extended to apply to the entire Secondary Plan Area.  These include: encouraging sustainable transportation initiatives, providing adequate parking supply, encouraging bicycle linkages to the City's bike route network, having new development improve the streetscape and sidewalks, encouraging mid-block connections on large blocks, providing community services in a timely manner, promoting community services that are flexible and multi-purpose, pursuing opportunities arising from development to develop new parkland, and identifying priorities for community benefits under Section 37 of the Planning Act.

 

If you cannot attend the meeting, you can still make your views known by emailing cgiles@toronto.ca or by fax to 416-397-4080 or by writing Christian Giles, Planner, Policy and Research, 55 John Street, 23^rd Floor, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 3C6.

 

Looking for more information? Please call Christian Giles at 416-392-0881 or visit the following web sites for more information about this initiative.

 

January 5, 2009 Report to Planning and Growth Management Committee (direction to undertake consultations RE: Yonge-Eglinton UGC): http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2009/pg/bgrd/backgroundfile-18454.pdf

 

Province of Ontario Places to Grow Program and Growth Plan:

http://www.placestogrow.ca/index.php?lang=eng

http://www.placestogrow.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=9&Itemid=14

 

City of Toronto Official Plan:

http://www.toronto.ca/planning/official_plan/introduction.htm

 

Lawrence-Allen Revitalization Meeting Invitation and Project Update

An update on the ongoing consultations around the Lawrence Park redevelopment:

 

We are writing to let you know about a community open house where we will be presenting the emerging preferred plan for the area.

 

Date: February 25, 2010

Time: 1:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Location: Lawrence Heights Community Recreation Centre

Address: 5 Replin Road

 

Similar to the release of Option Plans in June 2009, the open house will be followed by a series of small group workshops.  You will have an opportunity to sign up for these workshops at the open house.  The expected workshop dates and locations are:

 

§   March 1: Barbara Frum Library
20 Covington Rd.
6:00 - 8:00 pm

§   March 8: Lawrence Heights Community Centre
5 Replin Rd.
7:00 - 9:00 pm

§   March 10: Sir Sandford Fleming Secondary School
50 Ameer Ave.
7:00 - 9:00 pm

§   March 24: Lawrence Heights Middle School
50 Highland Hill
7:00 - 9:00 pm

 

A full meeting notice and general Community Update is attached.

 

Thank-you,

 

The Lawrence-Allen Revitalization Team

 

http://www.toronto.ca/lawrenceallen.

lawrenceallen@toronto.ca        

 

 

 

Over at Lawrence and Dufferin...

From Inside Toronto:

City, developer reach draft deal

Last-ditch negotiations between the city and a developer over property in the Dufferin-Lawrence area appear to have been successful, according to Eglinton-Lawrence Councillor Howard Moscoe.

"It appears we have a settlement. We have a draft settlement," he said Tuesday, Jan. 26.

Education Funding Task Force

Education Funding Task Force
At the ONDP Convention in March 2009, a resolution was passed that mandated the party to establish a Task Force on Education Funding in Ontario (see below for resolution) that would consult with party members on this critical issue.

The Task Force was established, and its membership approved, at the November 2009 Provincial Council meeting. The membership is as follows: Vicky Smallman (co-chair), Bud Wildman (co-chair), Cameron Holmstrom, Pat Chastang, Malcolm Buchanan, Ed Chudak, Effie Vlachoyannacos, Brian MacDonald (staff), Sandra Clifford (ex-officio)

Mandate of Task Force
• The mandate as set out in the convention resolution is to deal with education funding in the
broad sense.
• Submissions may deal with legal, constitutional, political, fiscal, equity, taxation,
and governance issues.

Framework and Timelines
• This is a task force of the party and will seek submissions from party members, on the
assumption that outside interested groups will be represented through the party membership.
• Submissions will be accepted by mail, e-mail, and video, and there will be one in-person session
Sunday, February 28 between 10:00 am and 5:00 pm at the venue of the Provincial Council
meeting. Time-slots for in-person submissions must be booked in advance, and the in-person
presentations must be accompanied by a written submission. All submissions must include name,
address, phone and e-mail information. Submissions will be accepted until March 19, 2010.
All submissions and requests for time at the in-person session are to be sent to:

Valorie Block
Executive Assistant to the Provincial Secretary, Ontario NDP
101 Richmond Street East
Toronto, ON M5C 1N9
p: 416.591.8637 ext. 244
f: 416.599.4820
vblock@on.ndp.ca

---

CONVENTION 2009 RESOLUTION
3-6 Public Education Funding
Whereas Ontario currently has four publicly-funded school board systems, a French Catholic, a
French Public, an English Catholic and an English Public; and
Whereas schools in all board systems currently lack adequate funding due to a flawed
provincial funding formula that the McGuinty government has refused to fix despite promising
to do so; and
Whereas all proponents of public education should be unified in the fight for excellent schools
that have the funding they need; and
Whereas the forced merger at this time of some or all of these school board systems will only
serve to divert attention away from the real problems facing public education in Ontario;

Therefore be it resolved that New Democrats oppose the McGuinty government's continued
and chronic under-funding of schools in Ontario's four publicly-funded school board systems;
and
Be it further resolved that New Democrats continue to support Ontario's four publicly-funded
board systems at this time and oppose any efforts to forcibly amalgamate them.
Be it further resolved that Provincial Council establish a Party task force to examine all public
education funding options in Ontario and that that task force report back to Provincial Council
within a year of this convention.

Toronto Centre by-election

This just made its way down the pipeline:

Yesterday, Dalton McGuinty dropped the writ for a Toronto Centre by-election to replace MPP George Smitherman who resigned his seat this past weekend.

Toronto Centre NDP will hold its nomination meeting this:

Sunday, January 10 at 3:00 p.m.
in the Auditorium of the
519 Community Centre
(519 Church Street, Toronto ON)


Confirmed speakers include
Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath!
To date, one potential candidate has filed papers to seek the nomination:

Toronto community and housing activist Cathy Crowe. Cathy Crowe, Toronto's Street Nurse, is the author of "Dying For A Home" and is a recipient of the coveted Atkinson Economic Justice Award. She is a frequent spokesperson and advocate on behalf of the homeless and a co-founder of the Toronto Disaster Relief Committee.

Any member of the NDP may seek the nomination by filing papers with the Provincial Office not later than 3:00 p.m. Saturday January 9th.

Nomination papers are available at the ONDP office, 3rd Floor, 101 Richmond Street East, Toronto ON.

All are welcome to the nomination meeting but only members in good standing who live in the riding will be eligible to vote.

For more information, call 416-657-2531 or email info@tcndp.ca