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

Lawrence-Allen Revitalization Project Update

An update from the city on the Lawrence Heights project:

Hello,

 

Attached is the January 2010 Project Update for the Lawrence-Allen Revitalization Project, which provides information about the project work over the last few months.

 

The last community meetings organized by City Planning were in June.  We want to apologize for the fact that two workshops were cancelled in July 2009 due to the City worker's strike.  The consultation process is ongoing and will continue into 2010.  The next round of meetings is expected in the first few months of 2010.

 

Web Site Updates: Four reports from the City's transportation work have now been posted on the web site:

• June Open House and Workshop Summary Report: http://www.toronto.ca/planning/pdf/lawrenceallen_meeting_summary_report_June09.pdf
  
• Allen Road Technical Feasibility Study: http://www.toronto.ca/planning/pdf/lawrenceallen_allen_road_tech_feasibility.pdf
  
• Existing Transportation Inventory: http://www.toronto.ca/planning/pdf/lawrenceallen_existing_conditions_issue.pdf
  
• Transportation Issues and Opportunities: http://www.toronto.ca/planning/pdf/lawrenceallen_transportation_issues_and_opps.pdf
  
• Existing Infrastructure Analysis: http://www.toronto.ca/planning/pdf/lawrenceallen_Existing_Infrastructure_report.pdf

 

If you have any questions or comments, please email us at this address, or contact:

 

Ann-Marie Nasr Project Manager (416) 395-7180

Kyle Knoeck Senior Planner (416) 395-7116

Michael Noble Assistant Planner (416) 395-7106

 

Thank you and have a Happy New Year,

 

The Lawrence-Allen Revitalization Project Planning Team

Say NO to the HST on Thurs. Dec. 3rd (1:30-2:30 PM) at Queen's Park

1:30 PM in front of Queen's Park

From Toronto to Timmins, from Sudbury to Thunder Bay, Ontarians across the province are telling Dalton McGuinty that his unfair tax plan will make life more expensive for everyday people while funding a massive tax giveaway to corporations.

But Dalton McGuinty isn't listening.

We are mobilizing people to have their voices heard. First Nations from around Ontario will be gathering at Queen's Park on Thursday. They will be joined by tenants, condo owners, hockey parents and everyday people from all walks of life.

Join us and say NO to the HST!

Visit: www.unfairtaxgrab.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=184009262895&index=1

More Conservative partisan advertising

I'm sure many residents of Eglinton-Lawrence are getting rather tired of receiving mailings from out-of-riding Conservative MP's -- an open abuse of the spirit of the rules on communications from our elected officials. We've certainly been receiving a string of complaints from local residents who are unhappy that their tax dollars are being used for a blatantly partisan advertising spree on behalf of an unelected Conservative candidate.

The latest mailing seems especially pandering and is generating some wider attention:

Opposition decries Tory attack ads
sent to Jewish voters

One wonders if Eglinton-Lawrence Conservative candidate Joe Oliver will demonstrate some integrity by denouncing this unending stream of junk mail pouring into our riding. Having seen Mr. Oliver on the campaign trail in the last campaign, he certainly came across as a decent sort -- although it's hard to know what any of his personal opinions are given the central party boilerplate that dominates his website. Perhaps he should ask the PMO for some talking points on how to square his party's talk of fiscal responsibility with this sort of pork-barrel waste.

Developments at Dufferin and Lawrence

It looks like the wheels are turning behind the scenes over how big the development at Dufferin/Lawrence will be:

Councillors ready to fight large development at OMB

North York councillors are willing to work out compromises with a landowner proposing a 1,700-unit residential neighbourhood at Dufferin Street and Lawrence Avenue but will fight the plan at the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) if a settlement can't be reached.

An OMB hearing has been set for next February to look at the mixed-use development at 3083-3101 Dufferin and 770 Lawrence, which includes retail space and 1,700 residential units in a combination of tall apartment buildings, mid-rise buildings and townhouses.

[...]

Eglinton Crosstown Light Rail Transit - Project Update and Consultations

Another round of open houses for the Eglinton Transit City project. Our local open house id the last of these, December 10th, at Beth Shalom Temple -- just a short ways from Eglinton West station.

The City of Toronto and TTC are pleased to be hosting seven Open Houses across the study corridor for the Eglinton Crosstown Light Rail Transit Project.  Please see the attached notice for details.

At the Open Houses,  staff will present the preferred design for both the underground and street level segments of the line. For the street level segments, final stop locations and traffic management strategies to provide fast and reliable LRT service will be displayed.

All Open Houses will be held from 6:30pm to 9:00pm.  Details are as follows:

November 23
York Memorial Collegiate (cafeteria)
2690 Eglinton Avenue West

November 24
Etobicoke Olympium (2nd floor Lounge)
590 Rathburn Road

November 25
Northern Secondary School (cafeteria)
851 Mount Pleasant Road

November 26
Richview Collegiate (cafeteria)
1738 Islington Avenue

December 2
CNIB Conference Centre
1929 Bayview Avenue

December 8
Don Montgomery Community Centre
2467 Eglinton Avenue East

December 10
Beth Shalom Synagogue
1445 Eglinton Avenue West

Following the last round of consultation, public feedback and additional analysis, some key improvements have been made. The proposed station at Brentcliffe has been relocated to Laird Drive to best serve the Leaside Community.  Furthermore, the design for the surface section of the line west of Keele Street  has been updated to maintain a series of left hand turns from a number of north-south streets onto Eglinton. Please see the attached notice for more information.

Public Consultation Reports from previous Open Houses  are posted on the project website. Please visit www.toronto.ca/transitcity and click on "Eglinton Crosstown LRT". The reports are located at the bottom of the page.

Direct Link to the Eglinton Crosstown LRT page:  http://www.toronto.ca/involved/projects/eglinton_crosstown_lrt/index.htm

Reminder of Upcoming Public Meeting Re: Avenue Road Traffic Study

 

            

COMMUNITY MEETING NOTICE REGARDING AVENUE ROAD TRAFFIC STUDY

 

Thursday, October 22^nd, 2009 at 7 P.M.

Auditorium - Lawrence Park Collegiate Institute, 125 Chatsworth Drive

 

 

Dear Neighbour,

 

A number of residents in the community have expressed concerns regarding traffic speed and volume, as well as pedestrian safety along Avenue Road, from Lawrence Avenue West to Eglinton Avenue West.

 

In order to determine if any remedial actions or improvements are required, the City's Transportation Services Division undertook a review of the collision history and traffic patterns, operating speeds, signage and pavement markings, traffic control signals, pedestrian activity/railing installation, as well as winter maintenance practices and road drainage conditions. 

 

The review was concentrated on three specific areas along Avenue Road. This decision was based on roadway alignment, collision history and pedestrian activity (school area). As such, the three areas that were reviewed are:

·        Glenview Avenue to Glengrove Avenue;

·        St. Clements Avenue to Roselawn Avenue; and

·        Elwood Boulevard to Eglinton Avenue.

 

The results of Transportation's analysis indicate that the following recommendations be implemented:

·        Installation of eastbound and westbound left-turn and through prohibitions during the a.m. and p.m. peak traffic periods at Avenue Road and Glencairn Avenue to reduce vehicle conflicts and collisions;

·        Reassessment in the spring of 2009 of the section of roadway between Glenview Avenue and Glengrove Avenue to determine the level of impact that the modifications to the pavement markings and signage have had on motorist awareness and collision patterns in this area;

·        Deployment of the Speed Watch Board on Avenue Road in the vicinity of Allenby Public School;

·        Increased Police enforcement of the 40 km/h speed limit; and

·        Installation of Decorative Aluminum Handrails/Splash Guards on the west side of Avenue Road between St. Clements Avenue and Castlefield Avenue.

 

In light of the aforementioned, I am holding a public meeting on October 22^nd to review the traffic study results and proposed recommendations.  Staff will be present to answer your questions.

 

I hope to see you at the meeting.

Fw: York West/York Centre Nominating Meeting Invite

A message from our friends to the north:
 

As President of the York Centre Riding Association, a Chair at the New Democrats @ York University and a full-time activist, I cordially invite you to the York West & York Centre Federal Nomination meetings.  Both events are combined, as the two ridings work with some solidarity as we recognize the need for a united front in the North-West of Toronto, a place where we have not won in quite a while.  A revitalization project is needed and this is where we believe it needs to begin.
 
The date for our Nomination Meeting(s) is Tuesday, November 10th, 2009.  We are conducting considerable outreach to members, previous members, community activists, students at York University and others.  We hopefully are expecting a large turn-out, particularly hoping to have a significant student presence.  The time is at 7pm at the location of 1280 Finch Ave. West (nearest intersection is Keele & Finch) in the Nor-Arm Tower, 2nd Floor in Casa Maize.
 
We hope to see you there and have an amazing event to start our trek to revitalize the region and turn it orange,
 
-Jesse M. Zimmerman

Some upcoming events

Short notice here, but best to pass these all along.

• Please join us in Davenport for our Federal Nomination meeting this
  Monday, October 5th at 7pm (doors open at 6:30) at 1140 Bloor St West
  (at Dufferin).
  
  This will be a meeting like no other.
  
  Come celebrate as we nominate musician and journalist
  Andrew Cash as our next Federal candidate for Davenport.
  
  Special Musical guests:
  
  Jim Cuddy of Blue Rodeo and
  Andy Maize & Josh Finlayson of The Skydiggers.
  
  Special guest speakers:
  NDP Leader Jack Layton
  ONDP Leader Andrea Horwath
  MP Charlie Angus
  
  Please join us for the nomination meeting on October 5th at 7pm at
  1140 Bloor St West.

• NDP President and former MP Peggy Nash will be speaking the Scarborough Southwest AGM this Sunday October 6^th at 2pm. The meeting is taking place at the United Association of Plumbers and Steamfitters, 936 Warden Avenue, in the "Senior's Lounge."

   

  Come on out and hear Peggy speak about the Economic Crisis and the NDP.

   
  

Gilbert also passed this notice along:

 

 CEHS

Centre for Equity in Health and Society

 

presents

 

A TALK AND DISCUSSION

about

"Barriers to Progress"

 

Professor Victor Trotman

Senior Director, Labour Relations, UHN

 

Discussion led by

 

Ms. Jacqueline Silvera, LLB

Senior Manager of Diversity, UHN

 

October 5, 2009

6 – 8 pm

 

Metro Hall

55 John Street, Rm 303

Toronto

 

Light refreshments

 

Ward 16 Public Meeting Re: Proposed New City of Toronto Zoning By-Law

For those in the east half of the riding, Coun. Stintz has an upcoming public meeting on the draft Zoning By-Law:

 

Tuesday, September 22, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. at

The Agricola Finnish Lutheran Congregation (Fellowship Hall) - 25 Old York Mills Road

 

Please attend the public meeting I have organized with Councillor Cliff Jenkins (Ward 25) regarding the new draft Zoning By-law that is being proposed for the City of Toronto.

 

The City of Toronto's Planning Division is proposing a new Zoning By-law to replace the 43 zoning by-laws inherited from amalgamation. A draft By-law has been prepared by Planning Staff with a recommendation to be implemented by the end of 2009. Some of the proposed changes include:

 

• a new definition of height to the top of the roof rather than the mid-point of the roof, as presently exists;
• new formulas for calculating front, rear and side yard setbacks;
• a higher standard of 10 metres for the height of homes; and banning of reverse-sloping driveways city-wide.

It is not yet known what influence, if any, these changes will have on residential development in Ward 16.

Executive Meeting / St. Paul's By-election

The Eglinton-Lawrence NDP is holding an executive meeting next week (Tuesday, September 15th), gearing up for what might be a busy fall. We will be looking for people to help with our candidate search and election readiness committees and planning our next newsletter. Executive meetings are open to all active members of the riding association and we need as many people helping as possible. If you are interested in attending, just send us an email.

Also, if you want some "hands on" election practice, our neighbours to the south can always use more help in the final drive in the St. Paul's by-election:

	Friend, This is the last weekend of the St. Paul's by-election. Election day is September 17. The NDP team has been working hard towards electing Julian Heller, the next NDP MPP for St. Paul's. As of today, we have received 1200 requests and delivered 100 000 flyers. The energy levels are high, as New Democrats are coming in daily to knock on doors, drop flyers and call voters. Julian Heller's campaign has excited the voters of St. Paul's. We are now receiving more interest than ever before. As we are entering the final week of the campaign, we need your help to send Julian to Queen's Park. Join us Saturday, September 12 11am - canvass blitz 2:30pm - women's canvass The campaign office is located at 434 Eglinton Avenue West, 1 block west of Avenue. You can confirm your attendance by calling the office at 416 545 0713 or responding to this email. Alternatively, you can just come by the campaign office on Saturday. We'll be waiting for you. In solidarity, Andrea Horwath, leader Ontario's NDP

Unified Toronto Zoning By-Law

There is a North York open house in a couple weeks regarding the City's pending unified Zoning By-Law:

September open houses on draft zoning bylaw In June, City staff held Open Houses in each District on the draft new City-wide Zoning Bylaw. Due to the labour disruption the cancelled Open Houses are rescheduled for September. The Open Houses run from 4:00 to 9:00 p.m. and Q&A session is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. The details for each meeting are:

North York Civic Centre Council Chamber
5100 Yonge Street
Thursday September 24, 2009
4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

More info here.

Avenue Road Plan Meeting

It looks like there's a meeting coming up on the long-gestating Avenue Road plan:

Thursday, September 24th, 7 p.m. at Lawrence Collegiate.

The city's project page for the Avenue Road study hasn't been updated to include tis meeting, so more information as it becomes available.

 

Labour Day Parade

This came in from the Parkdale-High Park mailing list:

LABOUR DAY PARADE 2009 -

This year's Labour Day parade will take place on Monday, September 7. Members and friends of the Parkdale—High Park NDP will assemble at 9:10 a.m., at the south-east corner of Queen and University, and starting marching at 9:30 sharp to the CNE Dufferin Gates. The theme of this year's parade is GOOD JOBS FOR ALL. Please let us know that you are coming so that we can make sure a wristband is available for you; you'll need it for your free CNE admission. Please e-mail Julius Deutsch at jdeutsch@labourcouncil.ca or contact him at 416-892-4380.

A new issue of this thought-provoking journal from our friends at Parkdale-High Park:

Hearts & Minds

July/Aug 2009

The third issue is now available!

Click HERE to view online Click HERE to download pdf	A newsletter for members of the Parkdale-High Park riding association and the wider NDP community
	Strategic challenges in the Nova Scotia election (Jill Marzetti, Director of Organization, Nova Scotia 2009 campaign)
	2009 Liberal Budget and the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) (Cheri DiNovo, MPP (Parkdale—High Park))
	Psychiatric survivors need jobs (David Reville, former NDP MPP (Riverdale))
	Getting eHealth back on track (France Gélinas, MPP (Nickel Belt))
	Air Canada: Fly it right (Peggy Nash, former MP (Parkdale—High Park))
	...and much more