SAFETY

  • As the TDSB PIAC rep last year I  advised school councils and Principals about the Ontario Active School Travel program.
  • Street sales and BBQs used to be commonplace, bringing neighbours together. Lets make sure our streets are safe for the kids to play around by conducting speed limit reviews and adding speed bumps in areas where speeding is common.
  • Community violence can take on many forms to combat this we need to ensure our local programming addresses the incidents that are taking place. I will review the Police CDO Safety Audits of our Neighbourhoods.
  • Too many of our seniors cite Safety as concern. Residents can be better informed of what the Toronto Police are doing to keep them safe. City officials must do more safety education for our vulnerable residents.
  • I would also like to see our TTC bus stop sheds equipped with solar panel LED lighting. These are rampant in other wards across Toronto, and would increase our safety while waiting for buses.

HOUSING

  • The City has just voted for apartment owners to become licensed to keep housing in good repair and affordable! Click below to see if your apartment has been audited. Click here
  • The Ward 25 Rooming Housing Pilot Project must take into consideration that the students of UTSC and Centennial College are creating a need that is not being met by the schools. UTSC must step up to construct affordable student housing, just as Durham College and UOIT has.
  • I absolutely support the development of real affordable housing, in particular rental housing. Visit Warden Avenue and St. Clair. In the relatively new neighbourhood of Warden Hilltop, there are buildings with stores on the ground floor, aiding social cohesion and liveability, and can help increase revenue for the developer to pay for cost of the land and development of affordable units.
  • Part of the problem Scarborough has faced with building new rental units is that developers say they need rapid transit close by to sell the project. I disagree. If we build it, they will rent. 
  • It has been whispered that some co-ops have gotten a decrease of property tax rates for 2017 but have those savings been passed on to members? If not, are coops using those savings for capital needs that could be coupled with grants to reduce future costs. As councillor I will investigate and work with local co-ops with leadership for those who cannot voice their concerns. ​​
  • City planners can protect and expand the viability of the communities with zoning by-laws. Do you know what may be entering the area? I will ensure that my office communicates to all residents any considerations or actions to re-zoning and new development. I will have City staff create a map of all development applications in real time so you can voice your opinions on what development is needed or not desired for our neighbourhood.

CHILDCARE

  • I support a gender equity lens to all of our departmental operations and planning. We are in dire need of additional diverse daycare options and spaces that reflect the needs of parents who aren't working 9-5 jobs. These centres could be built within new developments of rental units on the ground floor to enhance social and community cohesion.
  • Scarborough-Rouge River needs more child-care centres with affordable fees and hours that fit working parents. I spoke to the Budget Committee in January 2017 about the needs of parents in Scarborough. Please see my Facebook page video for a snippet.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

  • ​I'd like to have the opportunity to get into council have our HR departments consider doing equity hiring for those living in Toronto's Neighbourhood Investment Areas, to ensure current Torontonians can continue to afford to live in our beautiful city.
  • I support the creation of quality Green jobs in Scarborough and will champion the local Rouge Urban Farm  project ensuring we begin tilling soil quickly.
  • Business Improvement Areas assist with the marketing and coordination of businesses in local areas, bringing more jobs and beautification to the neighbourhood but we only have one. I would like to see this expanded to include 2 new BIAs established, one in Highland Creek and one on Morningside.​
  • We can leverage the Community Benefits Program written into MetroLinks contract agreements etc. to provide job and training opportunities for residents of the Ward, however all level of government have taken it off of the priority list, see my blog post here I will work to ensure this happens.
  • Our teenagers need opportunities to build their skills, experience and attributes that will allow them to obtain meaningful jobs and sustainable career. Through my existing network of community partners, I will make this happen.
  • I will support the promotion of entrepreneurship and small business creation.
  • Our local Ontario Works and Employment Ontario offices can and should do more for residents needing to get back into the labour market. I will ensure citywide opportunities are brought to our ward and information sessions provide tangible opportunities to our residents.
  • One of the quickest growing and most lucrative job fields are in S.T.E.M (Science Technology Engineering and Math). Events and programs can be brought into local settings to expose our children to the fundamentals of these sectors. I will bring existing partners from my work in Rexdale to Ward 25 to prepare our youth for the future.​

MOBILITY

  •  I would like to see a new TTC Express line created. Running from the top of Steeles (servicing residents of Morningside Heights), down Morningside, along Sheppard East (serving Dean Park and Rouge residents) down to Port Union GO train and ending near Mowat.
  • Ward 25 has some of the highest car insurance rates in the City. Driving is a necessity in our ward because of sub-par transit frequency. This inequity has to stop now. If our rates are higher due to accidents at particular intersections, I will ensure the Transportation department reviews the layout/design and light timing of those corners.
  • The ​TTC and METROLINKS had previously gotten approval and funding to build the Sheppard Rail Train (slatted to begin in 2020) towards Ward 25 that will decrease our travel time, increase our ability to obtain better employment and increase our property values. 
  • ​I will work to bring public Electric Vehicle charging stations to Ward 25.
  • Ward 25 residents deserve to have access to parking permits on side streets to reduce parking confusion and ticketing. Other wards within Toronto have this right and I will champion this cause for you at City Hall. I estimate that will be able to bring in 4 million dollars, which could be used to improve local transit routes, create community  bus service from our Seniors homes to Rouge Valley Hospital, or create a new express route to the Port Union Go Station.
  • Our sidewalks and cat walks need to be properly maintained to ensure the safety of residents and decreased liability to the City.​​​

ENVIRONMENT

  • I`m pleased that the city is currently looking into the opinions of Torontians on single-use plastics but want to the expansion of recycling requirements for business`s and retail property owners, and green bins for multi-residential units. We have two great examples of implemented best practices within Ward 25 and we must try to replicate these throughout the City. 
  • Our ward sits on some of the most beautiful land within the City of Toronto. We need to open up opportunities for families to explore, learn and play. Opportunities exist to train residents with the knowledge to keep this land pristine and healthy for future residents. I will ensure these opportunities are brought forward for the residents to take part in.
  • Scarborough - Rouge River has some of the very best nature in all of Toronto but do we use it enough? Nature offers assistance to many health issues and programs will be created and maintained to ensure our local benefits are optimized.
  • Dog-strangling vine is widespread throughout Toronto and seed spreads easily by wind. The sites where the City has a focus management of this species include environmentally significant areas where there is a high level of biodiversity and rare species to protect, as well as planting sites that require help to maintain and establish. Due to the need for herbicide application, we typically do not try to control this species in larger connected riparian areas or in proximity to water sources. I will work with residents and City staff to ensure this nasty vine does not spread throughout our ward.
  • If you want a generation to develop an appreciation for the natural environment, they need to be out in nature exploring, imagining and discovering. We have an opportunity to build this into the youth of Ward 25 with a strong partnership with Parks Canada to host workshops, events and career / stewardship training in the Rouge.
  • I support the enhancement of the Toronto Tree Canopy and will host bi-annual tree plantings. Through partnerships with LEAF, adults can be trained on Tree Stewardship and personal tree maintenance for homeowners.

RECREATION

  • Throughout Ward 25 we have areas without after school care, no weekend or after school programs for children, I will work with local non-profit agencies and our TCDSB TDSB Trustees to make sure permits are available and advertised to bring in local recreation programming.
  • Across the​ City there are programs offered for all ages groups that are diverse, modern and accessible, however our access to these in Scarborough rarely exist. I will work with Parks and Recreation staff to ensure you are provided with the programs that will relax or invigorate the whole family, and look forward to the new Joyce Trimmer Recreation Centre on Sheppard Ave East (blog post soon to come). I also support the diversity of programming within the ward so that we don't need to travel across the city for classes that are only offered downtown or in the west end of Toronto.
  • Neighbourhood services must be open to all residents of the ward regardless of their age, culture, economic status or physical ability. Public Health can do more to address the gap in our services.