How can we improve the Spadina Fort York Ward

 If elected as Councillor of Spadina Fort York Ward, these are the main issues that I will dedicate my energy and time on to resolve: 

The reality for many downtown residents, especially those living in condo towers, is that the nearby park becomes your backyard and the local community centre becomes your play room. It is these public spaces that make our neighborhoods livable. It has become apparent that there simply are not enough parks within the city, or at least certain parts of the city. 

In areas of high growth, and in areas of dense population such as Ward 10, the city of Toronto has largely failed to create new networks of parks and substantial public open spaces sufficient to accommodate the needs of the tens of thousands of residents that reside in our Ward.

As a councillor I would work closely with all neighborhoods and update any zoning restrictions to benefit the people living in the neighborhood.   

a) Improving public transportation to ensure it is fast and efficient. Continue investment in public transit and green street programs.

b) Improving infrastructure and safety for pedestrians, cyclists and all new forms of carbon free travel such as e-scooters or e-bikes.

c) Increase local renewable energy by encouraging and increasing its compatibility with current buildings. Making it easier to install solar panels and installing battery power banks to conserve energy.

d) Boosting EV infrastructure throughout the city. Making it easier to install a charging station or finding shared charging stations.

e) Provide incentives for people to drive electric vehicles through the town to help lower the pollution.  

Housing affordability should not be a privilege but a right. Toronto rent prices have increased to a new time high with no end in sight. Inflation is making everyone’s life way more expensive. The city should ensure that the rent control remains in place and also maintain low property taxes for those who own. 

The last couple of years thousands of new units have been built as affordable rental units as part of the current Poverty Reduction Plan. We need to increase awareness and accessibility to these affordable rental units so people in need can apply and utilize them.

Our Harbourfront is very unique and beautiful. We need to maintain it and keep it beautiful. During the summer days, the Harbourfront is very busy. There is potential to add additional public spaces in the Harbourfront to relieve some of this congestion. The promenade and its signage system also needs to be improved for cyclist and pedestrian safety. 

Jet planes have no place on the island airport. We need to keep the noise down to ensure we do not disturb our neighbours.

In a world class city like Toronto, Art should be embedded within it. We need to continue to expand film studio space in the city. Music venues need to be preserved and we need to reduce barriers for local artists to access these venues. There are many artists that live in the Fort York Spadina Ward who should be able to create art throughout the city and become part of Toronto’s landmark.

Toronto has a big and diverse workforce. The city needs to work to ensure that technology, financial, film and art companies move or expand into this wonderful city. Initiatives should be provided to companies for investing in and leveraging the local workforce.

This Ward has seen a large increase of crime and violence year after year. More focus and emphasis are required from the city to curb the crime in the city. Each neighborhood in the ward needs a community safety program. As a city we should push the other levels of government to enforce a handgun ban.

The Spadina Fort York Ward is the definition of Live-Work-Play of a world class city. Here you can find a large number of bars, restaurant and shops. It is a densely populated area and increasing rapidly with all the new developments that are occurring. This Ward is the new IT hub right beside the biggest financial district in Canada and the entertainment heart of the biggest city in Canada. Cultural heritages such as China-Town and Fort York are also part of this Ward. 

Ensuring Proper Zoning it vital to such a vibrant district so we can all peacefully live-work-play.

As a councillor I will work closely with all the neighborhoods and update any zoning restriction to benefit the people living in the neighbourhood.

Equal human rights for all seems like it would be a given. When you look at social justice, it is all about equality. To be socially just, every individual must be treated equally and fairly by society. 

Social justice needs to be an all-encompassing idea that unifies us in the achievement of common goals. These goals include equality, freedom from discrimination, fair access to opportunities (social, educational, political, economic, etc.), participation, and the same rights and liberties regardless of race, origin, and socioeconomic status.

Spadina Fort York Ward is the liveliest Ward of all Toronto. Every weekend thousands of Torontonians and tourists visit the lively neighbourhoods of the Spadina-Fort York Ward. 

Noise is everywhere in a lively city, but it should not affect our neighbours. Noise is constantly being generated from bars, patios, cars, construction, and people.

Noise can be controlled and regulated by updating zoning permits, creating neighbourhood friendly by-laws and managing by-law officers properly. 

A big city like Toronto should be able to compete with other mega cities of the world with respect to entertainment. With proper zoning and by-laws Toronto should be able to extend the alcohol last call to 3 A.M.