The wave of cynical, divisive populism spreading across Canada is threatening to find another foothold in Don Valley West (Ward 15) as voters go to the polls on November 4th to elect a new City Councillor after the tragic passing of Jaye Robinson. Far right pundit Anthony Furey.. …is parachuting into Ward 15 from his home in the Beaches to try and gain a seat on Council and potentially launch another mayoral bid. Instead of focussing on meaningful solutions that will help Don Valley West residents, he practices an increasingly common brand of politics…

John Tory and Doug Ford don’t get to tell you who to vote for. Their interference in the mayoral by-election, despite promising they wouldn’t get involved, is yet another dishonest attempt by those in power, and those who finance them, to hold on to the power they have. Our city is broken, and the two men who got us into this mess will not get us out of it.

The Province’s decision to destroy Ontario Place for a private spa denies Torontonians’ need for a rejuvenated green and public park on our waterfront. Moving the Science Centre robs areas like Thorncliffe Park and Flemingdon Park of a cultural institution…

https://twitter.com/torontostar/status/1648375720341651492

…that provides learning opportunities for young people, local jobs and an attraction that benefits the economy of the surrounding area.

As Mayor, I will invest $1 million into Open Schools Toronto through the $115-million Community Health and Safety Fund to open neighbourhood schools as community centres on evenings and weekends, connecting residents of all ages to recreation opportunities and to each other. The pandemic showed us how social connection is key to our health and wellbeing. By expanding the City’s community use agreements between the City of Toronto and local school boards, we can open up access to indoor facilities like school gyms and classrooms.

Under new mayoral powers created by Doug Ford, rather than participating in the selection of Toronto’s City Manager, I’ve only learned of the appointment by reading a statement from Mayor Tory and a press release…. ….For a long time, I’ve been increasingly concerned about the politicization of City Staff. Being able to rely on the accuracy, and reliability, of their advice is critical. There have been significant questions about information council and the public has received regarding…

Together as a community, we advocated to protect & revitalize the historic Regent Theatre on Mount Pleasant when its owners put it up for sale. Opened in 1927, the Regent (also known as the Belsize & Crest) hosted everything from cinema, vaudeville & live theatre…. …My friend Gordon Pinsent, the great Canadian actor, has told me stories about how it was an epicenter of Canadian theatre, and the “Spring Thaw” in the 1960s was a right of passage for young Canadian talent like Gordon at the time. In recent years, it fell into disrepair as…

Ontario, please don’t allow Doug Ford to remain in power. Over the past 4 years, his government proved they won’t #getitdone for you if you’re a hungry child who needs breakfast, Autistic, Franco-Ontarian, in high school, have an addiction or mental health challenge, a teacher… …an endangered species, don’t applaud him, enjoy safe food and water, read library books or live in Toronto, are indigenous, get sick while traveling abroad, don’t want your property to be flooded, rely on legal aid to afford justice, have an appreciation for facts & science…

The Ford government’s Bill 109 “More Homes for Everyone” is an irresponsible and disappointingly immature response to a serious issue- Ontario’s housing crisis. In particular, I want to bring attention to the section of the Act that financially penalizes municipalities for not… …approving a development within 90 days. This will actually have the perverse effect of slowing the development process down as more developments will end up at the Ontario Land Tribunal.

If a developer is building a cookie-cutter subdivision on a greenfield…

1/4) Given the devastating impact COVID-19 has had on public health, our society, and on our freedom to enjoy the “normalcy” we had before, it’s time to provide people a choice- either be vaccinated, protect each other and contribute to ending the pandemic, or be prepared to… 2/4) …forfeit privileges. This is a critical and proven step toward incentivizing many who are still hesitant. As we enter the fourth wave, I believe the mayor and Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health should do everything within the City’s legal purview to…

The 1951 Yonge proposal is an example of how industry lobbyists convinced the Ford government to change planning policy. This is wrong- we need school capacity, services, parks and infrastructure. Our quality of life should come before the financial interests of developers. Please sign our petition at : joshmatlow.ca/local-planning…