211 is your community connection. It is the number to call for information about human services – health, social and community services. 211 connects you with an information specialist who can provide information and referrals 24 hours a day. For example, you can call 211 if you are a newcomer to Canada and are looking for employment training or you are concerned about a family member with an addiction and need information about available programs. You can call 211 if you’ve lost your wallet and don’t know where to replace your identification or you’re looking for marriage counselling or even need to know where the nearest after-hours medical clinic is located. You can also visit the 211 Toronto website.
311 is a simple, three-digit phone number that you can use to get information about City of Toronto services or programs, or to make a request for service. Residents, visitors and businesses no longer have to try to find the right division or individual at the City to get information or help. Callers can get information about everything from Toronto Public Library hours of operation, to reporting a missed garbage pick-up, to finding out where the closest flu clinic is located.
Customer service representatives are available to answer your questions or fill a service request 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and you can also email 311@toronto.ca or visit toronto.ca/311 for assistance.
Accessibility barriers impact everyone from seniors and people with disabilities to families with young children using strollers. I am committed to working closely with residents to address accessibility issues within Ward 22 and the City of Toronto as a whole.
I believe that greater awareness of accessibility barriers is a great first step towards improving quality of life for people with disabilities and their families. It is important that landlords, tenants, and business owners are aware of the issues and legislation surrounding disability accommodation.
The following websites and contact information will be helpful to residents seeking more information about accessibility and the rights of people with disabilities. Most accessibility legislation is provincial, but the City of Toronto can assist residents with accessible transit and other services. Please feel free to contact my office for assistance with municipal accessibility issues.
To inquire about City of Toronto bylaws relating to accessibility, call 311 or email 311@toronto.ca.
City of Toronto – Office of Equity, Diversity and Human Rights:
http://www.toronto.ca/diversity/index.htm
416-392-8592
TTY: 416-338-0889
Multilingual Services, call: 311
Centre for Independent Living in Toronto:
Phone: (416) 599-2458
Direct Funding Hotline: 1-800-354-9950
Fax: (416) 599-3555
TTY: (416) 599-5077
Email: cilt@cilt.ca
Federation of Metro Tenants’ Associations: (416) 921-9494
http://www.torontotenants.org/
Ministry of Community and Social Services – Accessibility Directorate of Ontario:
http://www.mcss.gov.on.ca/en/mcss/programs/accessibility/index.aspx
General Inquiry: 416-326-0207
TTY: 416-326-0148
Toll Free: 888-520-5828
TTY Toll Free: 800-335-6611
Fax: 416-325-9620
Human Rights in Housing: http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/human-rights-housing-overview-landlords
Toronto Transit Commission – Accessibility: http://ttc.ca/TTC_Accessibility/index.jsp
Global News: City of Toronto proposes framework for licensing landlords
May 10, 2016
Peter Kim
Global News
Rather than flooding the city with 3-1-1 calls complaining about issues in their buildings, tenants may soon have a new tool to help them live with dignity.
City staff released a framework Tuesday for licensing landlords that includes requiring them to maintain the interiors and exteriors of their buildings, and clean common areas as a condition for approval.
Landlords will also need to notify residents of service disruptions in a centrally located posting board.
READ MORE: ‘We were naive’: Canadian landlords share their worst tenant stories
“This isn’t about going after good landlords. There are many in the city. [But] there are far too many, almost parasitical companies that come into Toronto, buy up apartment buildings, remove the superintendent and keep the building in disrepair,” said Councillor Josh Matlow, chair of the city’s Tenant Issues Committee.
“That’s not fair to so many tenants who deserve to live in a quality home.”
Bayview Bulldog: SERRA AGM marks 51st year of South Eglinton body
April 20, 2016
The South Bayview Bulldog
The 51st Annual General Meeting of the South Eglinton Residents and Ratepayers Association was well-attended Wednesday night in the gymnasium of Manor Road United Church. President Andy Gort said that after many years at this location, it was the last time SERRA would meet there. Renovations to the church and the sale of half the property to make a public park means SERRA will have its AGM in the newly finished Sanctuary of Manor Road Church next year. The meeting heard from Josh Matlow (Ward 22) who reviewed many issues such as transit plans, the proposed Davisville Hub and a number of developments of concern.
Toronto Star: What became of Toronto’s push for free public Wi-Fi?
Trying to find a free connection in Toronto is difficult — but it's available in places such as London, Fredericton.
April 19, 2016
Vanessa Lu
The Toronto Star
Customers at a Toronto Tim Hortons use public Wi-Fi. Some smaller cities in Canada have had more success in providing free public Internet access instead of Toronto, which continues to strive for more Wi-Fi at city parks and facilities as well as in community housing. Photo: AARON HARRIS / FOR THE TORONTO STAR.
Compared to other cities around the world, free Wi-Fi can be hard to come by in Toronto.
Pop into a chain coffee shop or fast-food joint and you’ll probably be able to connect. Both Metrolinx and the Toronto Transit Commission are trying to offer up more access, but it’s still limited.
It’s a far cry from the experiment launched in New York earlier this year where free high-speed public Wi-Fi was made available through street kiosks. Using the city’s now outdated pay phone infrastructure, LinkNYC hopes to cover the whole city in the next 10 years, providing affordable access to an increasingly essential service.
But Toronto was already thinking ahead to the need for such a service back in 2006, when Toronto Hydro Telecom offered up the free service for six months in the downtown core.
Toronto Star: Toronto considers apartment licensing to crack down on bad landlords
City council set to explore a “Rent Safe” landlord licensing system to improve tenant quality of life.
April 9
Laurie Monsebraaten
The Toronto Star
Phuc Dinh and Hoa Le, once refugees from Vietnam, say they've had to buy four space heaters to deal with the constant cold in their apartment on West Lodge Ave. in Parkdale. Photo: GEOFFREY VENDEVILLE / TORONTO STAR.
Toronto is contemplating a licensing system for apartment buildings — similar to the city’s Dine Safe restaurant program — to give inspectors more teeth when landlords fail to meet minimum property standards.
The proposed Rent Safe program would apply to about 3,300 rental buildings with 10 units or more that are three storeys or higher, according to a city staff report. Condos and co-ops would be excluded.
If approved by council next fall, it could be in place as early as January 2017.
Hodgson’s 100th Anniversary, May 2016
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The City has introduced a new parking ticket dispute process for parking meter and/or pay-and-display machine offences. It’s now easier to dispute your parking ticket if you have a valid receipt. Click here for more information.
The Toronto Meeting Management Information System (TMMIS) is your online window into the activities of City Council and its committees. Here, you can get up-to-date information including meeting schedules, agendas, minutes, and reports.
You can watch each Council meeting live online with Rogers TV.
- If you are a homebound person receiving care through a Primary Care Provider, Family Health Team, Home or Community Care or Community Support Services or Agencies, please contact your provider to learn whether they are able to offer in-home vaccination. Many teams are beginning to organize or being supported to offer in-home vaccination and will begin to reach out to their patients and/or clients in the coming weeks. If your provider is not able to offer at-home vaccination, they will place your name onto a list for at-home vaccination.
- If you are a homebound person who does not have a Primary Care Provider, Family Health Team, Home or Community Care or Community Support Services, please contact the Toronto Seniors Helpline. The Toronto Seniors Helpline will be available to support homebound people who are 18-65 years old, as well as seniors. They can be contacted at 416-217-2077 or by web chat following instruction at https://torontoseniorshelpline.ca/web-chat/
Each member of Council is deemed to be a commissioner for taking affidavits. The associated duties and powers are set out in the Commissioners for Taking Affidavits Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. C.17. Section 2(3) of the Act gives members of Council, by virtue of office, the authority to take affidavits on any matter within the geographic limits of the City of Toronto. A commissioner for taking affidavits is not a notary public or guarantor.
The following are examples of the types of requests that are typically presented to members of Council and which they may sign if they wish:
Adult or child change of name application (Change of Name Act) Insurance documents affidavits:
- Motor vehicle transfer
- Lost cheque or savings bond affidavits
- Affidavit of service
- Affidavit on land transfer tax form
- Affidavit of Responsibility (sponsoring family visiting Canada)
- Passport – Statutory Declaration in lieu of guarantor
- Permanent Residency Card
Please contact our office by phone at 416-392-7906 or email councillor_matlow@toronto.ca if you are is need of this service.
To rapidly expand screening and ease pressures on hospital emergency departments, a number of dedicated COVID-19 testing centres have been established across Toronto. Please click here to learn more about who should visit these centres and where they are located.
To review the daily status of cases in Toronto from Toronto Public Health, please click here. Kindly note that the data shown here may differ from other sources, as data are extracted at different times.
If you want to make your views known about a matter being considered by a committee of Council you can submit comments or request to speak. Your comments will become a part of the public record on that matter and will be made available for everyone to see.
Emergency Services
Call If You’re Having Difficulty Breathing or Experiencing Other Severe Symptoms
24-hours, 7 days a week
Telephone: 911
Telehealth Ontario
Call If You Develop Symptoms
24-hours, 7 days a week
Telephone: 1-866-797-0000
Toronto Public Health Hotline
8:30 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Telephone: 416-338-7600
TTY: 416-392-0658
Email: PublicHealth@toronto.ca
311 Toronto
Outside City limits: 416-392-2489
Call if You Have Questions About City Services.
Telephone: 311
TTY: 416-338-0889
Email: 311@toronto.ca
211 Toronto
Helpline and Online Database of Ontario’s Community and Social Services
Telephone: 211
TTY:1-888-340-1001
Text: 21166
Email: 211@toronto.ca
Toronto Seniors Helpline
Interpretation Services Available
Mon-Fri: 9:00am-8:00pm
Sat-Sun-Statutory Holidays-9:00am-6:00pm
Telephone: 416-217-2077
Long Distance: 1-877-621-2077
Gerstein Crisis Centre
Adults 16+ Experiencing Mental Health & Substance Abuse
24-hours, 7 days a week
Telephone: 416-929-5200
Distress Centre of GTA
Anyone in Distress or Need of Emotional Support
24-hours, 7 days a week
Telephone: 416-408-4357
Text: 45645
Connex Ontario
Addiction, Mental Health & Problem Gambling
24-hours, 7 days a week
Telephone: 1-866-531-2600
https://www.connexontario.ca/
Kids Help Phone
Free & Confidential Counselling for Youth
24-hours, 7 days a week
Telephone:1-800-668-6868
Toronto Emergency Central Intake for Shelters
24-hours, 7 days a week
Telephone: 416-338-4766
Email: cfi@toronto.ca
https://www.toronto.ca/community-people/housing-shelter/
Grocery Gateway
Order Groceries Online from Longos
24-hours, 7 days a week
Telephone: 1-877-447-8778
https://www.grocerygateway.com/store/groceryGateway/en/
Instacart
Order Groceries Online
24 hours, 7 days a week
Telephone: 1-888-246-7822
https://www.instacart.com/
Inabuggy
Order Groceries Online
24-hours, 7 days a week
Telephone: 1-844-41-BUGGY (28449)
Email: support@inabuggy.com
https://www.inabuggy.com/
COVID-19 Youth Mental Health Resource Hub
Before the pandemic, we were advocating together for programs to help our youth. Now, during the COVID-19 crisis, we want our community’s youth to get through this physically, and mentally, well. Here’s a helpful COVID-19 Youth Mental Health Resource Hub that youth can access virtually.
Unison Health Telephone Counselling and Support
For the safety of community members and our clients and to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Unison Health is now offering the following services over the phone:
mental health counselling: Call Amanda Costa, Mental Health OutreachWorker at 416-645-7575 ext. 2050 or send an email to amanda.costa@unisonhcs.org
help to apply for income benefits, such as CERB: Call 416-787-1661 ext. 3240, Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5pm Leave a voice mail message with your name and phone number.
help to get food: Call 416-787-1661 ext. 3341, Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5pm Leave a voice mail message with your name and phone number.
If you are worried, sad, or scared, you are not alone. Unison’s counsellors are here to help you. Connect with Unison by using one of the phone numbers listed above. Someone will return your call as soon as possible. Note: staff are working from home and your call may be returned from a blocked number.
The City of Toronto has created a Family Wellbeing Plan which helps to support those that may be experiencing domestic violence and/or child abuse during this time. The best resource for services and supports is the City of Toronto Webpage, which can be found here: https://www.toronto.ca/community-people/health-wellness-care/health-programs-advice/violence-at-home/.
On this page you will be able to find a few things:
- Agencies that are available 24/7 (and virtually) that can support those experiencing intimate partner violence or child abuse. It lists all of their contact information as well as links to their respective organization’s website
- Links to resources around legal support, housing, shelter, mental health, and financial support for those that are leaving their abusive situation
- Information and strategies for how to identify if intimate partner violence is taking place, safety tips, and ways you can support if you know someone that is experiencing abuse.
Please note that options in other languages are available by clicking the “Translate” button at the bottom of the page.
