If constituents have street safety issues (New traffic lights, better signage, red light cameras, speed bumps, decreasing wait time for walk buttons, etc.), who should they contact?
It is most efficient to start by reporting all such issues to 311, via the website, app or phone (Create a Service Request – City of Toronto). The online options are quick and ensure staff receive the details they need to respond. Each request is assigned a 311 tracking number, which departments use to monitor timelines and manage follow-ups. Councillors’ offices also require this number in order to escalate a request. If you haven’t received a response within a reasonable time, please contact our office and we’ll be happy to follow up.
How quickly can 311 turn things around?
311 does a very good job of quickly logging service requests and directing them to the right City department. Response times can vary depending on the priority of the request and the resources available to the department responsible. Many City services are managing high demand while working within tight budgets. For example, park maintenance has faced funding pressures for years, although we secured an additional $20 million in 2024 to help address this backlog. Rising construction costs and changes to development-related funding have also meant some projects must be scheduled over time. Our office regularly follows up on requests, and in many cases we’re able to help move them forward or connect residents with the right team to resolve the issue.
Why doesn’t the city have more effective and robust enforcement?
Toronto’s ability to enforce its rules is shaped by three realities: resources, jurisdiction, and public support. The City funds bylaw enforcement across multiple departments and the Toronto Police Service, yet all report increasing demands with limited resources. At the same time, municipalities operate within provincial laws that restrict some of the tools that could help us manage issues more effectively—such as licensing couriers or expanding automated traffic enforcement. Finally, successful enforcement depends on public confidence and support. When residents understand the purpose of measures like traffic cameras, transit enforcement, or public space rules, compliance improves and our streets and communities become safer for everyone.
What is happening at council?
I’ve been working with colleagues at Council to move solutions forward. For example, we done this through:
- Increasing obsolete parking fines, effective August 1, with more changes possible next year;
- Increasing fare enforcement by the TTC;
- Amendingour noise bylaw to make it easier to enforce;
- Negotiating financial arrangements that allow the police to acquire automated licence plate readers, which should triple parking enforcement next year (already up substantially from 2022 to 2023);
- Supporting extra MLS enforcement staff for noise and animals;
- Providing constituents with use of a noise meter to focus MLS enforcement;
- Getting more enforcement staff on bicycles so they can do some jobs more effectively, especially downtown, on bike lanes and in parks;
- Supporting expansion of the Traffic Agent program, and
- Accelerating introduction of an Administrative Monetary Penalty system, due November 1, which will allow us to at least double the number of speed cameras.
How can the city manage and better enforce construction site plans and construction management agreements?
Recent initiatives at Council are intended to help strengthen enforcement and oversight. For example, a motion to introduce maximum fines would provide additional tools to address violations. The construction hub model has also been expanded in the ward, which increases the fees charged to developers and helps fund additional oversight and enforcement staff. City staff are currently preparing a report on whether these fees should be adjusted further.
Work is also underway to accelerate a program that would require every permitted road encroachment to display a QR code linked to the terms of its permit. This would make it easier for City staff to verify compliance and would allow members of the public to quickly determine whether an encroachment is authorized. Efforts are currently focused on moving this initiative through the necessary administrative steps so it can be implemented.
Regarding community benefit charges and former section 37 funds, how are these funds best managed in the Ward versus the funds going into a general municipal fund? And what are Park dedications and can developer initiatives in this regard stay in the community?
I am continuing to work to ensure that Section 37, Parks, and Community Benefit funds generated by development in Ward 11 are invested locally wherever possible. Under current City policy, many of these funds are pooled city-wide to support projects in other parts of Toronto as part of a broader equity strategy adopted by the previous Council. While the goal of supporting communities across the city is important, Ward 11 is itself one of the most park-deficient areas in Toronto and is experiencing significant growth, which places increasing pressure on local parks and community infrastructure.
For this reason, during development approvals I encourage developers to make best efforts to acquire parkland within the ward, rather than relying solely on contributions to the city-wide park fund. This approach can help ensure that growth is matched with the green space and amenities that residents need. I hope to be able to share a positive update on this work in the near future.
At the same time, we are working to identify appropriate “in-kind” community benefits within the ward that could be supported through Community Benefit Charges. This is an ongoing discussion with City staff and stakeholders, and community input can play an important role in shaping these priorities. Organizations with an interest in local parks and community infrastructure are encouraged to participate in the process and share their perspectives.
