The Toronto Environment Office is hosting a series of Live Green Toronto Grant information sessions in the coming weeks.

Live Green Toronto Grant Background
The City of Toronto, through the Live Green Toronto Program, is providing human and financial resources to strengthen and enhance the ability of Toronto’s neighbourhoods and community groups to undertake collective action on climate change, clean air and sustainable energy use. Eligible organizations include resident associations, community groups and charitable or environmental not-for-profit groups.

Live Green Toronto Community Investment Program grants of up to $25,000 are available for projects that reduce emissions, clean our air and help us adapt to climate change. Live Green grants are also available for capital projects, such as infrastructure on buildings and facilities which help reduce greenhouse gas and smog-causing emissions. more »

Who’s the greenest of them all? You tell us!

Nominations are now being accepted for the 2010 Green Toronto Awards, the City of Toronto’s environmental awards of excellence. The City of Toronto, in partnership with Green Living, invites residents to nominate local individuals, companies and organizations leading the way to a greener Toronto.

A winner in each of nine categories will receive an award and $5,000 to donate to a registered charity of their choice: more »

As Chair of the Disability Issues Committee, Adrian has worked with various advocacy groups and the Committee to achieve major changes in the way the City of Toronto provides services for persons with disabilities. Whether pushing for better access to city services, opening up more recreational opportunities, or  working towards equal transportation costs, Adrian and the Committee have made significant progress in the last few years.

In the spirit of these efforts, Adrian would like to highlight a heart-warming story sent to us by Ward 35 resident, Fred Worsley. Fred wrote to share his nomination of his friend, Jim Crawford, as Canada’s Most Passionate Golfer. more »

Highlights from the Toronto City Council meeting of November 30th, December 1st and 2nd, December 4th, and December 7th, 2009.

Toronto’s sustainable energy strategy
Council adopted a comprehensive energy strategy for Toronto called The Power to Live Green, which follows through on the City’s climate change action plan of 2007 (Change Is in the Air). The Power to Live Green strategy is based on conservation, renewable energy and smart energy distribution to achieve progressive targets for greenhouse gas emission reductions and improved air quality. The strategy involves a four-track process that consists of meeting the energy requirements of businesses and homes; reducing dependence on fossil fuels; investing in green technology and supporting the creation of green jobs and the global marketing of sustainable energy goods and services; and partnering with industry, businesses, institutions, non-profits, other governments, utilities and residents. more »

A record number of Toronto tenant households are receiving notices of an automatic rent reduction this week. Tenants should check their daily mail, and act on this valuable information.

Addressed to the “Current Tenant,” clearly marked “Rent Reduction Notice Enclosed,” and in an envelope with the City of Toronto logo, these letters contain all the customized information a tenant requires to start paying a lower rent as early as December 31, 2009.

More than 128,500 households are eligible for a rent reduction under provincial legislation because the property tax on their buildings has been lowered by at least 2.49 per cent during 2009. more »

Toronto City Council today voted to continue investing in the infrastructure needed to keep Toronto moving. The City’s 2010 Capital Budget and 10-year (2010-2019) capital plan was passed at Toronto City Council and paves the way for implementation of hundreds of major capital infrastructure projects.

The plan approved by Council today speeds up job creation and the maintenance of City infrastructure by moving more capital spending into the first five years of the plan. The 2010 capital budget and 10-year capital plan totals over $16 billion with $2.4 billion earmarked for 2010 and over $2.5 billion budgeted for each of 2011 and 2012. The City’s total capital budget plan, including Water and Waste Management is $25.8 billion over the next 10 years.

Over the 10-year period, the plan will create or maintain approximately 300,000 jobs. more »

With the City of Toronto anticipating its first snowstorm of the season, Transportation Services is reminding residents and businesses about its level of service for snow clearing.

While weather patterns associated with each storm are unique and require a co-ordinated approach by the City’s staff and contractors, our general levels of service are as follows: more »

Olympic Flame to travel 48 km through Toronto neighbourhoods

Today the Vancouver 2010 Organizing Committee announced the Toronto route for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay, which arrives in Toronto in about two weeks, on December 17. When the Olympic Flame leaves the city on December 19, approximately 1,000 torchbearers will have carried the Torch for 48 kilometres through city streets.

“We are thrilled to have the Olympic Flame travel through so many of our city neighbourhoods,” said Mayor David Miller. “I encourage all Torontonians to demonstrate their pride in our city and show support for our Canadian athletes by cheering the Torch along the way.”

The Olympic Torch Relay will enter Toronto at Yonge Street and Steeles Avenue at 1:52 p.m. and make its way to downtown Toronto. The relay will travel south along Yonge Street, along Highway 401, stopping at Albert Campbell Square at the Scarborough Civic Centre at about 3 p.m. The City will offer entertainment and interactive sporting activities for Torontonians of all ages at the civic centre beginning at 1 p.m. more »

Did You Know?

Every property owner in Ontario received a 2008 Property Assessment Notice from MPAC in the fall of 2008. The 2008 Notices provided the classification and updated assessed value for every property in Ontario based on the new legislated valuation date of January 1, 2008.

The next province-wide Assessment Update will take place in 2012. In the meantime, changes to properties continue to take place. New homes are built, owners renovate, additions are built, structures removed or demolished, and properties change use.

The Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) is legislatively responsible for updating this information even in a year when a province-wide Assessment Update is not taking place. more »

Information on the Winter Warmth program

The struggle to meet all of your financial commitments can sometimes mean that you find yourself a little short when the time comes to pay your electricity or natural gas bill. If you’ve recently had difficulty paying, or are concerned about making your next payment, Winter Warmth may be able to help you.

Winter Warmth is designed for low-income families and individuals living at/or below the poverty line who have exhausted all other sources of financial support. Each Winter Warmth season, the approved households receive a one-time grant. more »