Latest news with #AlejandraBravo
CBC
11-07-2025
- General
- CBC
Metrolinx owes railpath residents transparency, say city councillor and advocate
Social Sharing Residents along the Toronto West Railpath are frustrated with what they say is a lack of transparency from Metrolinx on end dates for nearby construction projects, their city councillor says. In a letter to the transit agency's CEO and president Michael Lindsay, Coun. Alejandra Bravo for Davenport asked Metrolinx to provide timely updates on when residents should anticipate openings and closures along the railpath. The railpath is a multi-purpose area that acts as a mobility corridor and a park in the Junction Triangle. Metrolinx is building a new track for the Kitchener GO line, and to make space for it, it's closing parts of the railpath and moving it over. The construction also includes a new entrance to Bloor GO station and a park. One portion of the construction between Bloor Street W. and Perth Avenue is already a year and a half past its original deadline. "Metrolinx has rarely communicated clearly with residents about reasons for prolonged closures," Bravo told CBC Toronto. "It's really crucial that as a public agency that it is here to serve the community, that there's an upholding of responsibility, transparency and accountability and timely communication. It's something that we expect and we deserve." As of July 10, Bravo said Metrolinx had not responded to her letter and questions surrounding upcoming construction. Delays and future closures Part of the trail near Perth Avenue has been closed since January 2023, but it was due to open more than a year ago. Another section from Wallace Avenue to Ernest Avenue was fenced off last July, and construction there was only supposed to last 10 weeks. Instead, it took about a year, and the path only recently reopened. With more closures on the horizon, including one from Perth Avenue to Dundas Street W. this summer, there's reason to be concerned, Bravo said. "What we need to know is: A closure begins on this date. It's anticipated to last this many weeks or months — with an end date." Many residents in the area who use the trail are growing impatient and frustrated, says Scott Dobson, a Junction Triangle resident and a member of the Friends of West Toronto Railpath, a volunteer-based organization that promotes the trail and its expansion. "It connects people, it connects communities, it brings people to and from local businesses, and so the bar for taking it out of commission has to be really high and as short as possible, and that's not what's happened here," Dobson said. "It feels to the community very ongoing and never-ending." In a statement to CBC Toronto, Metrolinx didn't provide an opening date for closed portions of the railpath, but said, "We will keep the community and key stakeholders informed with timely updates as we continue our work." Customers and residents impacted The current West Toronto Railpath runs 2.1-kilometres north-south, from the Junction neighbourhood to Dundas Street West at Sterling Road. Construction of a future extension is also scheduled to start this year, connecting the existing paved trail south from Dundas Street W. at Sterling Road to Abell and Sudbury streets. WATCH | Some councillors question growing cost of railpath extension: Questions swirl over ballooning price tag to build 2-km trail 11 months ago Duration 2:45 Some Toronto councillors want the city to rethink plans to extend a multi-use trail in the west end due to its ballooning price tag. The West Toronto Railpath Extension was expected to cost $23 million in 2016. Now, the city will have to put up over $100 million to get it done. CBC's Naama Weingarten has more. Corridor closures mean people are having to navigate inconvenient and confusing detours on top of losing a cherished gathering place, Dobson said. "The ironic thing is that the closures of the railpath have actually made it harder for people to get to the train station… in a weird way, like they're actually impacting their own customers," he said. Sagal Ali, who lives beside the UP Express and used to walk the trail to get to work, calls the drawn-out blockades annoying. "It's so inconvenient… It's going to be OK after they finish, but they never tell [us] when this is gonna be over, so that's my only frustration." Many residents agree that the projects to improve transit and the Bloor GO station are important, but they want Metrolinx to do better, Bravo said.
CBC
10-07-2025
- Health
- CBC
Toronto's proposed rat reduction plan passes 1st hurdle, could come into effect in 2026
Toronto's proposed rat response plan is one step closer to being implemented after a municipal committee unanimously approved the plan Wednesday. The new plan brought forward by city staff focuses on ways to reduce the use of rodenticides, such as eliminating food and shelter, as well as opting for the use of gases like carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide for rat control. Davenport Coun. Alejandra Bravo said that the plan will need coordination across city departments in order to be effective. "Rats are pests and they require an interdivisional approach to deal with and to manage," Bravo said during the meeting for the economic and community development committee. Bravo also said climate change has allowed rat mating season to be all year, making Toronto's rat problem worse and worse. "We are talking about a single pair of rats being able to produce hundreds of offspring," she said. Additionally, the plan outlines a strengthening of municipal services to improve cleanliness in urban areas and a coordinated rat management response that prioritizes hot spots. But it does not entirely eliminate the use of rodenticides — a source of contention among some speakers at the committee. Allison Hansen, campaign director at Rodenticide Free Ontario, told the committee she lost a pet after it accidentally ingested rat poison. "Pesticides are dangerous," Hansen said, adding that they should be a "temporary and last resort." The plan will now make its way to city council for final approval later this month. If approved, it could take effect next year.
CTV News
09-07-2025
- Health
- CTV News
Rat response plan up for debate at Toronto City Hall
A large rat feasts on leftover food scraps outside of the Burrard SkyTrain Station in Vancouver on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns Toronto's plan to tackle its growing rat population will go before a municipal committee on Wednesday. City Manager Paul Johnson released the city's 'Rat Response Plan' last month, following a motion last year by Coun. Alejandra Bravo and Deputy Mayor Amber Morley to address what the pair described at the time as the 'increasing challenge' of large rat populations in Toronto. The plan, which is being reviewed by the Economic and Community Development Committee this morning, would launch in 2026 and include, among other things, the creation of a 'Rat Response' coordination team, responsible for supporting the improved coordination of rat management across the city. Also included is a proposed requirement for contractors to prevent and manage rat infestations at city-led construction sites when they're displaced into neighbuoring properties. Private construction sites, as well as Metrolinx-led projects, would also be advised on how to implement proper pest management and reduce the impact of rats. In a letter published last month, Coun. Paula Fletcher said she's heard from Toronto-Danforth residents near the Ontario Line construction about 'rodent infestations' in and around their homes following the project's start. 'Currently, the pest control process is largely reactive and difficult for residents to access. As the city explores a comprehensive rat management strategy, it is imperative that Metrolinx-led transit projects align with these standards and adopt a preventative approach,' she wrote at the time. The city's plan would cost up to $351,000 to hire two people to implement it, as well as $150,000 for public communication and staff training. Rat-related complaints have more than doubled The report notes that rats in Toronto are not a public health issue, as there is no evidence of disease transmission linked to rats in Toronto, and the rodents should be treated 'as a nuisance.' 'However, they can still pose health risks in food establishments and may contribute to mental health impacts for residents dealing with infestations,' the report read. According to the city, there is no reliable method to estimate the number of rats in any city, so municipalities rely on service request or complaints about rodents to inform their pest management strategy. However, from 2015 to 2024, city data shows that the number of rodent-related complaints climbed from 1,165 to 2,523. As well, a 12-year report released earlier this year found that Toronto has seen a significant increase to its rat population, ranking third among the 16 cities studied, with warming temperatures, growing urban centres, and ongoing construction projects listed as contributing factors.
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Toronto's proposed rat attack plan faces 1st hurdle
A Toronto municipal committee is set to look over a newly-proposed rat control plan on Wednesday. Last month, city manager Paul Johnson unveiled his response to the city's growing rat problem — laying out a plan that pushes disparate city departments to work together and focuses on eliminating food and shelter for the rodents, rather than on exterminating them. "Efforts to 'eliminate' rats often result in reactive, short term fixes that miss the root causes. High-quality municipal service delivery is more impactful," says the plan. which came about after councillors requested it last year amid rising complaints from residents. "We're building more and construction shakes the ground, rats are released into neighbourhoods, and we need to figure out how to get ahead of it," said Davenport Coun. Alejandra Bravo at the time. If the economic and community development committee gives the green light, Johnson's plan will next go to city council for a final decision, before possibly being implemented next year. Rats on the rise Toronto residents and business have always had to do battle with rat infestations — with some sharing unpleasant photo evidence along the way — but there are clear signs the problem has been growing in recent years. In 2019, there were 940 property standards-related rodent service requests to the city. After a brief dip during the pandemic, those numbers had surged to 1,600 by 2023. A study early this year also tracked a growing rat population in Toronto and 10 other cities around the world, with the authors linking the population boom to climate change and calling for a "dedicated response team" in the besieged municipalities. A key part of the city's new rat response plan is the creation of a team that coordinates between the many city divisions that deal with rats — from parks and construction to municipal licensing and standards. Johnson says that will come at an initial cost of $351,000, in order to hire two new people. He's also asking council to pony up $150,000 annually to pay for "public communication and staff training related to rat management." The city's plan would also involve advising both private developers and Metrolinx-led transit projects on how to stop rats from moving into neighbouring properties when they're displaced by construction. Looping Metrolinx into the city's approach is something Toronto—Danforth Coun. Paula Fletcher has been vocal about. She said she's been hearing complaints from her constituents about rats showing up in areas near the Ontario Line construction. The city's proposed plan notes that it can't add rat-related conditions to either Metrolinx applications or private building permit applications, but says proactive advising "is an effective way to prevent infestations."
CBC
09-07-2025
- General
- CBC
Toronto's proposed rat attack plan faces 1st hurdle
Social Sharing A Toronto municipal committee is set to look over a newly-proposed rat control plan on Wednesday. Last month, city manager Paul Johnson unveiled his response to the city's growing rat problem — laying out a plan that pushes disparate city departments to work together and focuses on eliminating food and shelter for the rodents, rather than on exterminating them. "Efforts to 'eliminate' rats often result in reactive, short term fixes that miss the root causes. High-quality municipal service delivery is more impactful," says the plan. which came about after councillors requested it last year amid rising complaints from residents. "We're building more and construction shakes the ground, rats are released into neighbourhoods, and we need to figure out how to get ahead of it," said Davenport Coun. Alejandra Bravo at the time. If the economic and community development committee gives the green light, Johnson's plan will next go to city council for a final decision, before possibly being implemented next year. Rats on the rise Toronto residents and business have always had to do battle with rat infestations — with some sharing unpleasant photo evidence along the way — but there are clear signs the problem has been growing in recent years. In 2019, there were 940 property standards-related rodent service requests to the city. After a brief dip during the pandemic, those numbers had surged to 1,600 by 2023. A study early this year also tracked a growing rat population in Toronto and 10 other cities around the world, with the authors linking the population boom to climate change and calling for a "dedicated response team" in the besieged municipalities. A key part of the city's new rat response plan is the creation of a team that coordinates between the many city divisions that deal with rats — from parks and construction to municipal licensing and standards. Johnson says that will come at an initial cost of $351,000, in order to hire two new people. He's also asking council to pony up $150,000 annually to pay for "public communication and staff training related to rat management." The city's plan would also involve advising both private developers and Metrolinx-led transit projects on how to stop rats from moving into neighbouring properties when they're displaced by construction. Looping Metrolinx into the city's approach is something Toronto—Danforth Coun. Paula Fletcher has been vocal about. She said she's been hearing complaints from her constituents about rats showing up in areas near the Ontario Line construction.
