Why This Matters

Since 1890, generations of families have called this quiet, culturally diverse and working-class borough of Etobicoke home. The recently proposed construction of an 80-person emergency shelter on a small residential street at 66 Third Street is a project that raises significant concerns—concerns that have not been adequately addressed by The City. 

Why This Matters

Since 1890, generations of families have called this quiet, culturally diverse and working-class borough of Etobicoke home. The recently proposed construction of an 80-person emergency shelter on a small residential street at 66 Third Street is a project that raises significant concerns—concerns that have not been adequately addressed by Councillor Amber Morley or the City of Toronto.

Key Concerns:

Inadequate Infrastructure:

The small 9,246 sq. ft. lot is adjacent to:
Woods Manor Supportive Housing for Seniors.
Two elementary schools within 350 meters
Limited emergency services and site access; the nearest police station (22 Division) is 12 minutes away at Bloor and Islington, posing safety challenges for both the community and shelter residents.

Community Overload:

New Toronto has 3 times more supportive housing per capita than the Toronto average.

The area provides more social housing support than Parkdale and Jane & Finch combined.

64% of South Etobicoke's supportive housing is located in New Toronto  - the highest of all Etobicoke-Lakeshore's neighbourhoods

New Toronto has a supportive housing density of 15.4% per capita—three times higher than Mimico, eight times that of Long Branch, and fifteen times that of Alderwood, making it the most concentrated area for social housing in Ward 3.

HARM REDUCTION SERVICES ON SITE:                                                        We have all heard of Safe Injection Sites, but It is important to understand what this New Term of HARM REDUCTION MEANS, so let us explain. 

With a Safe Injection Site -assorted drug paraphernalia such as Needles and Crack Pipes are distributed Free of Charge by the City of Toronto, Residents would be permitted to use drugs inside but under the supervision of trained medical professionals. 

 With a HARM REDUCTION SITE ( which this shelter will include)   Residents are provided with the the same list of drug paraphernalia ( list below) but they are NOT permitted to use inside the shelter, nor will use be medically supervised. So, if they have the tools, but cannot use inside, where will they use their drugs? Most likely the residential street that the shelter is on, the many nooks and alleys, Prince of Wales Park and other local parks.    HARM REDUCTION IS A RE-BRAND, but it is essentially an UNSAFE INJECTION SITE. 

Lack of Transparency:

- No clear information on who the shelter will serve or how support services will be provided.

- Residents and businesses have been excluded from crucial discussions.

Lack of Constituent Consultation:

City Councillor Amber Morley has not properly  engaged directly with residents. Our Requests for an in person town hall has been met with a virtual webinar format where all residents will not get their voices heard.

A PR firm, Public Progress, (hired at the cost of $200,000 in taxpayer money) has been conducting closed-door meetings with select groups (Woods Manor Senior Housing and the local BIA), excluding concerned community members.

What We Are Asking For:

We are calling on the City of Toronto, Councillor Amber Morley, and City policymakers to:
Pause the project until meaningful consultations with local residents take place.
Address critical concerns, including safety, infrastructure, and the equitable distribution of social services across the city.
Ensure transparency by sharing detailed plans and community impact assessments.

• Contact your elected representatives ( councillors, school trustees, provincial and federal officials) and urge them to prioritize community consultation 

• Spread the word to our neighbours and friends, schools and places of worship to ensure our collective voice is heard.
• Visit our website, sign up for updates to get informed
• www.newtorontoinitiative.ca

PLEASE, PLEASE , PLEASE also sign up to our other petition ( while this one is good, we have been told we need a different one that is considered more credible. It is called I Petition. - here's the link. Please have all in your family including children sign it. Send it to your extended family, friends, neighbours and co-workers - we need to grown it so our voices can be heard.  While this is our little neighbourhood - there are others that are facing the same issue and there are 14 more locations in Toronto to be disclosed , so our fight for our neighbourhood, might be a fight for your neighbourhood next - we need to shine a spotlight on the lack of democratic process and flawed selection process. 

https://www.ipetitions.com/petition/rethink-shelter-locations

Let’s work together toward balanced, thoughtful solutions that support unhoused individuals with foresight and long term solutions, while ensuring the health and well-being of neighbourhood.

WE NOW HAVE GO FUND ME!!!! 

http://www.gofundme.com/f/rethink66third

We have a team of very dedicated people who have worked tirelessly volunteering their time and talents to set up a website, plan meetings, print and post flyers. We have been spending our money on these things as well.  To Do More, We Need More - so if you can, please consider donating to our fund. We are at the point now where we need a lawyer and some professional help.   Thank You So Very Much! 

Here's who to call and  write your emails & letters to.                                If you are a parent concerned about your local school's plan - there are meetings you can attend but please call your school principal and email TDSB trustee and Superintendent, Patrick Nunziata and Harpreet Ghurman. ( details below) 

Amber Morley, Councillor Ward 3, Deputy Mayor of Toronto
Councillor_Morley@toronto.ca
(416) 397-9273

Olivia Chow, Mayor of Toronto
mayor_chow@toronto.ca
(416) 397-2489

Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario
doug.fordco@pc.ola.org
(416) 745-2859

Office of the Premiere
premier@ontario.ca
(416) 325-1941

Lee Fairclough,  MPP Etobicoke-Lakeshore
lfairclough.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org
(416) 259-2249

James Maloney,  MP Etobicoke                                                                    416-251-5510

Patrick Nunziata, TDSB Ward 3 Trustee
patrick.nunziata@tdsb.on.ca
(416) 395-8787

Harpreet.Ghuman, TDSB Superintendent
harpreet.ghuman@tdsb.on.ca
(416) 396-9186

Teresa Lubinski, TCDSB Ward 4 Trustee - Parkdale-High Park, Etobicoke-Lakeshore
teresa.lubinski@tcdsb.org
(416) 512-3404

Adalgisio Bria, TCDSB Superintendent
adalgisio.bria@tcdsb.org

Paul Calandra, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing of Ontario
paul.calandra@pc.ola.org
Ministry Office: 416-585-7000
Constituency Office: 905-642-2588, 1-866-531-9551