Read this update and take action now 

PLEASE CONTINUE TO CONTACT POLITICIANS TO LET THEM KNOW HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE. 

There is hope that the community's rights will not be steamrolled by the City of Toronto. Because luckily, some of our politicians believe in supporting not exploiting the community they serve. 

Over 5 months ago, the City of Toronto led by Councillor John Filion and Mayor John Tory surprised everyone with their secretly made decision to forcibly take away parklands belonging to the hundreds of elderly seniors care home residents of Willowdale Manor and Cummer Lodge in a quiet secluded neighborhood. Seniors home parklands protected under a 1998 OMB decision which the City refuses to admit.

Mr. Filion (who has moved away from this Willowdale ward he represents to live in The Beaches) has responded to community protests by shaming and accusing residents. The City has even spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to hire propaganda firms to suppress local voices who object to the City of Toronto’s secret attempts to impose its plan without any public scrutiny. The City refuses to answer calls to disclose or consider the 50 alternative sites the City claims it secretly evaluated before deciding this site was "the best location". Information is being hidden and residents are being mistreated and misinformed. 

The City has been trying to convince residents the project is a "done deal" even sending out an "update" two weeks ago claiming it can fence off the parklands and start work to tear up the site despite having no planning department approvals. And without the special "MZO"  approval from the Province of Ontario which the City desperately needs in order to avoid all zoning by-laws and citizen's normal rights to information and appeal. 

But at least one responsible politician has stood up for the rights of seniors, the community and proper transparency and legal due process. Willowdale MPP Stan Cho in a letter to the Ontario Minister of Municipal Affairs & Housing, has protested the City's actions to unilaterally impose such a project on the community without any pre-consultation. 

Bayview Cummer Neighbourhood Assoc. (BCNA) joined by  Silverview Community Association and several other community groups, has  protested the City's tactics and lack of transparency. In a community-wide poll taken by BCNA, nearly 9 out of 10 respondents opposed the City proposal. 

And now BCNA President Mr. Nathan Gomes, has uncovered documents revealing  the Federal government's role in "Filion's Fiasco". It has raised the critical issue of whether Willowdale Federal MP Ali Ehsassi will stand up for the community. So far, he has declined to voice the community’s concerns, claiming the federal authorities are “not involved”. Yet in March, MP Ehsassi appeared with City officials to take credit for funding of this project by the CMHC(Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation)!  And  thanks to Mr. Gomes, documents uncovered through a freedom of Information request prove the CMHC  actually has approval rights over each site proposed by the City. Mr. Ehsassi is involved and must be urged to speak up. 

HOW CAN YOU KEEP HELPING?

START TODAY  --- KEEP SENDING YOUR LETTERS  TO ALL THESE  POLITICIANS. SEND A LETTER EVERY DAY TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE HEARD!

Use the easy-write letter feature on our website - just click here 
https://voicesofwillowdale.ca/writetoourpoliticians/  

• Ontario Minister Steve Clark,  Steve.Clark@pc.ola.org
• Willowdale MPP Stan Cho,  Tel. 416-733-7878  Stan.Cho@pc.ola.org
• Mayor John Tory  Tel. 416-397-2489 
  mayor_tory@toronto.ca
• Councillor John Filion,  councillor_filion@toronto.ca
• Willowdale MP Ali Ehsassi, Tel.: 416-223-2858 Ali.Ehsassi@parl.gc.ca
  Ali.Ehsassi.C1A@parl.gc.ca
  James.Hwang.515@parl.gc.ca

LEARN MORE AT www.VoicesOfWillowdale.ca
And please tell your neighbours! Thank you and enjoy the rest of your summer! We will be sure to update you on any developments.   

CLICK HERE FOR ARTICLE: Toronto Violates Senior Citizens'​ Rights with Secret Homeless Housing Plans  https://www.linkedin.com/posts/voices-of-willowdale-a69a50209_activity-6787069681384665089-MwaQ/

p.s.  if you write your own letters to politicians,  Please cc: info@voicesofwillowdale.ca so we can keep track of how many letters have been sent!