Federation of Urban Neighbourhoods
Communities Count. Civic Matters.
The main thrust of the Budget is expansion of several social and health programs such as child care, mental health, hospitals, social assistance, etc. offset partially by an increase in personal income tax for higher income persons, and increased tobacco taxes. We do not pursue these broad program changes, but instead below list Items which … Read more
Information on how to organize a candidates meeting at the municipal, provincial or federal level, prepared by Judith Shane, Hampton Iona Community Group, Ottawa, Ontario, March 2018. Use this active guide to assist you in laying out the logistics, timing and tasks necessary to plan a Candidates or All Candidates Debate.
FUN Letter of Appreciation Hon. Kathryn McGarry, MPP Minister of TransportationEmail: km**********@*********la.org RE: Cancellation of Greater Toronto Area West Corridor Project The Federation of Urban Neighborhoods Ontario (FUN) applauds the Ontario government on its February 9, 2018 decision to accept the expert advisory panel’s recommendation that the proposed GTA West corridor is not the best … Read more
The Federation of Urban Neighborhoods strongly supports the expansion of the Greenbelt in the Outer Ring of the Greater Golden Horseshoe (GGH).
We also welcome the provincially led process underway to define the study area, and its focus to preserve important water features under pressure from urban development. We further hope that the ministry considers designating other watersheds not in the study area for similar protection.
The Federation of Urban Neighbourhoods Ontario (FUN) includes residents’ associations in several urban communities in the GGH, who are aware of the importance, and sensitivity of the ecological assets of the region and the increasing pressures from a growing population.
AGM AGENDA
Welcome
Approval of Minutes of AGM held April 29, 2017
President’s Report
Financial Report for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2017
Ratification of Decisions taken by Executive Committee since last AGM
Election of Officers and Executive Committee for 2018/2019
Budget for 2018/2019
Confirmation of Membership Dues
Appointment of an auditor for 2019
Resident associations are concerned about maintaining and improving quality of life for all residents in our communities. This is critically important today as cities compete for growth. We are reminded of this with the race for the selection of a second HQ for Amazon. The competition is as much about quality of life, physical, social and economic equity, and healthy cities, as anything else. Having a well planned city that has views, landmarks, heritage, recreation opportunities, the ability to move safely and efficiently using alternative modes of transportation are all important.
The Federation of North Toronto Residents Associations, FoNTRA, wishes to express its comments on the above noted initiative, which was established under the 16-point Housing Action Plan with senior representation from the province, GTHA, municipalities, and the development and real estate industries1 but without any public input or engagement!
The Ontario government is about to make a big decision that will tell us a lot about what the future of the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area will look like. The reason is that, according to the Ministry of Transportation (MTO), the fate of the Environmental Assessment (EA) for the GTA West, AKA Highway 413, will be decided within the next 60 days.
The EA estimates the highway will cost $4 to $6 billion to construct, excluding the expense of land expropriation and ongoing highway maintenance.
Our organization was founded 17 years ago, in part, over the frustration felt by community and neighbourhood associations from across Ontario over the use of the OMB tribunals by the development industry to overturn local official plans and even provincial policies. This was accomplished by developers taking advantage of procedural changes over the years at the OMB: changes which favoured “expert” evidence that less well-funded respondents (and even some local authorities) lacked the money and resources to challenge…
For the last 5 years, elements of the development sector have invested significantly and intensively in mounting a multi-faceted communications campaign to undermine the Growth Plan and Greenbelt Plan. The campaign is comprised of:
– the commissioning and/or funding of reports and publications conveying incomplete, selective and/or inaccurate information;
– rhetorical opinion pieces released through various media, presentations and conferences; and,
– intensive lobbying of elected representatives and senior executives at both the provincial and municipal levels – relying on materials based on the reports/publications described above.