iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

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Build Toronto @buildtoronto.com · 16/09/2025

🚀 Announcing Build Toronto Toronto is Canada’s largest city, its economic engine, and its greatest opportunity. If Toronto thrives, Canada thrives. But we all know the city faces deep challenges: unaffordable housing, strained infrastructure, governance gridlock, and a lack of urgency.

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Eric Lombardi (EricForOLP.ca) @ericlombardi.ca · 16/09/2025

🌆🏗️ BIG NEWS🚀 I am thrilled to take on a new (volunteer) role as Chair of @build_toronto, the first municipal project of @build_canada We’ll be working with civic & business leaders to push for ideas that improve governance, growth, prosperity, and opportunity in Toronto. (Vid cut to 3M)

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More Neighbours Toronto @moreneighboursto.bsky.social · 16/08/2025

To figure out what's allowed, you need to know three things: (1) the map that outlines the MTSA around the station (usually drawn by the City; some amended by the province), (2) distance from the transit station, (3) the existing land use designation (eg. low-rise Neighbourhood).

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More Neighbours Toronto @moreneighboursto.bsky.social · 16/08/2025

Meanwhile, the province seemed to have forgotten Toronto's MTSAs existed as they shuffled through Ministers. Now, at last, they are here. And with changes that largely seem to be improvements, although they are a bit complex.

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More Neighbours Toronto @moreneighboursto.bsky.social · 16/08/2025

In fact, the City often exempted streets in MTSAs from other densification proposals that it was working on, under the assumption that these areas would be densified when MTSAs were approved (even though many of their plans did not increase density).

A map from the City's Major Streets consultations (page 6 at https://www.toronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/8f19-city-planning-major-streets-study-in-person-consultation-event-boards.pdf) showing properties where the policy applies, notably not near intersections with transit stations. Above, the text states "This map identifies properties that are designated Neighbourhoods and do not have other land use policies that direct growth apply to them."

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More Neighbours Toronto @moreneighboursto.bsky.social · 16/08/2025

We were never fans of the City's original submissions, which generally didn't change land use designations or max density permissions and gerrymandered the usual suspects out of some maps. But the City couldn't really move forward without provincial approval.

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More Neighbours Toronto @moreneighboursto.bsky.social · 16/08/2025

Through months and months, we poasted. Dozens of memes. But the MTSA approvals did not arrive.

A tweet from More Neighbours Toronto on Nov 8, 2023:
"Meanwhile in Toronto, we've been waiting over a year for the province to approve and increase density permissions near major transit stations."
Underneath is a photo of a skeleton on a bench that says "Waiting for MTSAs be like"
Rob Shaw is quote tweeted, announcing BC's transit-oriented permissions "towers of up to 20 storeys near SkyTrain stations, up to 12 storeys near Metro Van..."

A tweet from @CBailey6 on Dec 16, 2024, "celebrating" the fourth anniversary of the Council approval of the Keele-Finch PMTSA.

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More Neighbours Toronto @moreneighboursto.bsky.social · 16/08/2025

Starting with the obvious, MTSAs have been in the work for 4+ years, so it's good that some of them are finally approved! Over in the old place, our members started a joke #MTSAwatch in July 2023, when the Bloor-Danforth MTSA submissions were a mere 18 months old.

A tweet from @jacoobaloo on July 28, 2023:
It's Friday so MTSAwatch episode 26 is on again!
And a follow-up later that day:
Not today.

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More Neighbours Toronto @moreneighboursto.bsky.social · 16/08/2025

It's a beautiful Saturday, which means that it's time for a thread about housing in Major Transit Station Areas (MTSAs). Yesterday, Toronto and the province announced a new-but-not-totally-new plan for homes near transit. What's the deal? 🧵

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More Neighbours Toronto @moreneighboursto.bsky.social · 15/08/2025

This summer, we're bringing together two of life’s best things: ice cream and good conversation. Join More Neighbours Toronto at Gemma Gelateria. 📅 Wednesday, August 27, 2025 🕕 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM RSVP HERE! lu.ma/4itg1zk1

Poster for More Neighbours Ice-Cream Social on Aug 27, 6-8 pm and Gemma Gelateria.

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More Neighbours Toronto @moreneighboursto.bsky.social · 07/08/2025

🎥 Watch this explainer video to see how single stair egress works and why it’s time Ontario modernized its Building Code. ✅ Join the movement: www.moreneighbours.ca/campaign-sin...

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More Neighbours Toronto @moreneighboursto.bsky.social · 23/07/2025

Update: @mayoroliviachow.ca proposing to expand the fee exemptions to all units after the first in buildings up to sixplexes. We love a "Yes, and" at More Neighbours. Council starts tomorrow but could run a few days. It's a packed meeting before summer break. www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis...

July 22, 2025
Members of Council
RE: MM32.5 Creating More Affordable Housing Options in Neighbourhoods
I would like to thank Councillors Myers and Matlow for bringing forward this item to make it
easier and more affordable to build sixplexes in our City. Unlocking missing middle housing,
especially low-rise and neighbourhood-friendly multiplexes, is an important tool in making
housing more affordable and accessible.
As a City, we can do even more to make these projects viable. For that reason, I am
recommending we go further and exempt all units in a sixplex from development charges. To
achieve this, I will be bringing the below amendment to City Council for your consideration.
Recommendation:
1. City Council amend Recommendation 1 of MM32.5 to also reduce development charges
applicable to the fifth and sixth residential dwelling unit contained in developments of up to six
units on a single parcel of land to $0 (Zero Dollars), and remove the time limitation so that it
reads:
1. City Council amend City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 415, Development of
Land, Article I, by reducing development charges applicable to the second, third, fourth,
fifth and sixth residential dwelling unit contained in developments of up to six
residential units on a single parcel of land to $0 (Zero Dollars); and
2. City Council amend Recommendation 3 of MM32.5 to also provide an exemption from
parkland dedication cash in lieu requirements for the fifth and sixth residential dwelling unit
contained in developments of up to six residential units (or up to seven where there is a Garden
or Laneway Suite) on a single parcel of land, and remove the time limitation, so that it reads:
3. City Council amend City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 415, Development of
Land, Article III, to provide an exemption from parkland dedication cash in lieu
requirements for the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth residential dwelling unit

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More Neighbours Toronto @moreneighboursto.bsky.social · 17/07/2025

🏖️✈️ On vacay and spot a single stair? We wanna see it!

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Damien Moule @damienmoule.bsky.social · 16/07/2025

I think McGrath has a good summary: the anti-housing backlash is here and looking for a champion. I think I'd simplify and say they need Tory to choose to be their champion (which is dicey for them) since I think full Toronto Sun conservatism is a loser without a Ford-likd personality emerging.

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More Neighbours Toronto @moreneighboursto.bsky.social · 15/07/2025

It's too early to start thinking about next year's municipal elections. But that's never stopped us before.

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More Neighbours Toronto @moreneighboursto.bsky.social · 15/07/2025

Also, a very special shout-out to us and other housing advocates: "(Even when housing advocates show up for in-person meetings, it’s become increasingly common for councillors, including some nominal progressives, to dismiss them as interlopers getting in the way of the 'authentic' residents""

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More Neighbours Toronto @moreneighboursto.bsky.social · 14/07/2025

"If council and the mayor were committed to density and affordability, [sixplexes] should have been approved across the board... A six-month process in 2018 now takes 23 months, while the cost has increased tenfold; the total annual economic impact of delays is $3.5 billion."

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Ramsey Kilani🌐🔰 @ramseyk.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

Locking in with @zakls.bsky.social is out now! In this episode, we explore how structure creates freedom in our lives. We discuss how faith and daily practices builds discipline, the challenges of living independently while staying accountable, and how to date with intention.

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Colleen @cbailey6.bsky.social · 27/06/2025

It's also a negative cycle. We'll be told more support is needed in the suburbs at a time those councillors indicated they'll ignore us. Anyway, look at the surveys, letters, in-person consultation attendees and deputations. Suburban ward housing advocates showed up; the mayor didn't show up for us.

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Colleen @cbailey6.bsky.social · 27/06/2025

Also hard to known which councillors were swing votes with the compromise motion. I'll continue to criticize Holyday, but can't know if my counicllor (Ward 15) would have supported the full vote. The mayor knows. Unless she's going to tell us which allies held it up, the mayor has to be accountable.

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Colleen @cbailey6.bsky.social · 27/06/2025

Perks isn't voting yes with strong mayor powers. A bigger issue for me is multiple councillors (Carroll, Fletcher) used questions and speeches to state that residents associations were saying no, dismissing those saying yes as just from downtown. And the mayor said nothing to correct that.

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More Neighbours Toronto @moreneighboursto.bsky.social · 27/06/2025

"It’s a housing crisis everywhere in the city — not just a housing crisis downtown." Quote from board member @zakls.bsky.social made the headline! There's been a slow uptake of 4plexes built since legalization about a year ago. We need to open the door further. www.thestar.com/real-estate/...

thestar.com

‘Not just a housing crisis downtown.’ How Toronto’s sixplex vote pushed more density in the same areas

Council is allowing sixplexes in only nine wards after a motion to legalize them citywide failed to get suburban support.

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More Homes Mississauga @morehomessauga.bsky.social · 26/06/2025

Myth: #Toronto allows unrestricted housing development. The truth is that it has the same outdated restrictions as suburbs like #Mississauga. Yesterday's decision on 6-plexes show that Toronto's leaders are not ready to take even the most modest action to address the housing crisis.

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Abundant Housing Vancouver @ahvancouver.bsky.social · 26/06/2025

The federal government needs to show they mean business by withholding funds from cities that are holding up progress on allowing housing, or others will similarly collect the money without approving meaningful changes.

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Michael Hoffman @michaelhoffman.bsky.social · 26/06/2025

1/Excellent statement from @moreneighboursto.bsky.social on City Council's failure yesterday to legalize creating more desperately-needed homes throughout the whole city. #topoli bsky.app/profile/more...

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More Neighbours Toronto @moreneighboursto.bsky.social · 26/06/2025

More Neighbours Toronto is disappointed in City Council’s failure to legalize sixplexes across the City of Toronto. Mayor Olivia Chow should have shown clear leadership and stood up for this reform with the full spectrum of tools available to her. 1/3

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More Neighbours Toronto @moreneighboursto.bsky.social · 26/06/2025

Good morning to everyone who supported sixplexes as-of-right in Toronto 🌅🌅🌅

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More Neighbours Toronto @moreneighboursto.bsky.social · 25/06/2025

Well this is awkward. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...

Motion 2 on item 13.27 about permitting residential buildings with up to six dwelling units.

A vote tally showing Councillor Pasternak voting in favour of motion 2.

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More Neighbours Toronto @moreneighboursto.bsky.social · 25/06/2025

This morning @ilyakreynin.bsky.social was on CBC radio making the case for multiplexes. Take a listen! www.cbc.ca/listen/live-...

cbc.ca

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Michael Hoffman @michaelhoffman.bsky.social · 25/06/2025

The city should stop the practice of bespoke consultations for resident associations. Despite privileged access, they inevitably complain that there was insufficient consultation if they don't get their way 100%. Might as well just save everyone the aggravation. #topoli

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John Michael McGrath @jm-mcgrath.bsky.social · 25/06/2025

city councillors when nobody but septuagenarian homevoters show up: this is the finest tradition of local democracy at work city councillors when literally anyone else shows up: well that's not REAL public consultation

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Colleen @cbailey6.bsky.social · 25/06/2025

I don't know why so many councillors feel the need to call out More Neighbours on the floor of Council for showing up and having opinions that they don't like. I took a vacation day to depute at committee and I wouldn't have bothered if they had been clear that my opinion doesn't matter.

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More Neighbours Toronto @moreneighboursto.bsky.social · 25/06/2025

From the monitoring report. But, of course, not everyone is a member of a Residents Association so they may not have been invited.

Residents Associations Consultation Meetings
Four virtual consultation sessions were held with residents associations across the four
Community Planning districts on March 24 and 25, 2025, respectively. Two morning
sessions and two afternoon sessions were held.
Forty-six (46) participants attended the Etobicoke session, 29 participants attended the
North York session, five participants attended the Scarborough session, and 12
participants attended the Toronto and East York session.

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More Neighbours Toronto @moreneighboursto.bsky.social · 25/06/2025

Councillor Carroll claimed that consultations were just virtual with "a couple of More Neighbours members" phoning in. Grossly false. North York members turned out for the in person consultation and others around the city. Hugely dismissive of the time and effort that our volunteers put in.

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More Neighbours Toronto @moreneighboursto.bsky.social · 19/06/2025

With an important vote coming to council next week on legalizing multiplexes, we wanted to have a conversation with Ronald who specializes in Multiplexes! Come ask your questions about what it takes to unlock more multiplexes and homes in Toronto Catch us this Monday @ 4pm!

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More Neighbours Toronto @moreneighboursto.bsky.social · 17/06/2025

Local members of MNTO and the Etobicoke-Lakeshore Shelter Support Coalition (ELSSC) will be attending tonight's consultation to show support for the City of Toronto's Third St shelter plans. Afterwards, join fellow advocates for a pop-up social and make plans for a better city! lu.ma/4przixaz

lu.ma

MNTO x ELSSC Consultation & Pop-up Social · Luma

New Toronto and the Etobicoke-Lakeshore Shelter Support Coalition (ELSSC) need your help to secure a new shelter! Come to the community consultation tonight…

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Jacob Loo Dawang @jacobdawang.com · 17/06/2025

Councillor @michaeljanz.bsky.social's motion to downzone large swaths of Edmonton passes the committee to a public hearing on June 30. Horrible, cynical motion pandering to a vocal minority of NIMBYs to win votes in an election year. #yeg #yegcc

Carried 4-1 with Janz, Wright, Knack, Sohi for and Rice against.

Motion to reduce maximum number of units from 8 to 6.

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More Neighbours Toronto @moreneighboursto.bsky.social · 12/06/2025

Councillor Matlow's amendment passes. Sixplexes pass. On to Council on June 25.

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Damien Moule @damienmoule.bsky.social · 10/06/2025

If you're reading this, especially if you live in Etobicoke, North York, or Scarborough, please use the link in the quoted post to let your councillor and the Planning and Housing Committee know that you support sixplexes in Toronto.

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More Neighbours Toronto @moreneighboursto.bsky.social · 10/06/2025

Let's get this passed! Sign the petition here: www.moreneighbours.ca/campaign-six... And if you're free Thursday morning, you can show up to speak! lu.ma/yx5kk4ew

moreneighbours.ca

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Kristyn Wong-Tam @kristynwongtam.bsky.social · 09/06/2025

Great to meet @moreneighboursto.bsky.social today. Ontario must step up to hit our housing targets & build livable communities. Yet the Housing Affordability Task Force's recommendations are gathering dust. I look forward to advocating for smart growth & deeply affordable housing together! #OnPoli

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More Neighbours Toronto @moreneighboursto.bsky.social · 09/06/2025

The City's Planning and Housing Committee meets THIS Thursday. We need all of your voices to get sixplexes as-of-right through. If you're free that morning, come out and speak. It's easier than you think! We'll have lunch after too! Sign up + instructions here: lu.ma/yx5kk4ew

lu.ma

Show up for Sixplexes (and Grab Lunch After) · Luma

We need folks from across the city to speak up at City Hall for this crucial vote on legalizing sixplexes. It’s super simple you get 3 to 5 minutes to share…

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More Neighbours Toronto @moreneighboursto.bsky.social · 05/06/2025

We're really excited to see this change! Can't happen soon enough. If you agree, please sign our petition supporting it! Every voice counts with the city. moreneighbours.ca/campaign-six...

moreneighbours.ca

Tell Council to Say Yes to Sixplexes - More Neighbours Toronto

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More Neighbours Toronto @moreneighboursto.bsky.social · 06/06/2025

Didn't get your councillor anything for Housing Day yet? We've got you covered. Send them a card: www.moreneighbours.ca/campaign-six...

moreneighbours.ca

Tell Council to Say Yes to Sixplexes - More Neighbours Toronto

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More Neighbours Toronto @moreneighboursto.bsky.social · 02/06/2025

Mark Your Calendars, Toronto: Sixplexes and multiplex updates at Planning and Housing Committee on June 12th. Multiplexes are one way to address declining populations in low-rise Neighbourhoods. See our new blog post! moreneighbours.ca/news/analysi... 🧵

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More Neighbours Toronto @moreneighboursto.bsky.social · 31/05/2025

We agree. The federal government should act fast, but so should the city. The city can move forward on the Housing Accelerator Fund items that are behind schedule, quickly permit sixplexes across the city and apartments in avenues and major transit areas, and... www.thestar.com/politics/fed...

thestar.com

Carney government recognizes ‘there’s no time to waste’ on new housing, Olivia Chow says

Mayor Olivia Chow says she is refreshed by the urgency with which the Mark Carney government is tackling the housing crisis.

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Damien Moule @damienmoule.bsky.social · 28/05/2025

This part of the city could absolutely be another set of walkable urban neighbourhoods if they allowed more mixed use on Davenport, Rogers, Dufferin, Oakwood, and Vaughan. Instead it's in limbo. Fairly dense but car centric and feels disconnected and far from everything.

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More Neighbours Toronto @moreneighboursto.bsky.social · 28/05/2025

It's good to see it spelled out. Housing costs need to come down.

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Colleen @cbailey6.bsky.social · 28/05/2025

"If our approval processes are so slow, complex and uncertain that even priority projects can’t get off the ground, then the solution isn’t to create exemptions for a select few VIPs. It’s to reform the system for everyone." www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...

thestar.com

We should be talking about how and where to grow in Ontario. Instead, Doug Ford is opening the door to favouring friends — as always

Once again, the premier has shown that he'd rather bypass the work of governing than do it properly.

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More Neighbours Toronto @moreneighboursto.bsky.social · 28/05/2025

Avenue policy review consultation starts in just under 2 hours! If you can make it on, saying even as little as "I support this initiative" in the chat box is all it takes to add your voice to the record. If you feel like saying more, go for it! www.toronto.ca/city-governm...

toronto.ca

Housing Action Plan: Avenues, Mid-rise and Mixed Use Areas Study

The Avenues Policy Review is now in Phase 2. Join the Study team at a virtual public meeting on Wednesday, May 28, 2025 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. to recap Phase 1 and discuss emerging directions and potenti...

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