Doly Begum MPP for Scarborough Southwest
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3110 Kingston Rd, Unit #5 416-261-9525 • dolybegum.ca DBegum-CO@ndp.on.ca
Volume 49 No. 20
BEACHMETRO.COM
January 12, 2021
Save Small’s Creek group hopes to stop cutting of area trees By Ali Raza, Local Initiative Reporter
Journalism
RESIDENTS ARE worried about Metrolinx plans that would remove 268 trees in the Small’s Creek Ravine, northeast of Coxwell Avenue and Gerrard Street East. As part of the new expansion of the rail corridor heading east along the Lakeshore East and Stouffville lines, Metrolinx is expanding its railway from three to four tracks in the segment in East Toronto. The proposed expansion and electrification of the railway is expected to deliver faster and more frequent GO trips along the corridor. But residents are raising concerns the project might have long lasting impacts to the environment. “We’re not opposed to Metrolinx expanding public transit, we think it’s a great idea,” said Paul Westbook. “The heavy handed way they’re doing this is what upsets us.” Westbrook and another resident, Cleo Buster, both have their backyards facing Small’s Creek ravine. In addition to their immediate stake in the project, they raise concerns as part of a community group called the Small’s Creek Crew, aimed at raising awareness to the tree removals in the ravine. “It feels like Metrolinx is not being transparent with information regarding this project,” Buster said.
416-690-1032 • beyrima.ca RBerns-McGown-CO@ndp.on.ca
“This is one little section of a huge project, but it has a significant impact on the Small’s Creek ravine, and the Williamson Park ravine.” The proposed tree removal and retaining wall “runs the risk of completely destroying a natural ecosystem,” Westbrook added. The group believes there are better solutions for the transit expansion, but further meaningful community consultation is needed. The number of trees to be removed was not shared with the community, they said, and it was only known to residents in late November. “As a community, we’ve had geotechnical engineers, civil engineers, architects, landscape architects, a forestry expert,” Buster said. “There’s a lot of skill and knowledge in the community that’s saying this is not right and can be done a better way.” The group has organized a campaign to “Save Small’s Creek” at www.lakeshoreeasttrains.com/ smalls-creek-more-information It includes a petition requesting Metrolinx to reconsider the tree removal that has received 2,485 signatures as of Jan. 10. The group has also hosted webinars for members of the community explaining the expansion project and the related risks. Members have also distributed flyers to 2,500 homes in the area informing other residents Continued on Page 3
Michael Garron Hospital starts COVID-19 vaccinations
PHOTO: KEVIN HOLM (MICHAEL GARRON HOSPITAL)
Photo above, the very first COVID-19 vaccination shot given by the Michael Garron Hospital (MGH) team was a Pfizer dose on Dec. 22 at the hospital to Brigitte Pascual, a Registered Practical Nurse from Midland Gardens Care Community long-term care home. She and other staff had been brought to the hospital for their shots on a special TTC bus. Photo at right, Beverley and John Coburn receive a shot of the Moderna vaccine from MGH staff at the St. Clair O’Connor Community long-term care home on Jan. 6. Since receiving the vaccines in late December, the team at MGH had delivered (as of Jan. 7) 6,823 shots to residents and staff at 22 long-term care homes in the East Toronto area as part of Ontario’s Phase One of implementation.
PHOTO: ALAN SHACKLETON
Retail cannabis store on leased No action to be taken against bakery after complaint regarding alcohol in baked goods city site is not a permitted use By Alan Shackleton
THE ALCOHOL and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) will not be taking any action against a Leslieville bakery that was the focus of an investigation after a complaint by a member of the public regarding the sale of baked goods made with alcohol. In a letter sent to Lynda Paul, owner of It’s The Icing on the Cake bakery on Queen Street East, sent late on the afternoon of Jan. 8, the AGCO said “it will not be taking any further action” in relation to the complaint. In an interview with Beach Metro News on Jan. 9, Paul said she is happy to put the matter behind her. “It was so stupid to begin with, and couldn’t have come at a worse
time…during a pandemic and just before Christmas,” she said. Paul has been running the bakery for the past 16 years in Leslieville, and had never previously been visited by any government agency regarding alcohol content in baked goods. Beach Metro News first reported on the AGCO investigation on Dec. 18. At that time, Paul said she was visited by a compliance officer who said the complaint had been made regarding the alcohol content of baked goods she was selling such as Kahlua brownies, Cointreau fruit cake, and bourbon-peach cheesecake. “He said they had received a complaint by a person that I was selling alcohol illegally,” Paul said in an interview on Dec. 18.
Since the complaint had been made, the AGCO had to look into it. In the Dec. 18 story, Paul said the complaint was likely made as a vindictive act towards her and the bakery. Those vindictive intentions aimed at hurting her business ended up doing the opposite, said Paul on Jan. 9. “It backfired on them. I’ve never had so much attention. I was doing radio interviews, and received lots of support from other bakeries and the community.” Paul said she did not need the stress of the complaint hanging over her and her business these past few weeks and is glad it is over now. “I would be doing cartwheels right now if I could.”
THE CITY of Toronto has contacted the leaseholder of a property in Woodbine Beach Park to let them know that an application being made by a retail cannabis company for one of the building’s units is not a permitted use. The leaseholder has been told by the city to withdraw the authorization application being made to the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) by the Miss Jones company for a cannabis retail shop at 1681 Lake Shore Blvd. E., Unit 1, Beaches-East York Councillor Brad Bradford’s office told Beach Metro News. The full statement from the city’s legal department reads: “A cannabis retail outlet is not a permitted use of the Premises, Parkland and Licensed Area un-
der the Lease/License Agreement between the City and the Tenant. As per the terms of the Lease/Licensing Agreement, the license to use the Premises, Parkland and Licensed Area is limited to the Tenant’s food service business, sponsorship programs and activities. We have advised the tenant in writing and have requested they withdraw their application from the AGCO. The lease terms remain unchanged and the lease/license expires on September 14, 2028. There is no provision in the Lease/ Licence that permits the tenant to sub-lease.” The site is the subject of a longterm lease between the City of Toronto and Tuggs Inc. In 2007, the city entered into the lease which will run until September of 2028.