How To

Complain about a club/bar/restaurant noise
Object to a liquor license
Complain about construction noise
Complain about air quality
File a police report
Find someone at City Hall
​Look for agendas, meetings and minutes at City Hall
​​Access City data ... From Open Data Toronto
​Report a dangerous/unlawful driver behaviour or a neighbourhood traffic issue/concern
Search for details about development applications
Deal with discarded injection needles safely
How to Speak or Comment at a City Committee Meeting
Complain about club/bar/restaurant noise
311 Online Portal Step-by-Step Review
 1. 311
https://www.toronto.ca/home/311-toronto-at-your-service/
 2. Submit a Service Request or Feedback
https://www.toronto.ca/home/311-toronto-at-your-service/submit-a-service-request-or-feedback/
 3. Service Requests
https://www.toronto.ca/home/311-toronto-at-your-service/create-a-service-request/
 4. Bylaw Violations and Property Issues
https://www.toronto.ca/home/311-toronto-at-your-service/create-a-service-request/#category/bylaw-violations-and-property-issues
 5. Noise Complaints
https://www.toronto.ca/home/311-toronto-at-your-service/create-a-service-request/#category/bylaw-violations-and-property-issues/noise-complaints
 6. Amplified or Musical Instrument Noise
Create Request
 Is the noise from a City park?
No
 What type of noise are you reporting?
•  Noise from electronic devices, music instruments or loudspeakers from nightclubs, bars, restaurants, cafes, patios or concerts.
•  Frequent occurrences of noise from electronic devices, musical instruments, or loudspeakers at a private residence.
•  Occasional noise from electronic devices, musical instruments, or loudspeakers at a private residence.
•  Noise from electronic devices, musical instruments, or loudspeakers from a City Park
•  Noise from electronic devices, musical instruments, or loudspeakers from buskers or street/sidewalk performers.
•  Noise from people acting disorderly, including activities in which there is fighting, aggression, violence, or any other incidents where there is a threat to the safety of individuals or the public.
•  Noise from electronic devices, musical instruments, or loudspeakers from demonstrations
•  Noise from group of people speaking loudly where the amplified sounds or instrument sounds are not dominant.
•  Other noises
 Start your Request
 To complete this request, you will need:
•   First Name or Single Name
•   Last Name
•   Email
•   Primary Contact Number
•   Street Number And Suffix
•   Street Name
•   City
•   Postal Code
 Your session will time out after 10 minutes of inactivity and your information will not be saved.
 Notice of Collection Statement
Terms of Use
 Where is your request located?
The address of disturbance origin
 Request Details
 What type of amplified or musical instrument noise is disturbing you?
•  Stereo
•  Television
•  Live music (including unamplified musical instruments)
•  Amplified megaphone
•  Other (provide any details in the additional information field)
 How often has the amplified or musical instrument noise been disturbing?
•   First time
•   A few times a year
•   A few times a month
•   A few times a week
•   Every day
 Please note Officers may not investigate isolated or infrequent noise complaints.
 Where is the noise source coming from?
•   A resident neighbour
•   A commercial establishment
•   Other
 What type of business?
•   Restaurant
•   Bar
•   Nightclub
•   Banquet Hall
•   Karaoke Bar
•   Outside Cafe
•   Other
 Please provide details of the specific area where you are hearing this noise. For example: ‘Backyard’, ‘50m to the left of my address location’, ‘Ground floor’
 Generally, what time is the amplified or musical instrument noise being heard?
 Generally, how long does the amplified or musical instrument noise last?
•   Less than 30 minutes
•   30 minutes to an hour
•   1 to 2 hours
•   2 to 4 hours
•   Greater than 4 hours
 Have you contacted the individual responsible for the amplified or musical instrument noise?
 Does the amplified or musical instrument noise create disturbing vibrations in your residence?
 Upload photos / files (maximum of 5) (optional)
Only the following files are allowed: jpeg, png, jpg, gif, Microsoft Excel spreadsheets, Microsoft Word documents or pdf. Maximum 5 uploaded files. Maximum size for file attachment is 10 MB. (You can include links to video on a Word doc or PDF)
 Additional Information (optional)
 Contact Information
•   First Name
•   Last Name
•   Initial (optional)
•   Primary Contact Number
•   Primary Extension Number (optional)
•   Primary Device Type (optional)
 Status Updates
Preferred Notification Channels (optional)
 Service Insights Survey
(Optional)
 Notification Details
•   Email
•   Primary Address
•   Unit (optional)
•   Mailing Address (optional)
 
Summary of your request
 
Submit Request
 
 AGCO Portal
 
1. https://www.agco.ca/en
 
2. https://www.iagco.agco.ca/prod/pub/#
 
Create an Account - Register an Account
 
Ask a Question 
•   Submit an Inquiry
•   Your Information
•   Inquiry (Type/Made on Behalf of/Enter)
•   Supporting Documentation
•   Upload
 
 Submit a Complaint
•   Your Information (Name/Phone/Email)
•   Complaint (Type of Complaint/Made on Behalf of/Indicate Date/Incident Time/Describe
•   Supporting Documentation
•   Upload
 
File Objection / Submission & Search for Applications Undergoing
Public Notices
•   Subscribe for Updates
•   Sign Up (Category/Type/file Number/Premises Name/Premises Address/Applicant)
•   Search

 
Object to a liquor license
Click here for the definitive guide from the AGCO.  The GDNA has submitted several objections but, by talking with the proprietors and with the backing of the Councillor's office, has always managed to elicit reasonable conditions.  
​Complain about construction noise
Although noise is a fact of urban life in Toronto, Toronto Municipal Code 591 sets out specific times during which construction noise can be made:
Although the simple recommendation to “Call 311” is accurate, there are a few details to consider before doing so:
  1. Keep a log of infractions, including dates, times and notes of what was occurring and for how long.  The 311 operator will ask if this is a first time occurrence, and if not, have you kept a log.
  2. Where possible, take pictures.
  3. Get licence plates and descriptions if vehicles are involved.
This log will add credence to your complaint.
 
What to Expect: 
The 311 operator will note your complaint, and provide you with a case number. 
Some days later, an inspector will call you to provide you with his/her name and contact information.
The inspector will schedule a visit to the construction site to speak to the site supervisor and inform them that a complaint has been lodged.  Depending on the workload, this may be weeks. 
If the situation warrants, the City will arrange to place an inspector near the site to observe the noise.  If the infractions are verified, the City will take further action. 
You are urged to continue logging incidents while this process is unfolding.  The City will commit to updating you as the investigation unfolds. 
Sometimes, lodging an official complaint will be sufficient to encourage compliance on the construction site. 
If you feel a more rapid and/or aggressive response from the City is warranted, contact your City Councillor’s Office. 

The Municipal Code Chapter 591 in its entirety can be viewed in this PDF file.

​Rick Green
     Member, GDNA (Garment District Neighbourhood Association)
Complain about air quality
​For the air quality issue, please see the following link: 
https://www.toronto.ca/community-people/health-wellness-care/health-programs-advice/air-quality/ 
As a follow-up, air quality issues are addressed by the Ministry of the Environment (MOE). You may also find information on their website at http://www.airqualityontario.com, with contact information at http://www.airqualityontario.com/press/information.php
File a police report
​​... under construction
Find someone at City Hall
Know a name but want to know a phone number or what department this person works for?
  • Use this link ... hope you know the surname because the directory is 300+ pages long!
Want to hunt down a human being you can talk to?
  • Start here to determine the relevant Division.
  • From this page, download the appropriate directory in pdf format.  Happy hunting!
Look for agendas, meetings and minutes at City Hall
Looking for an upcoming meeting or the minutes for a past meeting?  We are part of the Toronto and East York Community, Ward 20.
If you know the date, access this site.
If you know the meeting type, take this link.

You can request email updates of a particular meeting type by subscribing here.
Access City data ... From Open Data Toronto
The City makes available an amazing range of data, found here.  The GDNA used Open Data Toronto to research bicycle usage on Richmond Street West for an OMB Hearing ... and from that we learned that the bike lanes on Richmond Street are the most heavily utilized in the City.  
Report a dangerous/unlawful driver behaviour or a neighbourhood traffic issue/concern
The Toronto Police provide a site for citizens to report dangerous or unlawful driver behaviour, be it a single instance or an ongoing issue.
Take a picture or short video of this behaviour with license plate visible and complete this online Driving Complaint Report.

  • Those of us who live on Camden Street are well aware that drivers, many of them locals, regularly ignore the one-way street notices.  Bad enough when they drive headfirst in the wrong direction but really scary when they drive in reverse. 
  • Because parking in the neighbourhood is nightmare, misuse of accessibility (handicapped) permits is endemic.  Miscreants not only avoid paying for parking but can also park in “No Parking” zones which only snarls up already-snarled traffic.
  • Area residents shudder when they observe potentially dangerous driver behaviour resulting from hidden or misleading traffic signage.  In this case, report an issue with the signage.  For example:
This one-way street sign at the intersection of Augusta on Richmond is very small and low, often completely hidden by a parked truck. As a result drivers turn left onto Richmond from Augusta several times a day resulting in potential head-ons and hasty u-turns. This one-way sign needs to be much higher and larger. 
​Loud motorcycles are a curse in our community but difficult to regulate since they are governed provincially by the Highway Traffic Act … as addressed here.
Search for details about development applications
The City has updated its online search page for looking up a development application.  Take this link: http://app.toronto.ca/AIC/index.do
Enter an address and the page returns all development applications in the general vicinity, presenting an information window if the address hits a bingo:
Take "Application Details" for a wealth of information, including supporting documentation and if the application has been appealed to LPAT.  Happy reading!
If you take the option below, you are given a URL which you can use to share this page. ​
Deal with discarded injection needles safely
The Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre (PQWCHC) is our resource for information on issues of this nature.  The Queen West site is located at 168 Bathurst Street and services a vast catchment.​
Services the Queen West site provide are diverse (https://pqwchc.org/) ... primary health care, dental care, harm reduction, health promotion, counselling, and community development programming to name a few.  The GDNA became involved with the Queen West site as a member of its Community Liaison Committee when the Supervised Consumption Services started to ramp up in 2017.

In the arena of needle injection safety, the PQWCHC staff and volunteers:
  • train others in the safe handling and disposal of sharps
  • distribute harm reduction supplies including clean syringes and needles, Naloxone Kits and bio-hazard containers
  • ​provide outreach services in vulnerable areas of high use such as alleyways, parks and "under the Gardiner"  
  • collect returns of used needles and paraphernalia

Area residents who see discarded injection needles need to know that there is a needle drop-off box at the front of the PQWCHC building at 168 Bathurst.  As far as advice goes, Lorraine Barnaby, Supervised Consumption Service Manager, offers the following:
If residents encounter a used needle they can call our Centre at 416-703-8482 ext. 2124. If we can, we will come pick up the used needles (this depends on where the needles are and staff’s availability) and, if we can’t, we will direct them to TPH or give them advice on safe disposal.

In regard to the TPH poster below, I would include other tips:
  • do not recap or bend needles that they find
  • always put the container on the ground when putting needles in it (don’t hold the container as this will increase risk for needle stick injury)
  • be extra careful when wearing open toe shoes
  • in the absence of a biohazard container, use a container that is puncture proof and if using a glass bottle to be extra careful in case bottle breaks during transportation (again increase risk of needle stick injury)
  • be sure to assess the area for any other risks

Details about the numerous in-house harm reduction services/programming provided by the PQWCHC can be found on this webpage:
https://pqwchc.org/programs-services/harm-reduction/​ 
​How to Speak or Comment at a City Committee Meeting
​Given the link to an Agenda Item for an upcoming meeting, notice that you have the option to “Request to Speak” or to “Submit Comments”:
​If you choose to “Request to Speak”, an email form appears.  You need to complete this form and send (and then actually attend the meeting).
If you choose to “Submit Comments”, a different email form appears.  You can just type your comments in the email body – or – you can compose a document and attach it to the email form before sending.  The difference?  Comments in the email body are not displayed online but an attachment is if 1) you are an organization (for example, a residents association, a legal office, etc) or 2) you are an individual and request in the email body to have the attachment posted.  
The City has a webpage devoted to this topic HERE.

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