E-Blast: Standing Up for the Suburbs - What Toronto's New Parking Framework Means for You

Next week, City Council will consider a report from the Infrastructure and Environment Committee introducing Toronto’s new Strategic Parking Framework, a major update to how we manage parking across the city.

While this report includes some long-overdue improvements, I’ll be working hard to ensure that the voices of Don Valley North, and all of Toronto’s suburbs, are heard loud and clear. Because despite the consultations that took place, I don’t see the inner suburban perspective reflected in this strategy.

Let's Start with a Win

Before diving into the challenges, I want to acknowledge a genuine Toronto success story: the Toronto Parking Authority. Many cities have sold off their municipal parking corporations and, in doing so, lost the ability to control curb space altogether.

Not us.

Because we’ve kept full ownership of the TPA, we have one of the world’s most respected municipal parking systems: Green P Parking. At no cost to the property tax base, and with a modest annual return to the City, Toronto Parking Authority manages Green P on-street and off-street parking, Bike Share Toronto, EV charging infrastructure, and even a car-share program. That strong foundation is what makes a strategy like this possible in the first place.

A Citywide Strategy Must Work for the Whole City

Too often, downtown pressures dominate the conversation about curb space. But in suburban communities like ours, parking plays a very different role. It’s not just about convenience. It’s about access.

Whether you’re a parent trying to get your child to a hockey game, a senior attending a medical appointment, or a shift worker without reliable off-peak transit, the ability to park near your destination is essential. I’ve been clear that a parking strategy that only works downtown doesn’t work for Don Valley North.

This report takes steps in the right direction. It introduces changes that will help manage congestion and improve options across the city. That matters to all of us, since we travel beyond our neighbourhoods every day. But that doesn’t mean we need to sacrifice suburban realities in the name of progress.

What's in the Report?

This report takes steps in the right direction. It introduces changes that will help manage congestion and improve options across the city. That matters to all of us, since we travel beyond our neighbourhoods every day. But that doesn’t mean we need to sacrifice suburban realities in the name of progress.

The Strategic Parking Framework lays out six “Big Moves” for the coming years:

1. Managing Parking by Neighbourhood

Instead of planning parking one spot or block at a time, the strategy takes a broader view. It looks at neighbourhood needs and commercial districts as whole systems. This could be a win for suburban BIAs and growing commercial corridors.

2. Making Parking Data Publicly Accessible

Finally, we’ll have real-time information on where parking is available, delivered through voice-activated and in-car technology. This is exactly the kind of smart, user-friendly innovation drivers need.

3. Adjusting Pricing to Support Sustainable Mobility

The report asks why “pay and display: on-street parking costs less than Green P lots. By shifting the balance and making underground and off-street parking more attractive, we can improve traffic flow. But pricing changes must reflect local realities. I’ll be watching this one closely.

 4. Expanding Carshare Options

Staff propose allowing carshare vehicles to park in any legitimate spot across the city. While this might suit downtown, in suburban areas where parking enforcement is inconsistent and residential space is limited, we need to proceed with caution.

5. Upgrading Outdated Parking Technology

Many of the City’s parking systems are still running on outdated platforms. This plan includes a comprehensive review of what each City division needs and lays the groundwork for a modern, centralized parking management system. That means real-time usage data, improved permitting tools, easier payment options (including non-smartphone alternatives), and better enforcement tools that are more cost-effective and less frustrating for users, making the system more responsive, more efficient, and more user-friendly.

6. Centralizing Leadership and Oversight

The Parking Advisory Committee, which helped develop this strategy, would become a permanent oversight body. Its role would be to ensure that all future parking decisions reflect the city’s long-term goals and are aligned across departments.

A Balanced Approach

Some proposals in the report have real merit. For example, supporting local Business Improvement Areas (BIAs) through better signage and performance-based pricing that helps ensure parking turnover is welcome news. In Don Valley North, we’re encouraging new and existing businesses to consider forming BIAs along corridors like Sheppard. These improvements might be just the push they need to get started.

But other ideas in the staff report need closer examination.

One concerning proposal would increase prices for on-street parking in suburban areas without robust transit or nearby off-street options. That could disproportionately affect families and seniors. Another concern is the proposal to introduce paid parking at civic facilities like arenas and community centres. We’ve already seen how challenging this can be at the new Ethennonnhawahstihnen Community Centre. Until transit and street-level changes are complete, I’ll be advocating for the lowest possible rates and carefully managed on-street alternatives.

What I'm Fighting For

I’ll be pushing for updates to this framework that reflect the full geography of our city. The report acknowledges that one-size-fits-all solutions don’t work, but it still leans heavily on downtown examples. A strategy that works on King Street doesn’t automatically make sense for Sheppard Avenue East or Steeles.

My goal is to ensure this plan delivers real, practical improvements. That means:

• Opposing blanket pricing changes that punish suburban families.

• Ensuring that when new Green P lots open in suburban areas, they offer introductory pricing that reflects how big an adjustment this is for local residents.

• Demanding in-person consultations in every part of the city, not just online or downtown.

• Championing user-friendly tech upgrades that include options for seniors and people without smartphones.

• Ensuring carshare does not displace residential parking, especially in areas where enforcement is already limited.

What You Can Do

This is your city, and your curb space too. I encourage you to read the full framework at toronto.ca/parkingstrategy and let me know what you think. If you’ve ever struggled to find a spot, paid a fine you didn’t understand, or had trouble with a parking app, I want to hear from you.

Growing Together

As your City Councillor, I will always fight for a Toronto that works for everyone, including communities like Don Valley North.

That includes recognizing the role that cars still play in suburban life, even as we move toward more sustainable transportation options. It also means continuing to advocate for expanded transit infrastructure in our part of the city. I will keep pushing for the Sheppard Subway Extension, the Ontario Line, and improved service integration across the entire transit network.

Growth in Toronto should not mean leaving the suburbs behind. It should mean building a city that grows together, guided by fairness, practicality, and common sense.

As always, my office is here to help. If you have questions, feedback, or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out.