Sylvia Watson - Full response to waterfront questionnaire

Responses on behalf of Sylvia Watson, Ontario Liberal Party candidate:

Note: Given the extent to which the responses provided by Sylvia Watson dispute the validity of the questionnaire and challenge the community's consensus on how the waterfront decision making process has unfolded over the past year, we have seen fit to include a rebutal by the Waterfront Group Chair, Roger Brook to many of Ms. Watson's responses.

Question 1: Will you agree to join residents in taking a 30-minute walk to our waterfront in order to experience all of the barriers that residents face in our journey to the lake. Yes/No

As your city councillor, I am familiar with the waterfront and points of access.  In order to enhance access to the waterfront, I had a sidewalk installed on the east side of Jameson Bridge so pedestrians can safely cross to access the footbridge.  I agree that more needs to be done.  That’s why I also initiated a Western Beaches Master Plan that is intended to address waterfront accessibility with community input.

RB: The purpose of asking our candidates to come on this walk was to give them an intimate knowledge of the problems faced by constituents in accessing Marilyn Bell Park by foot. We agree that councillor Watson has travelled to the waterfront, however she told us she has never walked there. Because of this she is less likely to be familiar with the hardships faced by those that do not drive. Councillor Watson was also not aware that the park could be accessed on foot by using Dunn Avenue (our route).

Question 2: This year the city was negotiating with two boating clubs to fence off Dowling beach. Are you in favour of expanding private club spaces at the expense of public parklands? Yes/No

This is factually incorrect.  This never happened nor would I have allowed it to happen while councillor.

RB: We agree that this never happened. It was stopped through the efforts of residents with help from the media. The Boulevard Club first scaled back and eventually withdrew its request due to extensive negative media attention and widespread community opposition. The Toronto Sail and Canoe club has scaled back its requests but is still negotiating with the city to expand. It is surprising to hear that Watson would not have allowed this to happen when she is on record as being in favour of all proposals.

Question 3: Do you support allowing controversial projects such as the proposed Palais Royale parking lot and the Olympic BMX course to be reviewed under the upcoming Western Beaches Master Planning study in order to provide public involvement in the planning of these projects including consideration of possible alternatives? Yes/No

A “controversial” Olympic-quality sports facility for youth?  Who would be against the creation or improvement of recreational facilities, particularly for young people?  My community meetings and city committee processes have given at least 12 opportunities for community input on this project.  From this input, I’ve hear a lot of support from residents about the creation of an Olympic-quality BMX park for youth.

RB: The Parkdale Residents Association supported the original location for the facilities on parking lot J in Exhibition Place. Since the location for the sports park changed to Marilyn Bell Park, there has only been one poorly advertised meeting for the public on these facilities. If the community were indeed on side with the proposals then there should no problem in allowing public oversight of planning decisions by placing the proposals in the current waterfront study. This question was asked because our group believes that the community should be involved whenever massive changes are being proposed for public parklands.

Question 4: The current Palais Royale lease specifies that a public trail can be accommodated along the waterfront in front of the Palais Royale.

A)    Would you be in favour of extending the boardwalk in front of the Palais Royale?

Yes.

B)    What steps would you take to actively promote this idea?

This may be a recommendation that comes out of Western Beaches Master Plan that I initiated in my term as councillor.  The purpose of the Plan is to provide opportunities for extensive consultations to develop an overall vision for the western beaches.  I spearheaded this Plan in order that the community will have the opportunity to decide what is best for the waterfront.  However, this is a provincial election campaign and as this initiative falls under municipal responsibility, it would be a question you may like to pose to the ward 13 and 14 councillor candidates.

RB: Our question should have provided more background. The Palais Royale corporation is currently seeking to enter into a 20 year lease with the city. The current lease allows a boardwalk to be constructed in front of the Palais Royale in front of the club. However the plan presented by Watson proposed fencing off public waterfront access. If the proposed lease is signed which does not include these public rights then it will be at least 20 years before a boardwalk can travel along the waterfront in this area.

Question 5: During the waterfront controversies many residents became disillusioned with the consultation and decision-making process. How do you think that the process could have been improved?

a)    Forming a committee of stakeholders including business, government/staff and the community to provide input
b)     Placing important decisions within the Western Beaches Master Plan
c)    More public meetings/online surveys/ or other consultation process
d)    Consultation process was adequate

The Waterfront Group and many residents of the community asked that the Palais parking be moved from the area east of the Palais to the median.  I enabled that to happen, by working with staff to overcome their opposition to the median parking.  The Waterfront Group then changed their position and proposed an unsafe parking plan that was not supported by Mayor Miller, the deputy mayors or any city councilor. Extensive public discussion led to a result that most people support—a beautifully restored Palais Royale that enhances the western beaches and parking between the travelled lanes of traffic.

RB: The Parkdale-High Park waterfront group (and the 5 area residents associations) are on record as asking for public consultation on the project. We arranged public meetings where we asked the public to articulate their ideas. We recommended that all stakeholders get together to work on a solution that would work for all parties involved. Instead the process was decided by only two stakeholders; the proponent and the city (Watson and staff). Councillor Watson informed the heads of the residents associations in May that she was only prepared to look at one option (parking on the median) because “this was the only option that was acceptable to the (Palais Royale) owners”. She had previously recommended only parking under the willows until the mayor announced that he was very opposed to the idea.

Question 6: A multi-million dollar breakwall was built for a dragon boat regatta. Some suggest that the project was rushed through without local meetings or input. IDBF promoters are now asking for millions more in government funding to double or quadruple the length of this wall. Would you insist that local residents be consulted in detail on any potential expansions? Yes/No

Factually incorrect.  The dragon boat races were an international competition attended by representatives of over 20 countries, not a “regatta”.  IDBF is an international body who organized a one-time event that left Toronto — much like the Olympic Games do — with world-class facilities for all Torontonians and water enthusiasts to enjoy.  The Parkdale Residents Waterfront Group was one of the many stakeholders involved in the many Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Corporations discussions on the planning of the course.  If local residents don’t feel that they have been consulted on the issue, I would suggest they speak to members of your group who participated at these meetings. Any improvements to the course would be contingent on funding from all three levels of government—and right now, that funding does not exist.

RB: A club regatta is a competition between clubs. Including clubs who are based in another country does not change the event into an Olympic-type international competition. The IDBF does indeed sponsor international events like the one in Australia next year, but this was their club regatta. In Olympic-type events international teams representing each country compete against each other. What happened in Marilyn Bell Park was indeed a club regatta as various clubs (many from the GTA) paid fees to race one another.
There were 6 public meetings and all of them were downtown or at the National Trade centre. The Waterfront Group was the only group representing local residents out of over 50 stakeholders. We were severely outnumbered and had little influence over any decisions that were made.

Question 7: The parks department has indicated that there is a deficiency of parking along the waterfront in our riding. This issue is within municipal jurisdiction. If asked, what advice would you offer?
    a)    Look for opportunities to add new parking within parks until there is enough free
            parking to accommodate demand.
    b)    Not worry too much as there will always be a shortage of free parking
    c)    Construct reserved parking lots in the parks for facilities such as the Palais Royale
    d)    Make better use of existing parking within walking distance of the parks
    e)    Add or improve north/south pedestrian and cycling connections to the waterfront
    f)    Place parking on Lakeshore Blvd. as part of a comprehensive plan to calm speeding traffic

I am not sure who would be asking a provincial MPP for their opinion on parking matters.  I would suggest you pose this question to the candidates for my councillor seat in the upcoming municipal election.

RB: We agree that this is generally a municipal issue but are trying to clarify candidates views on the issue. Provincial officials have an impact on how much parking to provide. For example Provincial facilities such as Ontario Place have many parking spaces that interfere with the Martin Goodman Trail and impact public use of the waterfront. Watson has indicated that if elected she will push for waterfront development. It is our role to attempt to communicate to constituents what that development would look like.