St. Clair West

A Live-In Community...not a Drive-Through!

THE BOTTOM LINE
Do we want to live in a neighbourhood with a main street like this:

...or like this:

Humewood Neighbourhood Ratepayers Inc. (HNRI) still has remaining legal bills outstanding. Please join us for upcoming fundraising events or contribute by sending a cheque.
Thank you!

Citizens beat megacorp!

McDonald's Drops Court Challenge

"We do not intend to proceed with the existing legal action related to this situation," said Ron Christianson, corporate communications manager for McDonald's Restaurants of Canada.

View published news stories by clicking on the media source from the list on the right; click here to view this website's press archive; or click here to see Councillor Joe Mihevc's June 17 press release.

As Mihevc said "The conviction and persistence of the local residents group was an inspirational tale. This agreement to dismiss on consent is their reward. Toronto is a safer City for pedestrians and for local communities. St. Clair West in particular is a better place for small business to operate and our communities can continue to flourish unhindered by inappropriate drive-thru developments."

Victory at the OMB

On January 23, 2004 McDonald's and other representatives of the drive-through industries lost their appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board of the city-wide bylaw that prohibits the construction of drive-throughs 30 metres from residential properties.

The restaurant and other industries interested in drive-through profits were threatening a sound decision made by City Council for the long-term health and quality of life for all Toronto residents.

The case was won by the city legal department, led by Sharon Haniford, fighting a host of lawyers from the various industries that want drive-throughs in Toronto.

Congratulations, and thanks, to Sharon .... and thanks to everyone from the community who was present at these hearings, especially those who gave testimony.

Click here to see the text of the January 23 OMB decision, and a partial record of events at the hearings, including presentations from concerned citizens who spoke at the Public Session on October 8, 2003.

What's going on at McDonald's?

On September 17, 2003 the St. Clair and Christie McDonald's operator posted a notice announcing that they were no longer plannning to build a Drive-through there, but before we could celebrate ...

The next day the notice was removed, and McDonald's issued a press release which said:

"The franchisee ... misunderstood the company's position and incorrectly communicated this to the public earlier this week. The franchisee in no way speaks for McDonald's."

Click here to see the short lived notice and MacDonald's press releases.

Fundraising Letter

You may have receive a flyer from the Humewood Neighbourhood Ratepayers Inc., asking for your crucial financial support in the ongoing legal battle against McDonald's.

If you did not receive the fundraising letter (possibly because your house doesn't accept flyer deliveries), you can download it, a donor form, and the latest HNRI pamphlet as PDF documents:

• HNRI fundraising letter
• Donor fulfillment card
• Latest HNRI pamphlet

The fundraising letter also highlights some of the HNRI successes to date, including the fact that HNRI has:

• supported the City's adoption of an Interim Control By-law, halting drive-through developments on St. Clair Ave., including the St. Clair and Christie location;
  
  
• supported City Councillors' defense of legal challenges to that Interim Control By-law;
  
  
• gained Intervenor status in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, allowing us as residents to be represented in McDonald's challenge to the City's Interim Control By-law;
  
  
• participated in City Council committee hearings and supported the City's passage (on Oct. 2, 2002) of a permanent by-law prohibiting drive-through facilities on properties within 30 meters (100 feet) of residential zones throughout the City of Toronto.

We need your continued financial support to ensure that our success continues and we win not only the citywide drive-through war but our own local battle as well.

You are investing to protect our neighbourhood, and demonstrating that, as citizens, we can all positively impact our community and our city.

We hope we can count on your support!

RECENT NEWS:

15 Feb 2005: Geoff Meade, "'McLibel' campaigners win legal aid battle" (The Independent).

17 Jun 2004: Catherine Porter, "McDonald's blinks over bylaw: Drops application for drive-through" (Toronto Star).

17 Jun 2004: Residents Stall Big Mac Attack: Burger Giant Scraps St. Clair W. Drive-Through" (Toronto Sun).

10 Feb 2004: Christopher Hume, "For a McHappy ending: No new drive-throughs" (Toronto Star).

28 Jan 2004: John Barber, "Green light's still flashing on drive-throughs" (Globe and Mail).

27 Jan 2004: Philip Mascoll, "OMB backs bylaw limiting drive-throughs" (Toronto Star).

27 Jan 2004: Katherine Harding, "Drive-through ruling a setback for McDonald's" (Globe and Mail).

6 Dec 2003: Cameron Smith "Putting neighbourhoods before profits" (Toronto Star).

16 Oct 2003: Jim Coyle, "Some postcards from the urban circle of hell" (Toronto Star).

19 Sept 2003: Christopher Hume, "McDonald's not giving up plans for drive-through" (Toronto Star).

19 Sept 2003: Gay Abbate, "Drive-through not dead after all" (Globe and Mail).

16 Sept 2003: John Barber, "Begging to keep drive-throughs at bay" (Globe and Mail).

5 Jun 2003: Kris Scheuer, "McDonald’s and residents face off" (Forest Hill Town Crier).

21 Feb 2003: John Heinzl , "Hold the Fries" (The Globe and Mail).

1 Oct 2002: Jane Gadd, "Allen Expressway drive-through gets green light from court" (The Globe and Mail).

5 Sept 2002: John Barber, "Curbing drive-throughs no idle threat" (The Globe and Mail) and Novae Res Urbis.

Want to be kept more informed?

Click here to be added to our list of community members who receive email bulletins.

Or send a note to info@welivehere.ca with your comments or questions.

(Email addresses are NOT given to any third parties - see our privacy statement.)

Please contribute to the HNRI legal fund.

Last updated: 17-Mar-2005
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can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."
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