The Toronto Guide to Government Services

www.toronto.uk.com

Directory – Government Services - Downtown Toronto

2023 Edition

About this Edition:

This list is essentially a quick summary of Toronto services. A person living in Toronto probably uses these services in their daily lives or may be aware of it. Use this list to navigate around Toronto to save you time on research and searching for answers.

Sources of Information:

City of Toronto - Municipal
Government of Ontario – Provincial
Government of Canada - Federal

Currency of Information:

Please check the source website for their most current update as information may change from the date of this publication. Information from this publication was last updated on January 9, 2023.

Table of Contents

The Basics

1. Toronto Public Library

2. Finding a family doctor

3. Health Card

4. TTC Public Transit: Fares & Metropass

5. Social Security Number (SIN Card)

6. Driver’s Test (Written)

7. Driving Licence

8. Student Loans

9. Child Benefit

10. Child Care (Ontario)

11. Community Centres (Toronto)

12. City of Toronto (311)

Education

13. French Immersion (TDSB)

14. Toronto Catholic School Board

15. Toronto District School Board

Driving in Toronto, Ontario

16. Licence Plate Renewals

17. Traffic Tickets & Traffic Department

Highway 407 Road Tolls

18. Driving in Ontario

Speed Limits and Driving

Speed Camera Map (City of Toronto)

19. Street Parking Permits

Self-Employed and Incorporations

20. Business Registration

21. Vendor’s Permit / GST Number

22. Business Licences

23. Zoning and Compliance

24. CPP

25. WSIB

26. EI

27. Restaurant Food Inspections

28. Food Handler Certification

29. WHMIS

30. Bylaw Enforcement

31. Fire Prevention Division (TFS)

Government Issued Documents

32. Canadian Passport (Citizens)

33. Canadian Permanent Resident Card

34. Student Visa

35. Work Permit

36. Birth Certificate (Ontario)

37. Marriage Licence (Toronto)

38. Marriage Certificate (Ontario)

39. Death Certificate

40. Death Benefit

The Government Institutions

41. Service Ontario

42. Service Canada

43. Canada Revenue Agency

44. Courts and Tribunals (Listing)

45. City Hall

46. Canada Post

Other Agencies and Data Sets – For Your Information

47. City of Toronto – Ward Profiles

48. Toronto Police Service - Profile

The Basics

1. Toronto Public Library

Getting a Library Card - Identification Requirements:

https://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/using-the-library/your-library-card/identification.jsp

Directory of Library Branches

https://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/branches/#alphaIndex-S

Map of Locations

https://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/hours-locations/

Free Museum and Arts Pass (expect line ups, limited availability)

https://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/museum-arts-passes/

Recommended Downtown Branches
City Hall Branch, Lillian H. Smith, Spadina Road, Riverdale, Palmerston

Branches Outside Downtown Toronto
Locke Branch (Yonge St. & St.Lawrence Avenue East), Deer Park (Yonge St. & St. Clair Avenue East)

Reference Libraries (Larger Facilities)

Toronto Reference Library, North York Central Public Library

2. Finding a Family Doctor (Downtown Toronto)

Note: Finding a family doctor in Toronto ~~will~~ may be challenging, requiring an extra level of diligence and effort. The information provided here is only a starting point.

Government of Ontario Website

https://www.ontario.ca/page/find-family-doctor-or-nurse-practitioner

Mount Sinai

https://www.mountsinai.on.ca/care/fammed/family-health-team/new-patient-information

Toronto Western

https://www.twfht.ca/displayPage.php?page=LookingForAPhysician

3. OHIP – Health Card

Eligibility and Coverage
https://www.ontario.ca/page/apply-ohip-and-get-health-card

4. Fares, Day Passes, and Monthly Passes (Metropass)

Fares & Passes
https://www.ttc.ca/Fares-and-passes

Maps & Schedules
https://www.ttc.ca/routes-and-schedules#/

5. Social Insurance Number (SIN Card)

Government of Canada Website Link
https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/sin/apply.html

6. Ontario Driver’s – Book a Written Test (Written)

Service Ontario (keyword search: book a written driving test appointment)
https://www.ontario.ca/page/book-serviceontario-appointment

7. Ontario Driver’s Test - Information

Service Ontario: Driver’s Licence
https://www.ontario.ca/page/drivers-licence

8. Student Loans (National Student Loans)

https://www.csnpe-nslsc.canada.ca/en/home

Ontario Student Loans

https://www.ontario.ca/page/osap-ontario-student-assistance-program

9. Canada Child Benefit

https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/child-family-benefits/canada-child-benefit-overview.html

10. Child Care (Ontario)

https://www.ontario.ca/page/find-and-pay-child-care

11. Community Centres (Toronto)

https://www.toronto.ca/data/parks/prd/facilities/recreationcentres/index.html

12. City of Toronto (311 Information Service)

https://www.toronto.ca/home/311-toronto-at-your-service/

Education (Toronto)

13. French Immersion Program

https://www.tdsb.on.ca/Elementary-School/School-Choices/French-Programs

14. Toronto Catholic School Board

https://www.tcdsb.org/

15. Toronto District School Board

https://www.tdsb.on.ca/

Driving in Toronto, Ontario

16. Licence Plate Renewals

Service Ontario

https://www.ontario.ca/page/renew-your-licence-plate

Note on the Service Ontario Website (January 9, 2023):

When you renew:

you will no longer receive a sticker
you do not have to pay licence plate renewal fees
law enforcement will be instantly aware your licence plate was renewed

Note: This has been confusing for some Ontario drivers. Licence plate stickers are no longer mailed but it is still necessary to renew the licence plate. It is not an automatic process so licence plate owners will have to renew their licence plate based on its expiration date. Check the month and year of licence plate expiration, which may coincide with the month of a driver’s birthday. Failure to renew a licence plate on a car can result in a ticket/fine if a driver is pulled over by the police. This information is for non-commercial drivers.

17. Traffic Tickets

City of Toronto
https://www.toronto.ca/services-payments/tickets-fines-penalties/

Disputing a Ticket
https://www.toronto.ca/services-payments/tickets-fines-penalties/dispute/new-parking-violation-dispute-process/

Note: It takes time out of a person’s day to dispute a ticket. It is generally a person’s right to dispute a ticket in court, but then that also requires time or additional money (representation). Be sure to plan ahead when considering these options. Not paying attention to a ticket can result in fines and problems later. Note, there are also reciprocating agreements between some Provinces in Canada and states in the USA. This also includes road tolls.

High 407 Road Toll
https://www.on407.ca/en/tolls/rate-charts/highway-407-toll-rates.html

18. Driving in Ontario

Driving – Province of Ontario

https://www.ontario.ca/document/official-mto-drivers-handbook/driving-along

Speed Camera Map

https://www.toronto.ca/services-payments/streets-parking-transportation/road-safety/vision-zero/safety-initiatives/automated-speed-enforcement/speed-cameras/#location=&lat=&lng=

Basic Note: There are rules to follow, but these are just some of the most basic.

           -Have your driver’s licence, vehicle registration (permit), and insurance slip on you when
           driving. You have to show them to the police if you are pulled over.
           Make sure your licence plate is valid.
           -Do not run red lights. Do not drink and drive. Do not drive without insurance.
           Do not speed. Do not speed through school areas. Watch out for pedestrians,
           including the elderly, children, baby strollers, and e-bicycles. Read the traffic signs
           and parking signs.
           -Cars may be towed on certain streets. Drive safely and responsibly.