OPINION: Why you should call Toronto’s 311 more often

Don’t just vent about Toronto falling apart! Call 311 to fix it.

I think Torontonians don’t take enough advantage of having 311 at our disposal. It’s a non-emergency line, where you can submit requests about street maintenance, apartment problems, parking problems and more. You can get information about city programs and services, and it’s 24/7 and available in 180 languages.

We need to use it more!

There are so many reasons to call 311, like apartments overheating, potholes, overflowing Toronto trash cans, cars parked in the bike lane and more.

It’s not just a phone call; you can submit requests on the City’s website online by filling out one of the many forms to fix a City problem, too. So, if you’re phone-shy or just find it easier to yell through your keyboard, head to 311 on the City of Toronto website to fill out their various forms.

So, instead of venting that the City never comes by to fix your stuff, make them come by by submitting requests and letting them know something needs to change in your neighbourhood.

Another cool feature of 311 is that you can see requests submitted in your community. The City provides a dashboard that gives, “An interactive view of service request volumes, service levels, geographic distribution, and 311 call responsiveness across the city.”

Keep 311 handy for the next time you’re wondering “When are they going to fix that?” or “How can I improve my city?” Because your answer may come because you submitted a form that will improve your neighbourhood.