The City of Toronto has announced that residents who have paid for summer parks and recreation programs that have been cancelled by the month-long strike will be compensated.

Refunds will be given for fees paid for city-run day camps, swimming and leadership programs which were scheduled to take place between June 22 and July 17.

About 4,425 programs have been cancelled for about 45,000 participants - who are mostly children.

The city says it has already begun issuing refunds, and residents should receive their money by the end of the month.

All residents who paid by credit card will be credited, while those who paid by debit card, cheque or cash will receive a cheque in the mail.

But, Mayor David Miller says the city will not be issuing refunds on property taxes. He says the city hasn't decided on whether to refund fees for other services such as garbage collection.

Miller has called a special city council meeting for August 5th and 6th to deal with about 50 urgent items put on hold by the ongoing strike. Miller says urgent items include Union Station improvements and contracts to start work on city transit projects.

Toronto council has met only once since the strike broke out more than four weeks ago. Some city councillors have been collecting signatures on a petition which would force a meeting.

The meeting would be cancelled if the strike is resolved before August.

Meanwhile on day 32 of the civic workers strike, the city is preparing to spray the dump site at Campbell Park despite concerns from residents about the use of pesticides.

Even though the garbage mound continues to grow at the park, Miller says the city will not remove the garbage from the temporary site because it's logistically too hard.

Instead, the city will open new sites if needed and will spray the current site to keep it problem-free.

The effects of the walkout are not just being seen in the growing piles of garbage. Experts worry the ongoing strike could be putting sexual health on the line, the Toronto Star reports.

City-run sexual health clinics, which provide services from everything to free or low-cost birth control to emergency contraceptive pills, are closed.

Many of the people who use the services at the clinics are one-time clients who are reluctant to see a family doctor and those who do not have OHIP cards. Experts warn that with public health nurses on strike, Toronto will see a spike in sexually transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancies.

Exotic dancers are also bearing the brunt of the job action. About 100 dancers haven't been able to renew their licences and face the prospect of a $500 fine if they're caught working without one.

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