Canadian Passport will expire

You take your tickets with you to the nearest passport office of which there are 3-4 in Toronto, your passport and with your simplified passport renewal form filled out and pay for an expedited renewal. You will then go pick it up in Markham, I believe. Hopefully you can get it done in a week.
Passport Canada: Canadians - Passport Renewal Application Form

If its any relief you still do not need a passport to go to the DR, from Canada (Canadian citizen), if your not flying through the US.

While I don't normally recommend this, as I always believe a passport is the best form of ID for any travel, let alone international travel; you do not need a passport for NON-STOP travel from Canada to the DR. Unless you have a stop in the US an original birth certificate and a government picture ID will suffice for both entry into the DR and return to Canada. If you have a stop in the US then you MUST have a passport.

The whole passport issue in the news off and on over the last few years is a US Homeland Security program called the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative and whether or not Homeland Security likes it, it does not change the rules for travel between Canada and the DR; although they are apparently trying to insist that Canadians on non-stop flights which overfly US territory have passports - but so far this has been a non-starter.

Gregg

Edited to add...
Sorry carolathompson; posting at the same time.

bob saunders said:

You take your tickets with you to the nearest passport office of which there are 3-4 in Toronto, your passport and with your simplified passport renewal form filled out and pay for an expedited renewal. You will then go pick it up in Markham, I believe. Hopefully you can get it done in a week.
Passport Canada: Canadians - Passport Renewal Application Form

Click to expand...

You can get it done the same day it costs more though

sammytheman said:

Thanks for the response. My flight is direct
So what do I need? I drivers' license? I have a citizenship card but the pic is from 16 years ago when I was 13. Do I need any other documents like a visa to enter DR? Thanks again.

Click to expand...

No Visa required AFAIK (a Tourist Card is probably included in your package or is available on arrival) but from your further info it sounds like you are a naturalized Canadian, not a native born Canadian. If this is the case your best bet is to pay the surcharges and get a passport as your birth certificate will not be from Canada but your original country and will not therefore prove citizenship (it is possible that your citizenship card as well as your Driver's License will do but you should call the DR Embassy in Ottawa to confirm this).

If there is doubt, pay the piper and get your passport. An Urgent application is $70CDN plus the cost of the passport and will get your passport in 24 hours. See: www.ppt.gc.ca/cdn/service.aspx?lang=eng#urgent

Gregg