Council meets today! It's the final meeting before election season officially kicks off on May 1. The agenda includes soccer, jet skis, hot dogs, and renter protections. A real hearty mix. You can watch live on YouTube. I will post happenings in this very long thread. www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQP-...
For a preview of the agenda, which also includes Scarborough transit, traffic, the island airport, and more, check out this week's edition of City Hall Watcher. The mayor has set the Scarborough transit item as her key matter, so that'll be debated first. toronto.cityhallwatcher.com/p/as-electio...
Testing something new with this meeting. If you just want to see the latest updates from this thread without having to search for it, you can visit this site. Consider it a beta — let me know if you see any bugs and if it's useful. live.cityhallwatcher.com
Before the agenda can begin, Council simply must recognize National Poetry Month. Both the Poet Laureate and the Youth Poet Laureate are here today. Ready for some rhyme time. The mayor takes the lectern to talk about the importance of poetry.
Poet laureate Lillian Allen, whose term is ending soon, reads a poem. This part stood out, given the venue: "Homelessness, that is our little scar / That part split off / Lost, hiding, frightened, bruised / Too tired to fight / Or resolve too soon / Just needing a way back to the promise"
Up now: the poetry shall continue. Youth poet laureate Shahaddah Jack reads a work titled "Not OK" about youth mental health. "I belong to a generation forced behind a facade of disregard / A generation waiting for someone to hear us / For someone to see us."
Up now: the declarations of conflicts of interest. - Bradford on a dev because wife is a planner on the file. - Chernos Lin on a Hydro board appointment because daughter works for appointee - Mantas on vending because family member owns food truck - Colle on TTC items, because his son works there
Mayor Olivia Chow also declares a conflict of interest on a Chinatown planning report because she lives in the area. All those with declared conflicts won't vote on the items they're conflicted on.
Without debate, Council votes via show of hands to approve some sole-source contracts worth about $1 million a year to support maintenance and operation of the soon-to-arrive new electric ferries. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
As is his custom, Councillor Stephen Holyday would like to vote against a proposal to install traffic calming on Nightstar Road in Scarborough. The traffic calming plan is APPROVED 23-1. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
That brings us to the first debate: Scarborough East Rapid Transit. Just in time for the election, Mayor Olivia Chow has put an agenda item forward asking staff to accelerate work on the project formerly known as the Eglinton East LRT. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
A new report on the Scarborough East transit project has a very short update on Council's recent direction to look at more grade separation for the line — either underground or elevated. Full report on that due back Q2 2027. www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis...
Asked what this Scarborough East line will cost, staff say it's too early to say. More design work is needed to put a firm price tag on it. City Manager says scale of project is in the ~$4.65 billion range. "And that potentially could be a little bit higher as we do the detailed design work."
Councillor Brad Bradford wants to know if staff missed a council deadline to report on the Scarborough East transit project by Q1 2026. Staff say that the direction was to report back by then, but various factors meant they couldn't deliver their report until now.
"One of the mayor's big commitments in the letter is to change the name of the project. Is it staff's view that that is going to get this thing built faster for the people of Scarborough?" asks Bradford, rhetorically. Staff say the name was changed to more accurately describe the project.
Bradford asks staff a bunch of questions about the funding status of the "downtown" Waterfront East LRT versus the Scarborough East project. Intention seems to be to set up a campaign argument that Chow worked to get funding for a downtown project but left Scarborough waiting.
"Why do you think the prioritization is the downtown waterfront LRT versus the Scarborough LRT?" asks Bradford. City Manager says he can't say why the prov/feds would opt to fund waterfront first, but says it might be because they're already involved in waterfront development via Waterfront Toronto
Chow points out 80K people would live within walking distance of this new Scarborough East transit line. She says the line is "desperately needed" to get people to destinations like UofT Scarborough and the zoo. City has already spent $18 million on design. Motion today commits another $10 million.
"I do want to be very explicit: I have taken this project to two prime ministers: Prime Minister Trudeau and the new government, Prime Minister Carney. In writing, I've been very clear that we need this Scarborough East project," says Chow.
Head to head! "You say Scarborough's a priority. How do you reconcile that we've spent $63 million so far on the downtown waterfront transit line, but only $18 million advancing Scarborough?" Bradford asks Chow. Chow says Scarborough East design has to wait for prov decisions re: Sheppard Subway
Bradford says Scarborough has been "left behind" as staff have missed deadlines to report back on the Scarborough East transit project. "I don't believe it's fair for our city staff that have been working very hard to accuse them of missing any deadlines," Chow says.
On questioning from Myers, Chow says she's also pushed to spend $90 million on the Scarborough busway to replace the RT. Myers says that means she's spent more on Scarborough transit than waterfront transit. "Don't let anyone tell you that Scarborough's being left behind by this council," says Chow.
"A few days ago, we heard from the Ontario Minister of Transportation to say that, at this time, it is not their priority — but that could change if the federal government comes on side," says Mayor Olivia Chow of the potential for other governments to fund the Scarborough East transit project.
"The Scarborough East transit line is the city's priority. I can't speak on behalf of the provincial government. They have to decide what is their priority — whether it's the Sheppard extension or the Scarborough East RT. With this council, it's very clear," says Chow.
On the Scarborough East transit item, Councillor Jamaal Myers moves to involve the TTC CEO in the ongoing design work for the project.
Councillor Michael Thompson laments the way some councillors are "pitting one sector of the city against another sector, to suggest somehow that one is being more advanced in a priority way, and the other is being negated. Far from the truth — that's not what's taking place."
With that, Council breaks for lunch. They'll wrap up this Scarborough transit item when they get back, then pivot to debating jet skis. This thread shall continue at 2 p.m.
Council has resumed. After a quick amendment from Councillor Dianne Saxe, council votes via show of hands to APPROVE a report on Toronto's work toward electrifying all the things and reducing reliance on gas. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Complaining about a "mushroom cloud" at Downsview related to a Drake music video shoot, Councillor James Pasternak has added an item to the council agenda calling for improved communications about scheduled film shoots that'll include explosions.
Back to Scarborough transit. Councillor James Pasternak, who I am pretty sure is about to say "North York Relief Line", has a motion for a report with an update on work to extend the Sheppard subway both eastwards and westwards.
"When the Fords were here, the Sheppard subway was their project. This was something they wanted to build! So it is quite surprising, with Doug in Queen's Park, that he's not trumpeting this project as the #1 priority," says Pasternak.
Pasternak misses his opportunity to say "North York Relief Line" — boo! — but does say lots of people are going to move to Downsview soon, so an east-west subway extension is needed.
Bradford has a motion on Scarborough East transit. He wants the mayor to include funds for the line as an "essential part" of any negotiations for a new New Deal with the province.
"For too long I think the folks in Scarborough have been taught to expect less. They look at projects advance across the city - in midtown, in downtown, on the waterfront, and still the projects in Scarborough are just an idea. Just lines on a map," says Bradford.
"Earlier this month, the downtown transit line got $3 billion in committed tri-level funding, while Scarborough got nothing," says Bradford. He then says the only reason this item is on the council agenda is because he called a press conference about it.
Councillor Burnside asks Bradford about his contention that Scarborough hasn't been a priority for transit investment, noting other recent projects like the east section of the Eglinton LRT and the Scarborough subway extension. Bradford says there's a lot more transit that needs to be built.
Councillor Fletcher rises to defend the Waterfront East LRT, which Bradford keeps calling the "downtown waterfront LRT." "This is not a downtown LRT. It is the East Waterfront LRT," Fletcher says. "Councillor Bradford, I would appreciate it if you could call it by its right name."
Councillor Nunziata rises for some reason to remind us about 1994, when Mike Harris cancelled transit plans and filled in a hole dug for an Eglinton subway. Only Sheppard went forward. "You got your line, Councillor Pasternak! I didn't get my line."
Time to vote. Councillor James Pasternak's motion for a report on the status of Sheppard Subway extensions both eastwards and westwards CARRIES 23-2.
Councillor Brad Bradford's motion asking the mayor to prioritize funding for the Scarborough East transit project as part of any new New Deal negotiations with the provincial government CARRIES 21-4.
All other amendments carry via show of hands. The report on the Scarborough East Rapid Transit project CARRIES 25-0. Another $10 million will be spent to advance design.
Up now: time to jet ski. Council is hoping the Toronto Port Authority will establish more exclusion zones for motorized watercraft around beaches, because beach-goers find the jet skis really really annoying. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Councillor Paula Fletcher asks a rep from the police, who's got some interesting taste in office decor, about enforcing a jet ski exclusion zone marked with buoys. He says without buoys, enforcement would be "extremely difficult."
There's been some talk of using some kind of digital beacons to indicate the exclusion zones, rather than physical buoys, but police rep says most watercraft wouldn't have equipment to receive the digital signals. On the other hand, buoys are expensive and it's not clear TPA will pay for them.
On the jet skis, Councillor Bradford has a motion. He wants an update next month on whether TPA will pay for buoys. If they won't, he wants a Plan B on ways to pay for the large buoys.
Bradford says he's been working since 2019 to address a "surge of dangerous jetski rentals at Woodbine Beach." He says the sense is that the rules are not being enforced. Buoys would help with that, he says.
This debate is funny because "buoys" sounds like "boys." So it sounds like councillors are saying things like, "The boys are very essential to help the marine unit deliver on that enforcement."
Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik moves to make it clear that the Port Authority should be responsible for all costs related to buying and storing the buoys intended to keep jet skis away from beaches.
Councillor Dianne Saxe moves for a report on whether the City should stop letting gas-powered jet skis be stored and launched from city property. And slso whether they should install chargers for electric boats.
All motions on the jet ski item CARRY via show of hands, so does the item as amended. Staff will report back next month on any progress getting the Toronto Port Authority to pay for buoys indicating the motorized watercraft exclusion zones around beaches.
Now: an item about property tax clawbacks. Councillor Anthony Perruzza asks the CFO if there's an update on when MPAC may issue new assessments. They've been frozen since 2016. The CFO says he has no update. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Perruzza rants about the property tax system and the portion the province takes for education. Nunziata wants to move on. But now Councillor Colle also wants to rant about the property tax system. Colle says property taxes are "BS, basically" and calls for their abolition in favour of income taxes.
Up now: soccer! After some major uproar, a new staff report recommends dropping a plan to charge for admission to the FIFA Fan Festival. The change will leave the City about $5.1 million short on covering festival costs, but they hope they can make that up with sponsorship or savings in other areas.
Across 22 days of the FIFA fan festival, staff are estimating that about 20,000 people a day will attend. About 15,600 will be free admission. About 3,900 a day will pay between $100 and $300 for premium VIP access. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Staff explain that the FIFA Fan Fest was originally planned as an unticketed free event, but now tickets will be required. Staff are pretty concerned about people securing free tickets and not showing up, but are developing a strategy to release extra tickets depending on crowds at Fort York.
City Manager Paul Johnson explains that the $10 ticket proposal for the FIFA Fan Festival came from some data that showed ten dollars was "not a fee that would prohibit the majority of Torontonians."
Bradford asks if the city has met its sponsorship target for the World Cup. Staff say they haven't met 100% of the target yet, but are still working to get more sponsorships.
Councillor Mike Colle defends staff working on the FIFA file, saying they've had hundreds of meetings and are dealing with a tough FIFA organization. "I don't know if you know anything about FIFA, but it is not the Sisters of Good Hope!"
"The Fan Fest ten dollars -- I haven't seen anything like it since the IKEA Monkey!" says Colle. "It's been way, way over the top." He agrees with trying to find a way to do free admission, but notes it comes at a cost.
"This is going to be very good for small business!" Colle declares of the FIFA World Cup. He says councillors should spend more time trying to get more event funding from Queen's Park and Ottawa. "Instead, councillors are worried about the IKEA Monkey — I don't get it."
Councillor Michael Thompson moves to authorize staff to sell ticket packages to the FIFA World Cup to corporations and other organizations. He suggests some councillors have been "Penny-wise, pound-foolish" with their objections to the proposed $10 ticket charge for the fan fest.
Councillor Matlow criticizes the whole FIFA bid process, noting the initial estimates of $35 million - $45 million to host the event were never realistic. "Boy, it really raises the question of whether the city should have entered that agreement in the first place," he says.
Councillor Jamaal Myers moves to have staff look for more traffic/parking changes that might help transit move better during the World Cup.
Councillor Bradford moves for a report in July on whether staff actually find enough sponsorship revenue to cover the increased cost of the FIFA Fan Fest.
Bradford accuses Chow of breaking a promise with the initial $10 ticket proposal for the FIFA Fan Festival, then rushing to reverse course after backlash. "The reality is what we have in front of us today is a rush job," he says.
"The reality is this administration has been leading this city for three years. The execution and delivery of the FIFA World Cup, regardless of how it came here to the city, still rests with the mayor today," says Bradford. He says Chow needs to stop blaming others and "take responsibility."
Councillor Stephen Holyday says he is opposed to free tickets for the FIFA Fan Fest. He worries the free tickets will just lead to a resale market where people are getting free tickets then flipping them for big $$$, "ripping off other Torontonians." He calls $10 a "nominal fee."
Councillor Lily Cheng says she is always fighting for "geographic equity." She says it's unfortunate that almost all the money for fan events is going to one big FIFA fan fest downtown. "We just don't get to celebrate in the same way as downtown residents get to."
Time to vote on FIFA. Councillor Thompson's motion authorizing staff to negotiate agreements with third parties to sell FIFA tickets CARRIES 22-0.
Bradford's motion for staff to report back in July on whether they actually got enough sponsorship revenue to help cover the $9 million increase to the Fan Festival budget CARRIES 21-1.
"He's driving," Nunziata explains, as some councillors seem confused about why Perruzza voted against that motion.
The committee recommendation to NOT charge for tickets to the FIFA Fan Fest CARRIES 18-3.
Perruzza now wants a do-over on the motion he voted against. "Please pay attention," Nunziata says. The re-vote on the Bradford motion CARRIES 22-0.
Up now: an item about the "Beautiful City" plan, which seeks to do just what it says on the tin. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Councillor Dianne Saxe wants to know what's different about changes to procurement, saying she is frustrated that Toronto contracts often go to "Big American companies who have done the same thing over and over again." She calls Toronto park designs "boring" and garbage cans "dreadful."
"There are so many ways in which people feel that the basic duty of the city to provide infrastructure that is functional and in decent condition is not being met," says Saxe. "Every single playground in my ward is boring, except for the illegal ones being done by the skateboard guys," she adds.
Councillor Matlow has a couple of Beautiful City motions. The first asks for a report on improving the city's bike lanes. Less temporary broken plastic bollards - more permanent material. He also wants staff to speed up the installation of sensors that let staff know when garbage bins are full.
"I've often said that in the past Toronto has reached the height of mediocrity when it comes to designing public spaces. Why do they have to all be concrete? Why can't they be beautifully designed? Why can't they be inspiring?" Matlow says.
Councillor Morley has some beautiful motions too. She wants a report on anti-graffiti coatings for murals, and an investigation into erosion along the Humber Bay Waterfront Trail.
"I remember arguing about setting a building back a little bit just to give a little bit more space onto the street for pedestrians. Because it doesn't have to be about Housing, Housing, Housing — building it all the time — it's about striking a balance," says Holyday of the "Beautiful City" plan.
All the Beautiful City motions CARRY via show of hands, including Matlow's Bike Lane motion. The report also CARRIES via show of hands.
And that wraps up Council's work for today. Back tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. Nunziata urges councillors to show up on time. There are 65 items left on the agenda. Up first: RentSafeTO renter protections. See you tomorrow.
Council is back. They're kicking things off today with a celebration of National Volunteer Week. Winners of the 2026 Community Champion Award will be recognized. After that: a debate on renter protections. Then: street lights. Watch live here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrXF...
Here are your winners of the 2026 Community Champion Award. They get name tags, not championship belts.
Chow takes the lectern to mark the ten-year anniversary of the Yonge Street van attack. She honours the victims and the first responders. She says work is underway on a permanent memorial at Olive Square Park. The design competition for the memorial will launch tomorrow.
Up now: RentSafeTO. The City is finally ready to launch a program requiring landlords to post colour-coded signage indicating the results of their building inspection. Here's what a red sign — the worst one —will look like. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
"Under my watch, no slumlord should be tolerated," says Chow, noting her work to improve conditions at 500 Dawes Road. "We hired contractors, and repairs have begun. We have now charged the landlord $200,000 in terms of fines that they have to pay."
"Let me be clear about who did that work. It was not the local councillor, who is now claiming credit in the media. It was tenants who refused to give up. It was city staff who acted when given the tools and the mandate. And it was my office and all of the city staff that showed up," says Chow.
(For context: the local rep for 500 Dawes is Councillor Brad Bradford.)
On the RentSafeTO item, Councillor Matlow moves to look at expanding the colour-coded signage program to "mixed-tenure" buildings that include both condos and rental units.
"I want to make sure that tenant concerns are reflected in the very window in which they live. That they finally know that they are being heard by city hall, and that their landlord is being held to account if they're being neglectful and uncaring," says Councillor Josh Matlow.
"Do you think there's a point where developers will no longer build purpose-built rental, if we regulate them out of existence?" Councillor Pasternak asks Matlow. Matlow says he hears developers are building more rental than ever before, given challenges with the condo market.
Councillor Holyday isn't happy about Matlow's motions. "I don't care for scofflaw landlords," he clarifies, "...but council, instead of dealing with property standards, is slipping itself into the relationship between landlord and tenant — which is the job of the provincial government."
"Really, what it is, is just the pursuit of socialism!" says Councillor Stephen Holyday of the RentSafeTO program, drawing big laughs from colleagues. "They chuckle because it's exposed. There's always that motivation in this stuff," says Holyday.
Councillor Brad Bradford says issues at 500 Dawes "have been going on for decades" and predate his time in office. "It's important that all of us here at city council are focused on getting the results to protect those tenants — and putting the politics of this one to the side," he says.
Listing some actions his office has taken to help tenants at 500 Dawes Road, Bradford responds to Chow's earlier comments. "To suggest that nothing has been done is ludicrous — it's also pretty insulting and disrespectful to city staff. And I'd appreciate it if some of my colleagues didn't do that"
"All of us need to resist the politicization of this," says Bradford on the issues at 500 Dawes. Yeah, imagine politicizing stuff.
Time to vote on RentSafeTO. Matlow's motion to review expanding the program to cover mixed-tenure buildings CARRIES 23-1.
The RentSafeTO report CARRIES 23-1. Colour-coded signs shaming bad landlords will be posted starting June 15.
Up now: streetlights, people. Staff are proposing a ten-year $577-million plan to replace the city's streetlights with new LEDs. The supporting infrastructure will be improved too. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
On the streetlight item, Councillor Lily Cheng has advance circulated a motion calling for staff to look at "smart poles" that would also offer wifi, monitor noise and air quality, and include EV chargers.
Noting the city's current streetlighting tends to prioritize lighting for cars, Councillor Dianne Saxe asks if the new lighting system will be "giving equal priority to all road and sidewalk users — cars are not the only ones that matter?" Staff say yes, lighting for all road users.
Councillor Nunziata asks if there are any ongoing plans to bury hydro wires as part of these streetlight upgrades. Staff say no plan to bury more wires specifically, but the work will allow the removal of some temporary poles/wires as existing non-functional underground infrastructure gets fixed.
Councillor Chris Moise moves to ensure any heritage streetlights maintain their heritage design as part of the LED upgrade.
Speaking to her smart pole motion, Councillor Lily Cheng heralds the "digital transformation" of cities. She says this streetlighting report "presents us with a window to consider how we can be a modern city, how we can lead, how we can innovate."
Councillor Myers asks about the public wifi part of Cheng's smart pole item. Myers says he remembers when NYC introduced a similar wifi program, people used it to "access inappropriate material in public." Cheng says she shares the concern, but staff have assured her the city uses content blockers.
Councillor Vince Crisanti moves to coordinate tree pruning with the streetlighting upgrade program.
Councillor Holyday moves to prioritize maintenance for streetlights that are "rapidly flickering."
Councillor Dianne Saxe moves to amend the Crisanti motion to make it clear council doesn't want to delay streetlight upgrades to wait for tree pruning. She's fine with coordinating things, but doesn't want to risk slowing down the LED upgrades.
Time to vote. Councillor Crisanti's motion, as amended by Saxe, to coordinate tree pruning with the streetlighting upgrades where possible, CARRIES 23-0.
All other bright idea motions on the streetlighting upgrade program CARRY via show of hands. Ten-year program to upgrade Toronto's streetlights to LEDs is APPROVED 23-0.
Up now: hot dog carts and other vending bylaws. Relish the moment. We'll see if council can cut the mustard. Something about ketchup. Council is being asked to drop a 24-year moratorium on downtown sidewalk vending permits and loosen rules for vending and busking. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Councillor Paula Fletcher is asking staff about a particular musical performer "who wants to be Rod Stewart" and performs on Queen East. She's concerned about the noise and the lack of enforcement.
Fletcher asks about performers who play music on the street but don't ask for money. Sometimes people complain about noise, she says. Staff say that's not a situation covered by the vending/busking bylaws — this is only about people who are looking to be paid for their performance.
I think I know too. Typically plays outside the Queen/Carlaw Shoppers these days. Loves his 80s tunes.
Councillor Holyday asks if these new vending rules would allow people to provide services on the sidewalk, like giving people haircuts or tattoos. Staff say providing services is specifically not allowed by this bylaw.
Councillor Michael Thompson asks if this bylaw would allow someone to plug in a vending machine on the sidewalk and sell stuff, noting Japan has all kinds of vending machines. Staff say no, the bylaw "envisions people."
Councillor Holyday has a trio of motions: 1) Ban vendors within 15 metres of TTC stations 2) Ban vendors from selling non-food items 3) If Motion 2 fails, analyze impact of allowing vending of non-food items.
"What I do worry about is people selling things on the side of the road that are things they couldn't or shouldn't sell in the store," says Holyday. He urges "extreme caution" of allowing vending of things other than food.
Councillor Fletcher is up to speak on the vending bylaw, but there are only a few minutes left before the lunch recess. "Councillor Fletcher, can you be quick?" She can't. She'll wait until after lunch. Council recesses until 2 p.m. See you back here then.
Council is back. During the break, Mayor Olivia Chow sent out a release saying she'll introduce a motion to strenuously oppose just-introduced provincial government legislation that would seize control of land around the island airport.
Dealing with some quick items, Council votes 17-1 to APPROVE installing a pedestrian crossover at Grand Avenue and Algoma Street in Councillor Amber Morley's ward. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
On a motion from Councillor Paula Fletcher, Council votes via show of hands to defer an item about the access system for affordable housing units to the next Council meeting in May. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
On to member motions. Councillor Alejandra Bravo's motion to improve pedestrian safety at Ossington Avenue and Dupont Street CARRIES via show of hands. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Councillor Lily Cheng's motion to work with the TTC on a "design standard" for subway stations, including platform doors, public washrooms, and bike parking, is added to the agenda via a 17-4 vote. They'll come back to it. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Councillor Fletcher's motion to support bringing back the Paddle the Don event for 2027 CARRIES via show of hands. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Councillor Lily Cheng's motion to again request the provincial and federal governments provide funds to build a Cummer Ave Station on the Yonge North subway extension makes the agenda after a 16-7 vote. Perks holds it for debate. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Councillor Moise's motion to consider a nightly closure of Barbara Hall park FAILS to make the agenda after a 6-17 vote. It'll go to the Economic & Community Development Committee. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Speaking to council from his car, Councillor Perruzza expresses frustration with the speaker after she doesn't let him put a hold on one of his member motions. Nunziata just moves on. "Cut him off," she says.
Councillor Josh Matlow's motion to ask the City Manager to advocate for continued door-to-door mail delivery (instead of community mailboxes) in Toronto CARRIES via show of hands. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Mayor Olivia Chow's motion to start construction of the Waterfront East LRT this year by speeding up preliminary work CARRIES via show of hands. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Mayor Olivia Chow adds her motion to the agenda titled "Opposing the Provincial Land Grab at Bathurst Quay and the Island." She also moves to debate it immediately. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
"Today the provincial government announced legislation to seize city land without our consent and without our input. Not just land on the island, but city land at Bathurst & Queens Quay. That includes Little Norway Park. They're going to pave it into a parking lot!" Chow says.
"This is what a power grab looks like! A province that doesn't like the answer we gave from an elected council representing 3.2 million people, so it changes the rules and takes what it wants," a fired-up Chow says. We've rarely seen her go this hard against the Ford gov.
"They are taking our land. They are paving our park. They are dismissing the democratic voice of this council. If they can do this at Little Norway Park, they can do it at any park in any neighbourhood in this city. And that is NOT acceptable," says Mayor Olivia Chow.
Councillor Holyday asks what staff know about the new provincial legislation re: land around the airport. Staff say the bill hasn't been posted yet. It should go up here at some point: www.ola.org/en/legislati...
Councillor Bradford seizes on part 6 of Chow's motion, which requests the province, upon request, cover the cost of moving residents who live within 500 metres of the airport to new homes. Bradford describes it as "strange." secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
"Could you land a provincial jet on this new road that would be created by this expropriation?" Councillor Paula Fletcher asks the City Manager. "That's definitely outside my wheelhouse," says Johnson.
City Manager Paul Johnson is visibly frustrated by this turn of events. Province surprise-drops news they plan to take some city land without providing him or anyone at City Hall any details. City is totally in the dark.
Councillor Jamaal Myers asks the City Solicitor about Charter City status. She says it's a city with constitutional status. There are none in Canada, but there are precedents around the world.
"It is conceivable that if Toronto were made a Charter City — particularly if it were made a constitutionally-recognized level of government alongside the provincial government — that, yes, the provincial government would have very limited authority over the City of Toronto," says City Solicitor.
Councillor Mike Colle shows a map of the airport and Little Norway Park. The provincial press release says they'd be looking at taking a third of the land area.
On the island airport item, Councillor Matlow moves for an "impact assessment" of the expropriation of Little Norway Park.
"The one thing Doug Ford has been consistent about is his love for jets. VERY consistent, in fact. He wants a jet on the island airport. He wants a jet in his driveway. He wants a jet at his condo in Florida. He wants a jet at his Muskoka cottage," says Councillor Josh Matlow.
Holyday says Council shouldn't be debating this item before seeing the actual provincial legislation. He says council is "more interested in fighting the government and acting as the opposition to the government than actually being objective."
Holyday says councillors are taking a NIMBY position on the island airport but are just fine with more jets flying out of Pearson. "Why on earth would we pick one over the other?"
Holyday, who has opposed nearly every aspect of the Expanding Housing Options in Neighbourhoods initiative, says, "The City can't get over its own NIMBY attitude on this airport." He adds that he'll "ignore this rubbish' and vote against Chow's motion.
Councillor Gord Perks moves to "develop a Waterfront colouring book and provide a copy to the Premier of Ontario." It's trolling time.
Councillor Pasternak says he wishes the speaker wouldn't allow these "nonsensical motions" and that the Clerk would "stop enabling this behaviour." He accuses Perks of waging a "smear campaign" against Ford.
Nunziata rules the colouring book motion out of order. "I guess I'll just have to make my own colouring book and mail it myself," says Perks. Perks says Lake Ontario and the waterfront are a "fantastically precious gift," but "we have a premier who can't resist the urge to scribble all over it."
Councillor Mike Colle moves for all Toronto MPs to go on record opposing the expropriation of Little Norway Park for island airport expansion. He says local MPs so far have been playing a "hide and seek game."
"Every single Member of Parliament — the Carney government — they need to stand up for our waterfront. They need to stand up for Toronto. It is your moment!" urges Councillor Paula Fletcher.
Time to vote. The City Solicitor’s report, on potential legal options to oppose the provincial takeover of the city's spot in the agreement governing the island airport, is APPROVED 24-1.
Matlow's motion for an impact assessment of the expropriation of Little Norway Park CARRIES 25-0.
Councillor Colle’s motion calling on Toronto MPs to oppose the expropriation of Little Norway Park for airport expansion CARRIES 22-3.
Part 1 of Chow's motion, calling for council to "express its strong opposition to the expropriation of any City land, including Little Norway Park", CARRIES 24-1.
Part 2 of Chow's motion, opposing "the compensation framework" in the new provincial legislation re: the island airport CARRIES 22-3.
Part 3 of Chow's motion, calling for the province to reimburse the city for all capital costs related to Little Norway Park over the last 40 years, CARRIES 25-0.
Part 4 of Chow's motion, calling for the province to fund replacement parkland for Little Norway Park CARRIES 25-0.
Part 5 of Chow's motion, to notify people affected by the loss of Little Norway Park, CARRIES 25-0.
Part 6 of Chow's motion, to request the province give residents within 500 metres of the expropriation the option to move (with the province covering all relocation costs) CARRIES 17-8.
Part 7 of Chow's motion, to request the province compensate any rec sports leagues affected by the Little Norway Park expropriation, CARRIES 21-4.
Part 8, feeling great. Chow's motion to request staff review all Toronto Port Authority leases in anticipation of the expropriation CARRIES 24-1.
Part 9, doing fine. Chow's motion to request the federal government disallow the expropriation of Little Norway Park CARRIES 20-5.
Part ten, near the end. Chow's motion to ask the City Solicitor to explore all legal options to oppose the expropriation CARRIES 21-4.
Part eleven, closer to heaven. Chow's motion to request the province work collaboratively on waterfront development CARRIES 24-1. "Who would oppose this?" you might ask. But you already know.
Part twelve, further we delve. Chow's motion to request staff appear before any public hearings about the expropriation CARRIES 24-1.
Part 13, feeling pristine. Chow's motion for staff to submit written comments to any consultations about the expropriation CARRIES 24-1.
Part 14, done with rhymes. Chow's motion to ensure the city bears no costs associated with complying with the provincial legislation re: the island airport CARRIES 25-0.
That completes the island airport debate. For now. Council moves on to quick items. Pasternak's motion to improve communications about film shoots with explosions, following some concern about an explosive Drake music video shoot at Downsview, CARRIES via show of hands.
After that long, surprising interlude, Council returns to debating hot dogs. And sidewalk vending and busking. Deputy Mayor Malik moves to work with the Financial District BIA on potential special restrictions on vending and busking in the area.
On street vending, Councillor Paula Fletcher moves for a report on ways to deal with musical performances where the musicians aren't seeking payment. She again mentions people with amps doing "Rod Stewart work."
Time to vote. Councillor Holyday's motion to NOT allow non-food vending as part of the new vending & busking bylaw FAILS 3-19.
All other motions on the vending & busking item CARRY via show of hands. So does the item as amended. Hot dog. We have a weiner. After 24 years, Toronto's temporary moratorium on new downtown hot dog cart vending permits is over.
Up now: a related item about a staff plan to do a pilot project this summer where vendors will be permitted to sell food and (non-alcoholic) drinks in a select group of parks. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Nunziata gets staff to clarify that councillors can opt-out having vending in parks. They can. Nunziata says that's good, because she has issues in her parks already with "music going on, they're barbequing, there's food and garbage. This really concerns me that this could cause bigger problems."
An unused park is a clean park, I guess. But seems like it misses the point of having a park.
Councillor Dianne Saxe says she recently spoke with a Grade 4 class, and they were enthusiastic about more food options in parks. "Their #1 request was more ice cream. Their #2 request was water guns."
Saxe worries, though, that the city is creating a "big problem" by not building the cost of providing enhanced litter pick-up into the permit fees for vendors. She wants staff to be cautious with this pilot project and "watch it like a hawk"
Councillor Matlow has a motion to create a "park kiosk" pilot in his ward, with other wards permitted to opt in. He notes he was one of the first champions of allowing alcohol in parks, "and the sky didn't fall." "We've got to loosen up a little bit," he says.
Councillor Mantas asks Matlow if he can include his ward in the kiosk pilot too. He wants to have the first one in Scarborough. Matlow welcomes him aboard.
Deputy Mayor Malik moves to make sure the pavilion in Sherbourne Common is included as part of the vending-in-parks pilot. She notes the building was designed for this purpose, but has never had a vendor in place.
Mayor Olivia Chow moves to champion the vending-in-parks pilot project. She says it'll give "small businesses a new place to grow" and give families "access to good, local food."
All motions on the park vending item CARRY via show of hands. Pilot project allowing food vending in some parks will start on June 25. List of parks TBA.
Councillor Neethan Shan's motion to look at establishing a "racial justice program advisory body" and supporting community initiatives that target structural racism CARRIES 17-1. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
With that, Council takes a quick break for dinner. They'll be back at 6:30 p.m. to polish off the 12 items left on the agenda. The end, as they say, is nigh.
Council is back, sort of. It's a very sparse room. Still, doings are transpiring. You can watch the special evening meeting stream here: www.youtube.com/live/bglOfzl...
Nunziata is very unhappy about the lack of attendance, suggesting councillors who don't show up should maybe be docked pay. If any more councillors leave, she says, they won't have a quorum. Some councillors are attending virtually, like Councillor Bradford. He appears to be in a blurry car.
Up now, while quorum lasts: an item about the provincial Transit Oriented Communities plan. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Councillor Morley moves to request Metrolinx provide an update on the status of a new Mimico GO Station. She says the current old station has "limited customer access and insufficient parking, along with a large neighbouring hole in the ground where a housing development should have been."
Councillor Gord Perks laments the provincial process behind these Transit-Oriented Communities. "Frankly, the very name is just a branding exercise. It really should be 'things the province has screwed up.' That's what we should call them."
The TOC item and all motions moved CARRIES via show of hands. Up now: the Congestion Management Plan update. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Here's the state of the attendance record for this evening session of council, as councillors discuss their traffic plan. 15 of 26 in attendance.
TTC rep Josh Colle says they've seen increases in ridership on Bathurst, Dufferin, the Eglinton LRT and the Finch West LRT following the implementation of transit lanes and signal priority. "If transit is fast and more reliable, we're seeing the shift."
Councillor Josh Matlow moves for staff to develop some strategies to avoid delays for transit vehicles when entering or exiting stations.
Matlow's motion to look at ways to eliminate delays for transit vehicles entering or exiting stations CARRIES 16-1.
The recommendations in the congestion management plan update related to accelerating transit signal priority installation and reducing road closure fees for affordable housing projects are APPROVED by Council 15-2.
The rest of the Congestion Management Plan recommendations CARRY via show of hands. Up now: a sponsorship deal to install smart lockers in parks that would give people access to balls and other sporting equipment. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Here's what the park lockers will look like. Councillor Fletcher heralds some work at committee to ensure there will be lockers at parks in all 25 wards. Holyday hopes some of the lockers will have pickleball equipment and discs for disc golf.
Councillor Mike Colle has a motion, but he's mad that the font size on the screen is so small. "Could somebody please FIX the font!" They make the text bigger. Nunziata suggests he do what she does and just print everything out.
The sponsorship deal to place free lockers with sporting equipment in Toronto parks is APPROVED 16-1. A different one.
Up now: a 27-storey development proposed for Councillor Perruzza's ward. He's not a fan. "It's not good planning. And at some point, we have to make a stand." secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Council does not agree with Perruzza re: it being time to take a stand. They vote narrowly to APPROVE the development, 9-6. Uh, moving on.
Up now: should the city reimburse Councillor Chris Moise's legal costs related to his recent Code of Conduct investigation? Councillor Holyday has concerns. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
The backstory: Moise incurred $28,105.93 in legal costs defending himself during an Integrity Commissioner investigation. The Integrity Commish found he violated the Code of Conduct, but council didn't adopt the finding. Now Moise is seeking reimbursement for those legal costs.
The debate so far: lots of questions to legal staff about what exactly the policy is related to councillor legal costs and Integrity Commissioner investigations. Much confusion.
Councillor Holyday moves to deny Moise's reimbursement of legal costs and review the policy on covering legal costs.
Councillor Fletcher, meanwhile, moves to defer the whole matter to the next council meeting. That CARRIES 11-4. Council will again debate Moise's legal costs at their next meeting in May.
With three items left on the agenda and quorum basically held together by duct tape, Councillor Perks suggests deferring the rest of the agenda until next month. That CARRIES via show of hands. This meeting is over.
Kind of an anticlimax, I know. But we had fun, didn't we? Kind of? If you enjoyed all 210 posts (!!!) in this thread, the best way to say thanks is to consider buying a subscription to my newsletter. It keeps this kind of indie local coverage going. toronto.cityhallwatcher.com/subscribe