Toronto Council meets today! It's the last and final meeting of 2024. There will be debates about things like rental housing, rideshare wages and SmartTrack (whatever that is). It starts at 9:30 a.m. It streams live here. I will post happenings. www.youtube.com/watch?v=_APr...
For a full preview of the agenda, which also features items about the future of the Scarborough RT corridor, the next phase of waterfront work, and legalizing corner stores, check out Friday's free bonus edition of City Hall Watcher. toronto.cityhallwatcher.com/p/smarttrack...
In this week's regular edition of City Hall Watcher, I've got a timely update to the COUNCIL SCORECARD with a look at how often councillors vote with Mayor Olivia Chow. And a look at the looming mid-term committee shuffle. Consider it your pregame show. toronto.cityhallwatcher.com/p/city-counc...
Oh wait, my inbox tells me, in fact, there will be one more 2024 Council meeting after this — a special Council meeting on Friday at 9 a.m. to approve the new deal with CUPE 416. It should be quick. It damn well better be quick.
Before they get down to business this morning, Council will take some time to pay tribute to departing Medical Officer Dr. Eileen de Villa. She played a major role in guiding the city through the pandemic. She also wore a lot of scarves.
Dr. de Villa takes the lectern after a warm introduction from the mayor. "It has truly been the privilege of a lifetime serving as Toronto's Medical Officer of Health," she says. After eight years on the job, she's "ready for a rest — and a new chapter."
De Villa says her "final prescription" for Toronto is for unity. She says the private, public and not-for-profit sectors worked together during the pandemic, and that kind of collaboration should really be a permanent thing.
De Villa also says Toronto's public service workers are exhausted and still recovering from the demands of the pandemic and the last few years. "So I recommend a focus as well on the well-being of the Toronto Public Service. They are the backbone of the city's operations."
Nunziata credits Dr. de Villa for coming along and holding her hand when she got the COVID vaccine. "I was petrified," Nunziata says. For that and many other reasons, the departing medical officer gets a standing ovation from council.
Councillor Nunziata wants a quick recorded vote on the interim hike to garbage fees. Vote to raise fees 3.75% effective January 1 CARRIES 19-4. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Via show of hands, Council votes to approve the appointment of longtime NDP power player Brian Topp to the Hydro Board. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Council votes 21-2 to exempt new rooming house units from having to pay parkland dedication fees. Holyday had concerns. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
The housekeeping is done. Up first for debate are a pair of road safety items: an update to the Vision Zero plan designating more community safety zones, and a policy to retrofit city vehicles with sideguards.
Mayor Olivia Chow tells the tragic story of Jenna Morrison, who was killed by a truck driver while cycling in 2011. "At the time, I promised her family I would do something about installing sideguards on trucks." She says sideguards can reduce fatalities by 60%.
Councillor Rachel Chernos Lin moves to request (again) that the federal Transport Minister require all commercial vehicles to have sideguards. City has power to retrofit its own fleet, but needs feds to make regulations re: private vehicles.
Councillor Chernos Lin also moves for Transportation staff to look at speeding up the process of reducing local speed limits across the city. "The data is conclusive: slowing traffic down saves lives," she says.
Councillor Holyday has motions on Road Safety, but don't worry they're fine. He wants councillors to have access to the collision report database. He also wants to accelerate the implementation of speed limit reductions in the Eatonville Neighbourhood.
But alas, Councillor Nunziata rules Holyday's motion about reducing speed limits in Eatonville out of order. It's a local community council issue, so he needs to bring it up at one of those meetings.
Councillor Mike Colle shows off this chart of killed or seriously injured road users from 2000 through 2023. "These investments that we've made through Vision Zero — all these speed cameras, red light cameras, speed limit reductions — they have saved lives."
All remaining motions carry via show of hands. The updated Vision Zero plan is ADOPTED 21-0.
Council votes 22-0 to APPROVE policy of retrofitting city trucks with sideguards. Next step: finding $5.7 million in the budget to do the work. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Up now: a report on the continued effort to make Toronto a "public developer." No debate, but Councillor Holyday wants separate votes on some of the report recommendations. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Whoops, cancel the vote. Actually, Councillor Bradford has questions for staff, so it looks like we will get a bit of debate on the public developer item.
Bradford wants to know the salary range for the Executive Director of the new Housing Development Office that will be tasked with public development. Staff say it'd be similar to other executive positions but don't offer a number. Bradford seems concerned about adding bureaucracy
For handy reference, here's the new corporate/bureaucratic structure being planned for housing-related stuff at City Hall with this report.
Council has to press pause on their Housing Development Office debate, because it's class picture day at City Hall. They've got to take a group photo at 12:30. Nunziata says she hopes everyone got the memo re: formalwear. Some did, at least.
Before the break and the photo, Council takes a sec to approve the bill confirming Dr. Na-Koshie Lamptey as the Acting Medical Officer of Health, effective January 1. She's currently the Deputy Officer. The process for recruiting a permanent top doc continues.
And that takes us to the lunch break. Council will be back at 2 p.m. They're scheduled to debate the next steps of the rental housing incentive program. A new report says they received lots of applications. See you in 90 minutes or so.
Council is back, finally. And look, I spy the Grey Cup in the chamber. They are set to celebrate the CFL Champion Toronto Argonauts for their football accomplishments. Mayor Chow takes the lectern and yells "ARRRRRRGOS." Some councillors respond, saying, "Arrrrrgos."
Michael "Pinball" Clemons, GM of the Arrrrrgos, is here. "Tell us the magic - teach us how to win!" Chow asks as she invites him to take the lectern for a few comments.
Pinball tells Chow and Council the secret to winning is to have a great head AND a great heart. He doesn't say anything about other body parts but I think they're useful too.
"Losing is the fast track to winning — know that," says Pinball Clemons. "We learn more oftentimes from our losses than we do from our wins." He closes by quoting MLK Jr: "Power, at its best, is love. The two are synonymous."
Councillors want to take a photo around the Grey Cup. Councillor Perruzza hoists it on his shoulder. "Don't drop it!" implores Councillor Chris Moise. He doesn't. Everyone then says cheese or their customary equivalent.
The wins just keep coming. Councillor Matlow announces that Councillor Parthi Kandavel just welcomed a new baby to the family.
Up now: the results are in from the initial application intake for the rental housing incentive program approved at the last Council meeting. Staff are recommending awarding about $458 million worth of incentives for these 17 projects, with 7,175 rentals. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
With provincial and federal money and financing support, the city says it could approve another 58 submitted applications under the rental incentive program to create 24,450 more homes.
Councillor Bradford when trying to ask questions of housing staff is frustrated after Nunziata shuts off his microphone after his time runs out. "I gave you an extra minute — and you were not allowing the staff to answer, and you were being very rude," explains Nunziata.
Staff clarify that council already approved, via delegated authority, these applications to the rental incentive program when they approved this program in November. This report is really an FYI plus approval of an extra 528 rentals beyond the original scope.
"Members, congratulations — this is literally the fastest and most successful affordable housing project in the City of Toronto in living memory, if not ever," says Councillor Gord Perks. He congratulates the mayor and staff on a "job well done."
Continuing his victory lap, Perks says groups RESCON & BILD said this program wouldn't work. He says RESCON claimed no one would apply because of requirement to include 20% affordable units. "A key lesson there - don't believe the industry when they say they need more subsidy."
"The claims from the development industry should be taken not just with a grain of salt, or a lick of salt, but a whole steamboat full of salt," Perks says, arguing city hall housing staff are better at offering real numbers about the cost of building new housing.
In her speech, Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik points out that one of the successful applicants to this rental housing incentive program is phase one of Quayside — the waterfront land formerly eyed for the Sidewalk Toronto "Smart City" scheme. The saga continues.
Councillor Stephen Holyday decries the almost half-billion dollar cost of this rental housing incentive program, arguing this is just subsidizing "selected" developers, some of whom would be building anyway. He calls it an "income redistribution scheme."
Councillor Bradford says Toronto is in the middle of a "housing starts crisis." "Folks are pretty happy to take a victory lap but I can't square that with the numbers or the lack of progress," he says.
Bradford says with the tight timeline and short application window, he doesn't have confidence the city has identified the best applications that are most likely to actually get built. He's frustrated this report was only published six hours ago.
Bradford says he'd prefer a simpler policy, where the city would simply "waive development charges on a time-limited period for any applicant that wants to come forward and build purpose-built rental."
"Yes, the housing starts have stopped, why? It's because interest rates are too high. It's not because we didn't approve them on time," says Chow. "Financially, it's difficult right now for rental buildings to get started." She says this program "leads the way" to address that.
Chow points out this half-billion in incentives isn't money the city has right now -- it's money the city would theoretically get if these projects all went forward, but, well, they're not going forward. This project encourages them to go forward, by waiving fees.
Bradford asks Chow why this incentive program is better than just providing general relief to development charges and other fees for builders. "We don't have the financial capacity to do so," Chow says.
Holyday asks Chow about how the city is going to pay for infrastructure needs if we're letting these developers off the hook from development charges and reducing their property taxes. "Ah, I thought you're from a school of thought that believes in 'axing the tax!'" Chow says.
The update to the rental housing incentive program, which we now know has approved 17 applications with 7,175 rental units, is APPROVED 22-3.
Council has jumped back to the earlier item about the city setting up a housing development office. Holyday has concerns. "If the for-profit development industry is struggling so much, how are we supposed to give it a go ourselves as a public entity?"
Councillor Mike Colle has a long five-part motion. Among other things, it asks the mayor to look at whether there's any opportunity to use her 'strong mayor' powers to expedite the delivery of housing.
Councillor Gord Perks lauds this report and public developer process. He says previously the city was "frustrated and unable to move on affordable housing", but now it's moving toward being "quite possibly, itself, the biggest developer in the country."
"Government isn't slow. Government is fast and effective," says Perks. "By relying on the private market, as we did for the last 20 years, we built too much of the wrong thing and not enough of what Torontonians actually need."
"The public builder approach is an ideological one," says Bradford. He disagrees that you need to build bureaucracy to build housing. "Government never does it faster and for less money." "It's a lot of talk but not a lot of action," he says. Sounds like a campaign slogan.
Colle's motion for a report back and more consultation on the new housing development office CARRIES 24-1.
Colle's motion to request Chow look at ways to use her strong mayor powers to expedite the delivery of affordable housing CARRIES 16-9.
Council votes 24-0 to APPROVE a land lease deal to bring a non-profit School of Music to the Jane-Finch neighbourhood. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Council is now debating the Auditor General's 2025 workplan. Councillors Fletcher and Perks aren't happy that a follow-up forensic investigation into the PayIt procurement isn't in the plan. AG says that investigation is subject to her office getting an extra $150K in the budget.
"I need to be able to convince the people that I represent that we not only spend money wisely and efficiently here, but that we spend it without corruption. And as of today, I cannot tell the people I represent that," says Perks, of the need for a deeper audit into PayIt.
Auditor General workplan is APPROVED 19-5. Forensic investigation into the PayIt deal will remain contingent on a budget enhancement. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Council is motoring through this agenda. They just approved the new EDGE business incentive program, a replacement for the old IMIT business incentive program, with no debate via a show-of-hands vote. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Up now: a report on temperature standards for rental units. The city has long required landlords to maintain an indoor temperature minimum. This report recommends commissioning analysis of the potential to also implement a maximum temp of 26 degrees. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
"We don't accept that there should be rats in people's soup, right?" asks Councillor Matlow to the Medical Officer of Health. Dr. de Villa says yes, no rats in soup. Matlow is arguing that a potential maximum temp bylaw would be similar — a reasonable rule for public health
Councillor Holyday points to stats in the report showing that while only 8.2% of rental buildings provide AC, most (94%) allow tenants to install window units. He's worried a maximum temperature bylaw will just add more regulation for landlords.
This temperature debate gets put on ice. Council has to break for the evening because there's a Hannukah reception in the city hall rotunda starting at 6 p.m.
Council will return tomorrow at 9:30 a.m, with 60 items left on this agenda. First order of business will be... a tribute to the workers and other people who helped things run smoothly when Taylor Swift was in town. Sure, okay! See you back here then, for that.
Council is back for day two. As mentioned, they'll start today with a salute to those who helped run things during the Taylor Swift shows. After that, they're scheduled to tackle a report on rideshare driver wages. Today's meeting stream is here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJuQ...
Mayor Olivia Chow says she visited the city "event command centre" for the Taylor Swift shows on the last night. "I was there, I witnessed it, and I thought, 'wow!'" She adds that Taylor's tour coordinator was very impressed with Toronto's work.
Chow asks those involved in helping to run things smoothly during the Taylor Swift shows to stand for recognition. And here they are. Some of them, anyway.
Council turns its attention to rideshare driver wages. An academic study using city-provided data found that wages are less than six bucks per hour once expenses are considered, though the platforms dispute the numbers. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
At Executive Committee, Mayor Olivia Chow added a recommendation to "initiate a communications and intergovernmental campaign focusing on raising the floor for gig workers." Councillor Brad Bradford, via questions to staff, is arguing this isn't really in the city's jurisdiction.
Councillor Gord Perks asks City Manager Paul Johnson about the various subsidy programs the city offers for low-income people. "There's a strong correlation that says we would have fewer of these subsidy programs if people just had the right wage," says Johnson.
Councillor Holyday asks how much this gig worker wage campaign would cost. City Manager says there's a range of costs for ad campaigns. "Have you got a drawer full of money in your office to pay for this?" Holyday asks. "I can confirm I do not have a drawer full of money."
Councillor Jon Burnside moves for a report on what would be required to do a data analysis of taxi driver wages. Lack of digital meters has been a barrier to getting the kind of data the city needs.
Bradford says this debate about rideshare wages is about the mayor trying to save face after she tried and failed twice to impose a license cap on the number of drivers. Ads will be costly and province already has legislation on gig work. "Let's give our heads a shake," he says.
"I want to use my comments to unmask what I think is a deeper philosophical conversation. I think it's about defining what a proletariat is," says Councillor Stephen Holyday. Huh. Well. Okay. Did anyone have "proletariat" on their Council Bingo card?
Colle: "How many here would work for six or seven bucks an hour in Toronto traffic? And the other thing is then we've got unlimited number of ebike drivers, delivering food because the people won't get out of their house to walk down the street to get something to eat!"
"Imagine the life of a driver. They drive around, and a third of the time, the car's empty. They work day in and day out. They get sick, they get no pay. They have no health benefits," says Mayor Olivia Chow. "How can anyone in Toronto survive with six dollars an hour?"
"This is a season where we talk about hope," says Mayor Chow, adding that surely Toronto and Ontario could have similar rideshare rules to NYC. "I think it's our responsibility to do something, say something, and push for it — because we cannot turn a blind eye to injustice."
Bradford wants to ask Chow about her attempts to institute a rideshare license cap. Perks and Bravo rise on points of order to say the rideshare cap item isn't before council today. "I just want to suggest this belongs in his media scrum he's going to do after," says Bravo.
Nunziata, the newly-appointed Vice Chair of the Planning & Housing Committee, agrees with the points of order and shuts down Bradford, the previous Vice Chair. Politics!
Time to vote. Councillor Burnside's motion for a report on what it would take to do a similar study of taxi driver wages CARRIES 21-2.
The rideshare driver wage item is APPROVED 21-2. City Manager has been asked to do a communications campaign advocating for higher gig worker wages.
After passing this amendment by Councillor Paula Fletcher calling for more density and affordable housing, Council votes via show of hands to approve report on next phase of waterfront revitalization. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Council dips back into their debate about indoor temperatures in rental units, and the potential for setting a new rule for a maximum temperature of 26 degrees. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Councillor Dianne Saxe moves to have staff report on "avoidable sources of indoor heat" in rental units like "fossil gas stoves."
"I'm alarmed that some voices in this conversation have said, 'hold on, hold on, this is going to make it more expensive for landlords!'" says Councillor Perks. He points out things like the fire code and building code also raise costs for landlords, but no one thinks twice.
Councillor Saxe's motion to report on avoidable sources of heat in rental units, like gas stoves, CARRIES 18-4.
Recommendation to report back on implementing a 26 degree maximum temperature, and to request the province amend the RTA to introduce a max temp, CARRIES 21-1.
Council votes via show of hands to adopt a motion from Councillor Dianne Saxe to look at raising some charitable funds to do environmental protection work on Toronto Islands. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Council votes 19-0 to APPROVE a revamped Affordable Home Ownership program, raising the eligibility threshold to households who make up to ~$160,000 per year. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Wow. In a big surprise, Council has just voted to receive and take no action on the Ombudsman's report on the 2022-2023 decision to deny refugees access to the shelter system. No debate and no recorded vote. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
The receipt motion on the Obudsman's report from Councillor Paula Fletcher was slipped in right before the lunch break. The report, focusing on refugee access to shelter beds, was previously scheduled for debate later this afternoon — now that debate won't happen.
Anyway, that brings us to the matter of lunch. Council will return at 2 p.m., with 49 items left to deal with, including 37 member motions that should mostly go pretty quick. See you back here soon.
Council is back from lunch. They're kicking things off with a presentation honouring TTC driver Marc Torres, who rescued passengers from a burning car after a collision in October. He's in the chamber with his family today to be honoured for his service.
Thompson rises on a point of order about the decision before lunch to dispense with the Ombudsman report. "What a shameful act that has taken place today ... to waive this particular matter, not to deal with it. In fact, we're treating dogs better than people in this city."
Thompson wants to re-open the Ombudsman report item so it can be properly debated. But a motion to re-open is DEFEATED 9-14.
Fletcher suggests as an alternative, a bunch of councillors and staff have a meeting with staff to "iron some of these things out" regarding the Ombudsman report. "Maybe there'll be something that comes back to council, but I think that's the most appropriate way to do that."
"I must tell you, I had a hard time reading this report and for this council to just allow it to pass like that, it's just shameful," Councillor Thompson says again regarding the Ombudsman report on refugee access to shelter beds.
Councillor Dianne Saxe's motion for a report on allowing trailers to serve coffee and baked goods CARRIES via show of hands. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Councillor Bradford's motion for a report on "nuisance lighting" CARRIES 17-5. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Councillor Matlow's motion to establish an advisory board to look at ways to give Toronto more autonomy and powers FAILS to get the votes it needs to make the agenda. Vote was 13-10. It needed a two-thirds majority. It will be referred to Exec Committee. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Councillor Ainslie's motion to support a high-speed rail connection between Toronto and NYC CARRIES via show of hands. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Councillor Pasternak's motion to oppose the President-elect's proposed tariffs on Canadian goods CARRIES via show of hands. Now that Toronto Council has weighed in, I think Trump will probably reconsider. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Councillor Thompson's motion requesting the federal government respond to Trump's tariffs by slapping tariffs on goods like "delivery trucks and automobiles and auto parts that regularly conceal smuggled firearms" CARRIES 20-2. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Mayor Olivia Chow's motion to issue more licenses to water taxi operators serving Toronto Islands and improve water taxi service CARRIES via show of hands. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
After the member motion run through, there are now just 14 items left on this council agenda. At the end of the tunnel, light.
Up now: the Shelter Safety Action Plan. Staff have put together a 36-month plan designed to reduce violence and improve safety for both shelter users and staff. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Mayor Olivia Chow asks staff about the federal funding plan for refugees in shelters. Staff confirm Ottawa is funding 95% of costs this year, but plan to reduce that to 75% next year and then to 50% the year after.
Councillor Nick Mantas asks if the federal government is being a "fair and honest partner" to the city re: refugee funding. "We're very concerned about what this signal means for the future funding of this program," staff say, diplomatically.
"Do you think that property taxpayers should be the source of primary funding for asylum seekers in our city?" Councillor Lily Cheng asks General Manager of Shelters Gord Tanner. "The shelter system in Toronto cannot support the immigration system of Canada," responds Tanner.
On the shelter item, Councillor Amber Morley moves for shelter supervisors and managers to complete appropriate anti-Black racism incident management training."
Councillor Alejandra Bravo moves to accelerate the expansion of the specialized refugee shelter system. Motion also asks council to reconfirm commitment to make shelter beds available to everyone regardless of status.
"It is really frustrating to try to explain to people that you can't arrest your way out of the homeless crisis," notes Councillor Mike Colle. "I think the premier now says he's going to fine homeless people $10,000 — how in the hell is that going to work?"
"I saw first-hand how the Ukranian refugees were treated versus how Black people from Africa were treated when they came here," says Councillor Chris Moise. "I hope there were lessons learned from that."
Mayor Olivia Chow moves to call on the feds to reverse planned changes that'll reduce access to housing assistance for refugees, and to provide a "welcoming response" and "coordinated national system" for all refugee arrivals.
Bravo's motion to accelerate expansion of specialized refugee shelter system and housing options CARRIES 23-0.
Recommendation to request the province allow all self-injection sites to continue to operate CARRIES 18-4.
The Chow and Morley motions CARRY via show of hands. Remainder of safe shelter strategy item CARRIES 21-1.
Up now: SmartTrack. Still a thing! But increasingly less of a thing. Because of cost increases, staff are recommending axing two of the remaining stations in the plan, at King-Liberty and Finch-Kennedy. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
This is, obviously, quite a change from the original 2014 SmartTrack plan pitched by John Tory. That one had 22 stations. Ah, memories.
Councillor Myers asks why Metrolinx's costs for building these SmartTrack stations keep going up. Staff say Metrolinx blames labour market conditions & interest rates. Myers asks if Council can request a third-party audit. Staff say council can request, but province has to agree.
Councillor Bravo asks about the status of a pedestrian bridge that was promised as part of the King-Liberty SmartTrack station. Staff confirm that if the station is removed from the plan, the bridge will be, too.
Councillor McKelvie wants to know why the details of the SmartTrack cost overruns can't be public. "Has Metrolinx explained to us why there is a significant overrun and why they will not make that public?" Staff say Metrolinx's view is this is "commercially confidential" info.
"How long are we going to continue calling this SmartTrack?" Councillor Josh Matlow asks transit staff. "Do you really want me to answer that?" responds Derek Toigio of the Transit Expansion Office. "Maybe it should be PastTrack," says Speaker Nunziata.
Councillor Mike Colle asks what happens if Council just decides to walk away from this whole SmartTrack thing. Toigo says the signed agreement says the City would still be on the hook to pay for costs that have occurred to date, and potentially other costs going forward.
Councillor Bravo moves to ask Metrolinx to continue plans for a pedestrian/cycling connection between Sudbury Street and Joe Shuster Way, even if the King-Liberty SmartTrack station gets the axe.
"This is the worst deal possible. This is not SmartTrack. PastTrack is what one person suggested, but I think it's time that we face that this is a failure that has had real material consequences," says Bravo.
"We have to also be very clear that our previous mayor locked us into this bad deal — paying for more than half of the costs of a provincial project of transit infrastructure that we will neither own nor operate," says Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik.
Councillor Jennifer McKelvie has two motions making requests of the province. She wants Queen's Park to step up and at least match the city's contribution to the SmartTrack project. She also wants them to conduct a third-party review of the Metrolinx cost estimates.
Councillor Nick Mantas moves to have the City Manager tell the province that Toronto really really wants the Finch-Kennedy SmartTrack station, and that costs have already been incurred doing prep work.
Quick digression, as Mayor Olivia Chow moves for council take a break at 6 p.m. and come back at 6:30 p.m. to try to finish up this agenda tonight. That CARRIES 19-3.
Councillor Gord Perks moves to rename all five SmartTrack Stations: - Boondoggle Station - Too Good to Be True Station - Won't Get Fooled Again Station - Ever Get the Feeling You've Been Cheated Station - Tory's Folly Station
"We gave away a really good future for the City of Toronto for fairy dust," says Gord Perks, blasting former mayor John Tory for disrupting transit plans to shoehorn in his SmartTrack scheme.
Nunziata rules Perks' renaming motion out of order. "If we're pleading with the province for funding, I don't think this is the way to do it," she explains. Holyday says Perks was wrong to name Tory in his motion, and wants Nunziata to strike it from the minutes.
Pasternak is also very offended by Perks' motion. "This brings this whole chamber into repute." He also wants this expunged from the official meeting minutes. The Clerk says he can't edit the minutes. Seriously, though. I've already posted about it, guys. It belongs to history.
"We actually do in this chamber name things after politicians all the time," notes Perks. "You may not like that that's how I feel, but I have a right to move that motion, and you have the right to rule it out of order."
"All of this money could have been spent on so many other things, but instead it is being given to the province of Ontario to build stations they would have paid for anyways. This is Exhibit A for why politicians should not plan transit expansions," says Myers of SmartTrack.
"When it becomes clear that it's stupid, accept stupid and move on!" thunders Councillor Anthony Perruzza about the SmartTrack plan. "You can't fix stupid!" "We just keep doing stupid!"
The SmartTrack vote will have to wait, as it's almost time for the dinner break. But before they go, after a few tiny tweaks, Council votes via show of hands to approve the slate of mid-term appointments to committees and boards. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
That'll do it for now — back at 6:30 or so to see if Council has what it takes to finish off the remaining 12 items on the agenda.
The bells are ringing, and councillors are sloooowly trickling back in for their evening session. The new meeting livestream is here. Viewer discretion is advised. www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWNR...
Back to SmartTrack. Councillor Mike Colle moves to begin the process of ending the City's support and funding for SmartTrack.
"Where did Toronto's money go? They won't tell us! So we've got a partner that we're paying the bill for, that won't tell us where the money went. Let's see the list of consultants!" demands Colle. "We are not doing right by the taxpayers of Toronto by continuing this charade."
Saying he shares the frustration with Metrolinx, Councillor Matlow asks Colle if he'd consider withdrawing the motion. Matlow says these stations are still useful, if the province pays. "The time for appeasement is over. Appeasement doesn't work with Metrolinx," Colle says.
McKelvie asks Colle if maybe her motion is more productive than his. "No, because Metrolinx doesn't believe in accountability and transparency - that's been proven!" "I'm asking them to stop fooling and farting around," McKelvie says. "They're not going to do that," Colle says
In an alternate universe, John Tory is still the sitting mayor for this SmartTrack debate. I wonder how that's going.
"Debates like this take away our credibility," says Councillor James Pasternak. He's still salty about the Perks renaming motion, saying if the province is watching this it's exactly the kind of thing that makes them want to just take over transit planning.
After much cajoling, Councillor Colle withdraws his motion to defund SmartTrack. "You said it was stupid — I'm withdrawing it," explains Colle to Nunziata. But Perruzza wants a recorded vote on whether to withdraw. The withdrawal CARRIES 19-4.
All other SmartTrack motions CARRY via show of hands. The report as amended CARRIES 20-3.
Councillor Matlow rises to say he made a mistake in his vote to receive the Ombudsman report without debate. He wants to re-open it so he can make amends, but Nunziata rules that it's not possible because Councillor Thompson isn't present? Weird! Anyway, they move on.
Councillor Holyday rises to ask Nunziata if she'd consider adjourning this session. He's worried that council is getting too silly to responsibly deal with the serious items left on the agenda. Nunziata takes that under advisement. The meeting continues.
Up now: the City's response to public demonstrations. Staff are recommending Council commission a report on a new bylaw that could lead to "bubble zones" restricting protests around some types of institutions and buildings. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
"When I hear a lot of the battle cry for protests and charter rights, I get the impression that the charter rights are for the hateful mob, and not for the rest of us ... who are charter rights for?" wonders Pasternak. "Charter rights are for everybody," the City Solicitor says.
"Would workers who are striking at a religious school be caught in this?" Myers asks of "bubble zone" bylaw. "I don't think it would capture a peaceful protest," Solicitor says. "But it could..." Myers says. Solicitor says they'd try to address that when crafting the bylaw.
The City Solicitor says a "bubble zone" bylaw developed for Toronto would likely be like bylaws in other municipalities and focus on "nuisance behaviour" at protests -- behaviour that intimidates other people, she explains.
"Has any person been found guilty of a hate crime arising from activity at any protest about the activities in Gaza and Israel since October 7 of last year?" asks Councillor Gord Perks. "Not in Toronto," says rep from police.
Police rep says there are lots of things they look at when responding to a public demonstration, but public safety is paramount. "It would be disingenuous to suggest a bylaw would somehow change the dynamics on the ground for us."
Deputy Mayor Malik asks what powers a bubble zone bylaw would give police that they don't currently have re: protests "We have essentially created de facto bubble zones already," admits police rep, noting they've heavily restricted protests along hospital row and on the Gardiner
Mayor Olivia Chow moves an amendment, adding public consultations to the development of a potential "bubble zone" bylaw restricting protests and adding language re: not targeting people based on their identity.
Mayor Chow says she has called for both a ceasefire and the release of hostages. "But somehow, that did not manage to bring people together. Somehow, at my New Year's skating party, people were being yelled at for just skating, or for being there."
"If we target people because of their faith or because of their association, that does not work for me. People should be able to feel safe to go to a place of worship, to take their kids to school, to be at a recreation or cultural space, without having so much fear," says Chow.
"People want us to take action," says Mayor Chow. She says she's not sure this bubble zone bylaw will work, but she wants to see what staff will produce to address these concerns about protests.
Bradford: "I'm pretty disgusted by some of the comments that I've heard tonight, trying to differentiate between a 'hate incident' and 'hate crime' ... why is it some of my colleagues feel it's appropriate to question reports of antisemitic harassment, intimidation and hate?"
Councillor Burnside moves to call the question and end this debate. That FAILS 6-16. The debate continues.
Councillor Pasternak moves an amendment, putting extra emphasis on bubble zones around places of worship, faith-based schools and cultural institutions.
Pasternak says government response to protests over the last 14 months has been a failure. He blames the time police have had to spend at protests for increasing 911 times. "If you are robbed, assaulted, feeling threatened, you have to wait and wait and wait for police response."
"We have heard from the protestors who insist they have freedom and constitutional rights to protest. Well, let me tell you something, I know peaceful assembly when I see it, and I know hate when I see it, and these hate rallies are not charter protected," declares Pasternak.
"I think in times of conflict is when we need to uphold the charter protections of freedom of expression and freedom of assembly. Yes, it is difficult. Yes, it can be challenging. But to undermine and explore limiting them, I think is a mistake," says Councillor Bravo.
Councillor Jamaal Myers moves to get a constitutional legal expert opinion as part of the development of the bubble zone bylaw.
"Restricting people's ability to protest and speak is a step backward in the journey toward a hate-free world," says Councillor Gord Perks. "If we take away guaranteed rights — even by a bit — we make the most vulnerable in our society more vulnerable."
Councillor Matlow moves to change some of the language re: developing the bubble zone bylaw, swapping out "respects Charter jurisprudence" for "protects Charter rights."
Myers' motion to ensure the city gets an expert constitutional legal opinion as part of the development of the bubble zone bylaw CARRIES 21-1.
Chow's motion to include consultation as part of development of bubble zone bylaw CARRIES 20-2.
Pasternak's motion to put special emphasis on schools, places of worship, and cultural institutions in developing bubble zone bylaw CARRIES 20-2.
Matlow's motion to include "protects Charter rights" in the language re: developing bubble zone bylaw CARRIES 19-3.
Recommendation to craft a bylaw to create bubble zones restricting protests CARRIES 17-5.
Recommendation to establish a $2.5 million fund to offer grants to institutions that require hostile vehicle protection CARRIES 21-1.
The rest of the recommendations in the report on responding to protests carry unanimously, 22-0. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
With no debate, Council receives a report detailing their legal options re: Doug Ford's bike lane bill. The specifics are confidential. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Council is now haphazardly trying to deal with changes to zoning bylaws to permit corner stores at 9:46 p.m. Councillor Holyday has questions to staff. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Councillor Bravo has pre-circulated a motion on the corner store zoning item. It appears to eliminate permissions for any kind of eating establishment, like a coffee shop. It calls for more consultations on that aspect.
Mayor Olivia Chow rises to talk about the Ombudsman report on refugee access to shelter beds. She just wants everyone to know she is committing to holding a meeting with councillors and staff to discuss the report and the City Manager's response to it. (Will it be public?)
Councillor Stephen Holyday moves two motions, calling legalizing corner stores a "profound change to our neighbourhoods" that is "upsetting people" - Refer the corner store zoning item back to staff for more consideration - If that fails, receive the item, i.e. dispense with it.
"We are talking about the quality of life of people in quiet residential neighbourhoods, who chose to live in these neighbourhoods because they are quiet. They did not choose to live in them because of commercial activity," explains Holyday.
"Is my worry that every corner store is going to be a cannabis store or a strip joint? No. My issue is, in the suburbs, there is a well-founded concern that our planning department wants to move to a 'one size fits all' model across Toronto," says Councillor Perruzza.
A twist! Councillor Perks, Chair of the Planning Committee, says he'll support Holyday's motion to refer the corner store zoning item. He says he was hoping for a different outcome, but there will still be a chance to get this done later. Sounds like he didn't have the votes
Councillor Bravo says she's been working for the last week to try to get her colleagues to a "yes" on corner store zoning, but it just didn't happen. She says unfortunately this means a coffee shop in her ward, The Finch, will be in violation of the existing bylaw effective Jan 1
"It's obvious we don't have the votes here," says Bravo. The work will continue with more consultation. "There are many places in our city where people do want to walk to the corner store and buy gum, like I did when I was a kid."
Councillor Holyday's motion to refer the corner store legalization item back to staff for more consultation CARRIES 18-1.
Council isn't quite done yet. They need to go into private session to deal with a trio of Ontario Land Tribunal hearing items. What else would you want to do at 10:16 p.m.
Council is, somehow, inexplicably, extraordinarily, back in public session at 11 p.m. This is the meeting that doesn't end. It just goes on and on, my friends.
Council votes 13-2 to approve a set of confidential directions to staff re: an OLT hearing for 4001 Steeles West in Councillor Anthony Perruzza's ward.
Council votes 14-2 to approve confidential directions to planning staff re: an OLT hearing for 33-51 Walsh Avenue and 2717-2745 Weston Road in Councillor Anthony Perruzza's ward. "It's not good planning!" thunders Perruzza. And yet.
Council votes 15-2 to approve confidential directions to planning staff re: 417-419 Burnhamthorpe Road in Councillor Stephen Holyday's road. At last application, it was a four-storey townhouse building with 18 units. He's concerned about shadows and traffic. And yet.
Last item. Council votes 16-1 to declare food insecurity an emergency in Toronto. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
I declare this meeting of the midnight society closed. Council wraps up this council meeting, and also this year of council meetings. Except, uh, for a special meeting at 9 a.m. on Friday to approve the new CUPE deal but no journalist in their right mind will cover that one.
If you enjoyed this thread and are somehow still following it even at this hour, you might be interested to know the best way to support my work is to subscribe to City Hall Watcher, my newsletter about all this stuff. Gift subscriptions are available! toronto.cityhallwatcher.com/subscribe