The end is nigh! Toronto Council meets today. It’s their final meeting before the summer recess. Mayor Chow has set the Bathurst & Dufferin RapidTO item as her key matter. It’ll be debated first. Here’s the livestream. I will post happenings in a long thread below. www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecfM...
For a complete rundown of the agenda, which also features items about shelters, coyotes, rats, snow, garden suites and (a lack of) new bike lanes, check out the latest edition of my newsletter, City Hall Watcher. toronto.cityhallwatcher.com/p/council-si...
Before things get started, Mayor Olivia Chow pays tribute to Vickery Bowles, Toronto's chief librarian. She's retiring. "We want to today celebrate a remarkable chapter in the life of our city — and in the life of someone who has helped shape it in quiet but powerful ways," Chow says.
The librarian gets a standing ovation and snaps a photo with the mayor. Bowles thanks council for supporting TPL, noting that she often talks to other librarians in the U.S. who struggle to get any support from their city councils. She highlights the latest move to expand library hours.
"My faith is that public libraries, and all those who work in them, and all those who lead them, and all those who fund and support them, and all those who use them ... they will guide the way to a better future for us all, where residents are more engaged in civic life," says Bowles.
A release from the mayor's office says Chow will be awarding the key to the city tomorrow morning to "a celebrated filmmaker whose visionary work has helped shape global cinema and who has maintained a long-standing creative relationship with Toronto." I'm betting it's Guillermo del Toro.
Today's conflicts of interest: - Colle on RapidTO because his son works for TTC - Moise on biz licensing item as he owns a pet food store - Bradford on a development — his wife works for a developer -Cheng on RapidTO for... unstated reasons? - Myers on tariffs because wife works for U.S. supplier
Councillor Jamaal Myers, the TTC chair, submits a petition signed by 4,200 people in support of the RapidTO lanes on Bathurst & Dufferin. He thanks TTCriders for their advocacy work.
Council votes via show of hands to APPROVE the appointment of a new Medical Officer of Health. The identity of the new top doc should be revealed shortly. Start your drumrolls. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Council votes 21-2 to APPROVE a 13-storey seniors residence at 2674-2704 Yonge Street. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Council votes 22-0 to APPROVE a new set of regulations for licensing animal-related businesses. (This is the item where Moise had a conflict.) secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Councillor Gord Perks wants to combine a bunch of housing items into a singular debate. Councillor Stephen Holyday has concerns. But Perks' motion to board the Housing Omnibus CARRIES 21-3.
Some debate timing: - Audit of utility cuts will come after RapidTO debate - Furnace replacement program after shelter debate, tomorrow - Housing "bundle of joy" omnibus after furnace debate, tomorrow. "It could be Friday," says Nunziata. "Not if I have anything to say about it," says Perks.
After the usual housekeeping process, there are now 93 items left on this council agenda. That's way too many.
Up now: RapidTO! Staff are proposing transit priority lanes on Bathurst & Dufferin. They'd like them in place ahead of the World Cup next summer, where big crowds are expected. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Councillor Dianne Saxe has brought charts about the Bathurst bus. On questioning, TTC staff say that the charts show northbound service is generally a much bigger problem than southbound service.
"Do you agree it's reasonable to try to speed up the Bathurst bus, between Bloor and Dupont, with parking, turning and signal restrictions, before we go all the way to dedicated 24/7 bus lanes?" Saxe asks transportation staff. Staff say they'd support those "interim measures."
Minutes into their debate on RapidTO, Council loses quorum. "I don't know where they all went," Nunziata says of the many empty chairs. She rings an annoying bell for a while until councillors start coming back.
Councillor Bravo asks about how the RapidTO changes will improve travel times. The TTC's Josh Colle says travel times on Dufferin could get 29% faster, while Bathurst will improve by 13%. But these numbers need to be "recalibrated" based on recent changes to the plan that stopped lanes at Bloor.
Councillor Myers asks how the TTC will make sure transit on these RapidTO routes won't see bunching and gapping like on other TTC corridors with dedicated lanes. Colle says they're currently doing a pilot project to improve performance. He also says more vehicles will be added starting this fall.
Councillor Brad Bradford asks what impact the RapidTO lanes will have on car travel times. Staff say about 1-2 minutes.
Councillor Perks asks how RapidTO lanes will increase ridership. The TTC's Josh says they expect it to increase ridership on Dufferin by 27%, and on Bathurst by 33%. He says that'd work out to about 10K new riders on both routes — 20K total.
Councillor Stephen Holyday asks if it's true that Bathurst transit is only especially jammed up during the afternoon peak. The TTC's Josh Colle says yes, but notes their "afternoon peak" now runs from about 2 p.m. to 7:30 p.m, which is a big chunk of the day.
Mayor Olivia Chow is the first speaker on the RapidTO item "It's not as if the TTC isn't putting the number of buses needed to serve these transit corridors — it's because of the traffic jams on these streets," she says. She says a single parked car can block 100 transit riders. "It doesn't work."
"Everywhere in this world, whether it be London, New York, Hong Kong — you name it — they have bus lanes," notes Chow. She says it's time to move forward with RapidTO to Bloor. She supports working with local councillors to address concerns about things like parking further north.
Councillor Saxe says she supports the recommended RapidTO plan for Bathurst except for a "couple of blocks just south of Dupont." There are "a community of small businesses that really don't have much other access to parking," she says. She supports "smaller measures first" for this section.
Councillor Josh Matlow has a motion. He wants a report to the Toronto & East York Community Council on specific ways to improve transit service on Bathurst north of Bloor.
"RapidTO is about prioritizing people over cars. It's about ensuring our public transit system is reliable, fast, convenient and fair," says Councillor Jamaal Myers, the TTC Chair. He says this RapidTO reflects the "right balance."
Myers thanks the businesses and residents who participated in consultations on the RapidTO plan. "But we also have to understand and recognize a lot of people were doing this in bad faith — simply to delay the project or not see it go ahead."
"RapidTO! It should be CongestionTO! I think it's rubbish — and a lot of people do as well!" declares Councillor Stephen Holyday. He says opposition to these transit lanes has "galvanized" Toronto.
Holyday disagrees that RapidTO is about choosing people over cars. "I think it's actually simpler than that — I think it's about choosing some people over other people," he says. He says motorists have businesses or live in the area, and they'll feel a "profound impact" from bus lanes.
"I'll tell you what I think it's about. I think it's about the City of Toronto looking nouveau, looking progressive, with these bright red lanes, so that all the visitors from FIFA can say, 'Look at that! What a progressive city! They shut their roads down for public transit," says Holyday.
"You know what the rest of the people who visit Toronto for FIFA will see? They'll see the worst congestion they've ever seen ANYWHERE. How many people do you think will want to come back to Toronto after they sit in traffic all day long? Not very many!" thunders Holyday, about bus lanes.
And that cheery note brings us to lunch. Council will return at 2 p.m. to close out this bus lane debate. See you back here then.
Councillors are starting to filter back in. Before they return to the RapidTO debate on Bathurst & Dufferin, there will be a presentation to mark the one-year anniversary of the citywide Community Crisis Service. Will there be cake? TBD.
During the break, we learned the identity of Toronto's new Chief Medical Officer of Health. It's Dr. Michelle Murti. She most recently served as Acting Chief Provincial Health Officer for the Northwest Territories. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Another new addition to the agenda: Mayor Chow has posted a letter from federal housing minister Gregor Robertson. He says council's decision on sixplexes "goes against the level of ambition that was committed to in our Housing Accelerator Fund Agreement." www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis... (PDF)
Chow also posted the letter she sent to Robertson in response. "Toronto has been the leading municipal partner in getting housing built," she says. Notably, she CCed every Toronto MP. www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis... (PDF)
Oh wait, based on this motion here I guess Chow hasn't actually sent the letter yet. Council will debate it as part of this item later in this meeting. After which point it'll be updated and sent. Maybe some other councillors will want to opt into sixplexes? TBD. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
"Thank you for your dedication, compassion and client-centred care. Together we're building a safer and more caring Toronto — one that redefines safety to include community well-being," says Mayor Chow to the crisis workers in the chamber as they mark one-year of city-wide service.
Councillor Michael Thompson rises to introduce "Jamaica's Undisputed King of Comedy" Oliver Adolphus Samuels. The comedy king is here to watch Council today. Hope he has a few laughs.
Dealing with a few quick items before getting back to RapidTO, Council votes via show of hands to APPROVE the in-sourcing of mechanical litter collection. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
A Councillor Josh Matlow motion calling for a look at ways to improve the city's foundation drainage policy CARRIES 23-1. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Back to RapidTO. Councillor Pasternak says he'll vote against the transit lanes for Bathurst & Dufferin. He says he would prefer an expansion of the subway network. "These lanes will end up causing gridlock, air pollution, taking away parking — it is not something that will go well."
Councillor Shelley Carroll, speaking as a driver, says the bus lanes in Scarborough made driving better. "Psychologically, I was having a better drive. Because the bus is over there, and I'm over here with the cars, and I feel unimpeded."
"We cannot side with those people who are forever commenting that Toronto has got to do something with its congestion and traffic, and then stand up here and say: but don't change anything," says Carroll of the RapidTO plan.
Councillor Brad Bradford moves to make the RapidTO lanes on Bathurst & Dufferin temporary, expiring July 31, 2026.
"Even if the estimates are correct, I don't believe shaving as little as three minutes off the average transit trip is worth the impact on businesses, local residents and drivers — that's in keeping with Steve Munro's perspective as well," says Councillor Brad Bradford of RapidTO.
"Are you trying to delay and defer what is actually crucially needed transit?" Councillor Alejandrao Bravo asks Bradford. Bradford says he is trying to "anchor" the RapidTO plans to the World Cup, since that was part of the rationale. "Defer and delay!" Bravo says again.
Time to vote on RapidTO. Councillor Brad Bradford's motion to make the transit lanes on Dufferin & Bathurst temporary, not permanent, FAILS 6-17.
Bradford's motion to collect data on rush hour and peak periods for the RapidTO projects CARRIES 20-3.
Matlow's motion for a report in September on ways to speed up the Bathurst bus CARRIES 21-2.
The RapidTO lanes for Bathurst Street south of Bloor are APPROVED by Toronto Council 18-5.
The RapidTO lanes for Dufferin Street south of Bloor are APPROVED by Toronto Council 20-3.
Up now: The Auditor General investigated the city's process for issuing permits for utility cuts — like when Bell or Rogers dig up the street to install or replace cables. Problems were found. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Some findings from the AG report on utility cuts: - Potentially $20 million in unrecovered pavement degradation fees. - Processing time for permits is way above target - 43% had missing or incorrect permit numbers.
"When all this work is being done, there are pylons everywhere in this city! Work has been completed for weeks, and you still see these pylons on the sidewalk, on the boulevard, on the road — who is responsible for removing these pylons?" wonders Nunziata Staff say the utilities should remove them
Councillors ask some tough questions about the utility cut audit, but no motions are moved. Transportation staff say they've got some new tech that'll help them better track utility cut permits. They'll report back in November. Report is ADOPTED via show of hands.
Up now: another audit! This one is about the World Cup bidding process. AG found a lack of oversight on the FIFA bid "could have left the City exposed to potential financial, operational, and reputational risk." secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
One major issue councillors have with the World Cup bid process is that they voted to delegate authority to staff to negotiate with FIFA. At the time, staff said hosting would cost between $30 million and $45 million. The estimated cost today is $380 million. Whoops.
"The failure of former Mayor Tory to recuse himself from both debating and voting on motions relating to FIFA without disclosing a conflict — how do we know we got the best deal, if there's a failure to recuse?" Bravo asks. There's a long silence. Staff can't answer that one.
"Unfortunately, the mayor of the time, whose judgment might not have been the best, didn't recuse himself, because he had a relationship with someone at MLSE," says Councillor Paula Fletcher of Tory's conflict in FIFA matters. (The staffer he had a relationship with ended up getting a gig at MLSE.)
"The previous administration did put our city at risk, and did not manage risk thoughtfully and according to our own policies and practices, when it agreed to become a host for the FIFA World Cup," says Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik. She says the city is now working to "right the ship."
Councillor Gord Perks to have staff report to Executive Committee before executing the remaining agreement with MLSE for FIFA World Cup hosting.
"When you give away transparency and accountability and hand it to the mayor's office and the city manager's office, you are neglecting your duty," says Councillor Gord Perks to council. He says Tory did the same thing when he negotiated with Doug Ford to get strong mayor powers.
"Vote for my motion to send a clear signal, both to the people we represent and to the people who are out there and want to take Toronto taxpayers for a ride, that that ends now," says Perks.
Perks' motion to have staff report before executing the remaining agreement with MLSE for FIFA hosting CARRIES via show of hands. The AG's report on the FIFA bid is ADOPTED 24-0.
Up now: it's hot outside, but it's going to get snowy in here. Council will debate a report on Toronto's winter maintenance strategy, and all the trouble we saw dealing with this past winter's snowfall. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Noting that there are 84 items left on the agenda — that's TOO many — Mayor Olivia Chow moves to extend tonight's meeting until 8:30, with a 30-minute break at 6:30 p.m. Some councillors want to take a "straw vote" on that. The Clerk says there's no such thing as a "straw vote."
"We get paid to be in the Council Chamber, guys! That's our job," says Nunziata, as some councillors start to pack up. Anyway, Chow's motion gets revised, to move that Council stay late until they complete the snow debate. But Chow's motion FAILS 13-8. It needed two-thirds.
On the snow debate, council doesn't get very far. After a few staff questions, the meeting wraps up for the evening. Back at 9:30 a.m. tomorrow, with 84 items left on the agenda. Too many.
Council is about to return for day two. Before they get started this morning, there will be a salute to Carleton Grant, the longtime head of Municipal Licensing & Standards. He's retiring. You can watch the festivities on the day two livestream, here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZIR...
Mayor Olivia Chow takes the podium. She notes Carleton Grant has worked for City Hall for 32 years, serving under five mayors. "His contributions have touched nearly every corner of this city," she says. Grant gets a loud standing ovation and a photo with the mayor.
"It's never boring," Grant says, of work in the Municipal Licensing & Standards. "MLS is #1 in FOI requests, top five in complaints to the Ombudsman, has five in the top ten calls to the 311, and is top three in media requests for the year," he notes.
"MLS years are like dog years," Grant jokes, noting that means he spent 91 years with the Municipal Licensing & Standards department. He thanks colleagues, the media and his family. "My time with the city has left me with a lifetime of lessons."
Today's debate schedule: 1. Shelters 2. Heat Pumps 3. Housing 4. 123 Garratt Boulevard 5. Snow Subject to change.
Councillor James Pasternak submits a petition signed by 4,000 people opposing a homeless shelter at 1220 Wilson Avenue. "The shelter will cause increased crime, violence, drug use, public disturbances in Downsview and in and around the major intersection of Keele & Wilson," the petition says.
Councillor Holyday rises on a point of order to complain about Council's decision yesterday to combine a bunch of housing items into a single debate. "It limited my question time on some very different topics," he says. Council moves on.
Up now: shelters! But not really shelters. Six sites have been selected for new shelters. Permission is already granted for all six sites. Council's debate is limited only to rezonings to allow for the proposed building heights. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Underlying this debate is the fact that council delegated authority to staff in 2021 to select new shelter sites. At the time, it was seen as important to depoliticize the process. A lot of councillors seem to now want to repoliticize it.
Councillor Crisanti is asking about the consultation process. Staff refer him to this table in the report, showing more than 2,000 people attended consultations in total for the six shelter sites.
"Can you confirm the shelters currently under discussion can at some point be converted to affordable housing, should they no longer be required for use as shelters?" Councillor Jamaal Myers asks. "Yes, they absolutely can," say staff.
"What's the cost to the city of saying no today?" Councillor Bravo wonders. Shelters GM Gord Tanner says these purpose-built shelters can run at about half the cost of a shelter hotel. "Every month that we do not build and open one of these shelters, we lose $280,000 in operating efficiencies."
Councillor Gord Perks points out the city co-located a childcare centre with a shelter at a Fort York facility. "Have you had problems as a result of that?" Perks asks staff. "No," say staff.
Councillor Mike Colle asks about setback requirements for the shelter at Caledonia & Eglinton. "It's right next door to a shawarma place. So we don't want to get the smell of the shawarma, as much as we love shawarma, can we get a setback from that?" Staff say they'll look at it.
Mayor Olivia Chow is the first speaker on the shelter item. "15,000 people are homeless in Toronto, according to our latest survey," she notes. "Every day people call — 150 people are turned away. And where do they stay? They live in tents, they live in parks, they live in ravines."
Mayor Olivia Chow pushes back against the opposition to shelters, noting these are smaller, purpose-built facilities. "What is the problem with 50 seniors in Etobicoke, in Councillor Morley's area? Why is it so scary? They could be our grandparents!" the mayor points out.
"I will not be supporting the rezoning at 1220 Wilson Avenue," says Councillor Pasternak, saying the local MP and MPP are also against a shelter there. He says it's too close to an existing shelter hotel. (Though the plan is to shut down the shelter hotels once purpose-built facilities are open.)
"Voting against this will not defeat the shelter. It will shrink the shelter," says Pasternak on his decision to oppose the rezoning for the 1220 Wilson Avenue shelter. "Making it more manageable for that site, more effective in the local community, and in a better position to help the homeless."
Councillor Lily Cheng moves to look at including parking, loading space and outdoor amenity space at the new shelter 68 Sheppard West. She also wants to look a making the entrance not visible from Sheppard West.
Councillor Chris Moise thanks Gord Tanner and the shelters team. "For the first time in five years in Toronto Centre — where we've had the most and the largest encampments in our city — two weeks ago we've had zero encampments in any of our parks," he says.
Moise says he hopes Pasternak and others can "humanize this process, and vote in favour of the experts in the room that know better and allow these things to take place." Pasternak rises on a Point of Personal Privilege. He says Moise is "demonizing" those opposed to these shelter sites.
Councillor Paula Fletcher decries "politicizing the poor" and trying to turn shelters into election issues. "It's actually disgusting when I think about it in that way. Everybody has a responsibility to help everybody else here. Everybody has a responsibility to lift everyone up."
Councillor Stephen Holyday moves for a report on "a revised process" for shelter sites. He says he has a "grievous issue" with the current delegated process. "Why would anyone trust what we're doing if we don't adress that particular issue?"
Councillor Gord Perks argues Holyday's motion should be ruled out of order, because it's about the shelter bylaw and that's not what's before council today. Nunziata says she'll look at it and make a ruling.
Councillor Colle moves to look at including parking, loading zones and "landscaping buffers" for the shelter at Eglinton & Caledonia.
Colle takes aim at the federal MPs opposing these shelters. "That is disgusting." He says MPs should be focused on housing, criminal justice, and the economy. Instead, he says, "they're spending their time demonizing people that are in need of shelters!"
Colle says shelter-opposing MPs are "adding nothing of value, except for their own political aspirations of running for mayor of the city." "Do your damn job, and maybe stop the flood of unbridled immigration that all comes to Toronto," he says.
"Well-run shelters are good neighbours," says Councillor Dianne Saxe, pointing out her ward has lots of shelters and it's fine. She says she'll support this report. "I do want to also express my opposition to adding parking requirements to poison shelters," she says. It just increases costs.
Councillor Kandavel shows off a map of the shelters in his ward. He says successful shelters should be located on major arterial roads. He has concerns about the shelter at 2535 Gerrard East, saying it's too far removed from transit. He'll oppose the rezoning.
Councillor Brad Bradford moves to deny the rezoning for the shelter on Third Street in Etobicoke and do more consultation. He says there were five hours of deputations at the Planning & Housing Committee on this. He says the public "deserves to be heard." He accuses Perks of "silencing dissent."
Bradford says he's frustrated with this debate because it doesn't allow councillors to talk specifically about shelters. "When it comes to how we engage with this public, this council, this mayor, this administration, is saying, 'We don't want to hear it!'"
"For a long time, of course, council has hid behind the fact this was delegated to staff ... but I think what this process has illustrated to me is that communities are being torn apart right now," says Councillor Bradford of the shelter site selection process.
Here's the text of Bradford's motion re: the Sixth Street shelter. Councillor Morley asks Bradford what his "interest" is in this shelter, given it's in her ward. Bradford says he "heard from a lot of people" about this particular site.
"Would you not agree this undermines the work that I have in fact been doing in my ward?" Morley asks. Bradford says that's not his intention. Morley asks Bradford if he really thinks deferring this rezoning will result in a different shelter site. Bradford says he can't "presuppose the outcome."
"So we should further defer, further delay, and keep shovels out of the ground? Is what you're suggesting with this motion?" Morley asks of Bradford's motion to defer the shelter zoning. Bradford says you have to be "going out and having the conversations" to deal with community concerns.
Councillor Gord Perks asks Nunziata to rule Bradford's motion out of order. He says the procedure bylaws do not allow councillors to defer part of the item. She says she'll look at it and make a ruling later.
Councillor Bravo asks Bradford why he's moving to defer the Sixth Street site but not others. Why is he being selective? "This site in particular has some specific considerations with land title," he says. Bradford says it's zoned for commercial. It "warrants further review."
Council breaks for lunch. There are 81 items left on the agenda. That's still too many. Back at 2 p.m. to chip away at it.
Council is slowly returning. Before they get back to business, there will be a salute to City Clerk John Elvidge, who recently won the "Prestige Award" from the Association of Municipal Managers, Clerks and Treasurers of Ontario. An honour just to be nominated, I presume. I hope he got a huge trophy
Mayor Olivia Chow notes that one of the reasons Elvidge won the award was for his "seamless execution of the 2023 mayoral by-election." "Ahem, thank you," Chow jokes.
Standing ovation for the City Clerk. "It's a pleasure to serve in this chamber, and what happens in the chamber matters," says Elvidge in a short speech. "Now let's get on with the meeting."
Council returns to the shelter debate. Councillor Brad Bradford has tweaked his motion regarding the Third Street shelter, specifying that the reason he wants to defer it is to allow more consultation.
For clarity, here's what Councillor Brad Bradford is opposing today: replacing this 24-space parking lot with a 50-bed seniors shelter.
Councillor Shelley Carroll reminds her colleagues of the definitions of "dog whistle" and "poison pill", then says she intends to vote against motions by Holyday and Bradford. "I'm not drawing any connection to the definitions I just spelled out for you — you could do that yourselves," she says.
"We have to wake up to the fact that the three wards downtown don't have enough zoning tricks left in the bag to continue to absorb all of the vulnerability and all of the challenges that are happening in the city," says Carroll, on the need for more shelters in the inner suburbs.
Speaking about the homeless seniors who will find beds in the new shelter, Councillor Amber Morley says, "My care and concern for them is as deep and consistent as it is for the children of the families who are concerned about the potential implication of a shelter coming to our ward."
"For us not to show up and provide a glimmer of hope, with the resources and the responsibilities we have, that is negligent — and it perpetuates cycles of harm that we pay for, one way or the other," says Councillor Amber Morley, urging councillors not to dither or delay on shelters.
Councillor Perks is the final speaker on the shelter item. He calls the Bradford and Holyday motions "mischief" and urges councillors to oppose. "Saying a shelter brings problems to a neighbourhood is like saying a doctor makes people sick. You've got the cause and effect backwards," says Perks.
Councillor Brad Bradford's motion to defer the Third Street site from the rezoning process for new shelters FAILS 5-20.
Holyday's motion for a report on a new process for selecting shelter sites — an alternative to the delegated process — FAILS 7-18.
Recommendation to close the public lane adjacent to 66 Third Street to make way for the new shelter CARRIES 21-4.
Recommendation to establish community working groups for each new shelter CARRIES 25-0.
On to member motions. Councillor Jamaal Myers' motion to waive development charges and other fees for units in sixplexes is ADDED to the agenda via show of hands. They'll come back to it. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Councillor Dianne Saxe's motion for a report on speeding up transit by Ward 11, possibly by increasing on-street parking rates, is added to the agenda and APPROVED 22-2.
Councillor Brad Bradford's motion to ask the port authority to ban jet skis at Woodbine Beach is added to the agenda via show of hands. It gets held for debate so they'll come back to it. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Councillor James Pasternak's request for a report on the appeal process for automated speed enforcement tickets FAILS to make the agenda after a 15-8 vote. It needed two-thirds. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Councillor Josh Matlow's motion about establishing a colour-coded rating system for apartment buildings is ADDED to the agenda on a 20-3 vote. Matlow holds it for debate. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Councillor Brad Bradford's motion to increase the number of objections required to deny a patio application gets added to the agenda and CARRIES via a show of hands. (!!) secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Councillor Nick Mantas' motion to name a baseball diamond after the late Daryl Harding gets added to the agenda and is APPROVED via voice vote. Mantas introduces Harding's baseball team, who are in the chamber today. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Councillor Fletcher's motion for a report on how to deal with issues caused by app-based delivery workers using e-bikes and e-scooters on sidewalks gets added to the agenda and CARRIES via show of hands. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Councillor Nick Mantas' motion to attend a TLAB hearing in opposition to an application for 42 Donalda Crescent is REJECTED 5-17. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Councillor Lily Cheng's motion to work toward a positive outcome for the indigenous women's shelter at 68 Sheppard West CARRIES 21-1. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik's motion to install an interim park at the location of the temporary St. Lawrence Market tent CARRIES via show of hands. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
After all that, there are 42 items remaining. Up now: the mayor wants staff to develop a new program to encourage people to buy heat pumps, replacing their old gas furnaces. Councillor Holyday has concerns. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Noting the increase in heatwaves, flooding, and fires, Mayor Olivia Chow says, "We know that we have to do something to slow down climate change." She says this heat pump program can help homeowners reduce the cost of replacing their furnace and lower their ongoing energy costs.
Part of Chow's motion is an "energy coaching" service, where someone can come to your house and let you know what options and government programs are available to you to replace your old furnace and switch to a heat pump. She says she's been collaborating with Energy Minister Stephen Lecce on this.
The mayor's heat pump program is APPROVED by Council via show of hands. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
On Matlow's motion about a colour-coded rating system for apartment buildings, Councillor Crisanti moves for council to express support for higher fines for landlords. That CARRIES 22-0.
Also on the colour-coded apartment building item, Matlow's motion to consult with frontline staff on the impacts of the new system CARRIES 22-0.
Councillor Matlow's motion to establish a colour-coded sign rating system for apartment buildings based on inspections, similar to DineSafe, CARRIES 20-3. Interesting trio here. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
After a speech from Councillor Pasternak heralding the project, Council approves a development at 123 Garratt Boulevard on the old Bombardier airport lands with 2,957 units — 10% affordable — plus a daycare and new parks. It CARRIES via show of hands. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Councillor Brad Bradford's motion to request a ban on jet skis and motorized watercraft at Woodbine Beach CARRIES via show of hands. Morley and Kandavel threw in some motions to also look at restrictions around Humber Bay and Bluffer's Park. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Up now: Council has bundled up a bunch of housing items into an omnibus, including an item that now includes the federal housing minister's response to council on sixplexes. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
"How much money is at stake?" Councillor Myers asks about the federal response re: sixplexes. Staff say about $30 million. If the money is withheld, affordable housing projects will fall "below the line" and get pushed back. Council would need to find "other means" of funding.
"Is there a backup plan in case the minister insists the only way to get the $30 million is to bring forward another vote on the sixplexes city-wide?" Councillor Myers asks. Staff say that would need to come forward to council. They're currently "working on options as to how we meet the need."
Holyday asks staff if the federal government's requirements under the Housing Accelerator Fund asked Toronto to approve sixplexes, or merely REPORT on approving sixplexes. The language said "report." He appears to think he's found a very clever loophole, but I'm not sure it'll work
Mayor Olivia Chow moves to exempt all units in sixplex developments from development charges. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Mayor Chow also moves to submit her response to Housing Minister Robertson. "We are on target to build 61,000 homes," she says, which is more than the HAF target. "We are the biggest builder in the country. We are approving applications 80% faster ... We are expanding permissions for more homes."
Chow also moves to make pre-approved multiplex designs with up to six units available by Q2 2026.
The mayor is wearing a "Toronto Built" t-shirt during this debate on housing. Fashionable.
Holyday asks Chow about the precise wording in the fed gov agreement. "If this is the words of what our commitment is — to bring a report to council — have we not met that requirement as a city?" Chow says no. She says message was clear in talks with feds and CMHC: they want sixplexes approved.
Chow moves to finish this agenda tonight, with a 30-minute break at 6 p.m. That CARRIES via show of hands. Strap in. We're going late.
On the housing omnibus, Councillor Brad Bradford moves to get quarterly reports on the status of the various "Toronto Builds" housing projects.
Bradford says he opposes the "public builder" model — he thinks that's why he was removed as Vice Chair of Planning & Housing. "I don't think there's a city in the world that can build more housing, and deliver more housing faster or for less money, than what can be done in the market."
"The condo market has collapsed! It's dead! It's buried! It's gone! That whole housing scheme was built on speculative monetization of housing," says Councillor Mike Colle, blaming "offshore speculators." "That's what this whole house of cards was built on!"
Councillor Mike Colle calls the condo market "Bitcoin housing." He rages against the size of units, the height of buildings, the lack of parking, not enough green space, and the Ontario Land Tribunal. Also: "What the hell does the federal government know about housing?!"
"I really don't know why they want to pick this fight with us," Councillor Shelley Carroll says of the federal government. "We are bigger than the city of Vancouver by the size of Montreal. So if you take all the area where sixplexes currently are as-of-right, it exceeds any other city in Canada."
Carroll again implies Toronto MPs aren't pushing for sixplxes. "The suburban members of caucus will tell you they're tremendously relieved to not have to take those calls on sixplexes just yet. So they're kind of sucking and blowing with that letter," she says of the federal government.
Councillor Saxe moves to call the question and end this housing debate. That CARRIES 20-3. They'll proceed straight to the votes.
Councillor Bradford's motion to report quarterly, instead of annually, on the status of Toronto Builds housing projects FAILS 8-16. (They re-voted on this one. I deleted the first result.)
Mayor Chow's motion to produce some pre-approved multiplex designs and make them publicly available CARRIES 22-2.
Chow's motion to exempt all units in sixplexes from development charges CARRIES 20-4.
Programming note: that's Councillor Matlow's name that keeps getting covered up with the black bar in the vote results screens. Beyond my control! Hopefully the Clerk can fix it.
And that takes council to their dinner break. Back at 6:30 with 38 items left on the agenda. Still. Too. Many.
Council is back. There's a special evening session livestream. Things could get spicy. Like Mark Dailey used to say, viewer discretion is advised. www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfGh...
Council quickly votes to adopt a report on their Garden Suites program, with a few tweaks to permissions. It CARRIES 17-3. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Council doesn't want to chat rats. The Rat Response Plan CARRIES via show of hands after Councillor Bravo thanks staff for some great work.
Motoring along now. Council votes 22-0 to APPROVE a new 378-bed long-term care home at 4610 Finch Avenue East secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
24 items left now. Still too many, but less so. Council returns to their snow-clearing debate from yesterday. I know it seems weird, but this will be very relevant when it is 40 degrees colder outside. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Councillor Burnside doesn't want to hear any snow speeches. He moves to call the question. But that FAILS 12-10. It needed two-thirds. The snow speeches will continue until morale improves.
"Can we afford a Cadillac Montreal-style form of [snow] removal? Can we afford it all over town, from city limit to city limit to city limit? No, we cannot," says Councillor Carroll, on the winter maintenance program. She says councillors need to understand the costs of various service levels.
"We need to find a way to make this service better," says Councillor Nick Mantas. Okay then. Time to vote. The winter maintenance item CARRIES via show of hands. Another report with options to improve snow clearing and snow removal is due this fall.
On an item about wifi, Councillor Cheng's motion "to review the feasibility of establishing city-run kiosks offering free public wi-fi" and other city services CARRIES 18-5. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Up now: a childcare plan for 2025-2030. Councillor Kandavel asks if his ward has an "inequity of childcare." Staff confirm Scarborough Southwest has been identified as a high-needs area for more childcare. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
I'm pretty sure with a little bit of cunning you could get council to approve anything at this time of night. Paint the roads purple, turn the Old City Hall courtyard into a giant ballpit, release a Minotaur into the PATH system, whatever.
Council is tired of talking childcare too. Councillor Chris Moise calls the question. That CARRIES 18-4. After that, the childcare plan CARRIES via show of hands.
Up now: the coyote "coexistence" strategy. I can hear at least one councillor howling. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Councillor Dianne Saxe asks if it's true that culling was the only thing that was able to stop the two coyotes that were killing pets in Liberty Village? Grant says yes, but notes more coyotes have come back to Liberty Village since.
"Isn't the lesson we should learn from this that, once a coyote has attacked a human or a pet, we need to move more swiftly to culling problem coyotes?" "I would disagree," says Carleton Grant, the Director of Municipal Licensing & Standards. He says it's about addressing "root causes."
"Are you suggesting that people living in this city should expect that coyotes are going to routinely attack them or their pets?" Saxe asks. "I'm not suggesting that at all," staff say. "I'm just suggesting that in certain circumstances that can happen, because there are root causes."
"This is a very serious question," says Councillor Paula Fletcher. "Do you think we should sole-source some ACME products to help you?" "Yes, I am old enough to know that reference," says Grant. "And that would be great."
Some cycling motions: 1. Fletcher wants parking/traffic changes on Logan Ave 2. Bravo wants a stop control for bikes on Emerson Ave 3. Kandavel doesn't want sidewalks on Parkcrest Drive. 4. Malik wants new traffic regs for Esplanade. All CARRY via show of hands. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Back to coyotes. Councillor Dianne Saxe moves to "clarify the threshold and criteria" for the removal of aggressive animals like problematic coyotes.
Councillor Bravo says she won't support Saxe's motion. Staff "need the freedom to make determinations in case-specific situations," she says. She also notes city data suggests coyote sightings are on the decline, which means the strategy could be working.
"Just before I stop, I'll say: coyotes also eat rats, so, thanks," adds Councillor Alejandra Bravo.
Councillor Dianne Saxe's motion to clarify the threshold and criteria for removing aggressive coyotes FAILS 10-12. Pretty close!
Now on an item about a development proposed for 220 Lake Promenade in Morley's ward. She's opposed. "We acknowledge that change is coming, but we as a city need to be mindful that that change respects the neighbourhood characteristic, as well as the neighbourhood infrastructure and its limits."
Councillor Holyday calls the 220 Lake Promenade proposal an "abomination." But Councillor Perks warns that if Council does not accept a settlement offer to allow the project, the OLT could approve something "much worse." secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
A confidential motion by Morley re: the 220 Lake Promenade development CARRIES 20-3. Mysterious!
But then the 220 Lake Promenade item as amended FAILS 3-20. I'm not entirely sure what that means. Morley also moves to keep all the confidential attachments confidential. Shrouded in mystery. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Moving on. Council votes 20-0 to APPROVE a report on the ongoing city economic response to Trump's tariffs. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Up now: in 2012, Council suspended IPAC Paving from bidding on city work, because owner Sebastian Corbo pleaded guilty to making secret commissions. Now his son, John Corbo, wants the ban lifted. He says his dad isn't involved in the biz anymore. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Councillor Nick Mantas moves to reinstate the paving company. Then Councillor Carroll moves to end debate. That CARRIES 16-6. Mantas' motion to reinstate IPAC Paving (and another Corbo company, PAVE-1) as an eligible bidder CARRIES 19-3.
Up now: fossil fuel ads on City property. Councillor Dianne Saxe moves for a report on whether accepting fossil fuel ads is consistent with City Hall's TransformTO goals. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Councillor Paula Fletcher asks Saxe what kind of ads would be considered fossil fuel ads. Like, ads for all plastic products? Saxe says no. This is about ads that promote the burning of fossil fuels, she says. Fletcher still doesn't think the motion is clear enough.
Councillor Holyday asks if Saxe's motion could mean that the City can't run ads for the TTC, because buses use diesel fuel. Saxe says that kind of thing will be answered in the report.
Councillor Saxe's motion for a report on whether fossil fuel ads are consistent with Toronto's TransformTO goals FAILS 2-19.
Council needs to reopen the cycling plan item, because Pasternak has a motion. He wants staff to look at adding more sidewalks in Bathurst Manor. That CARRIES via show of hands. (I don't really get why this sidewalk stuff is lumped in with the cycling plan.)
Up now: a secondary plan for Scarborough Centre. Councillor Parthi Kandavel puts this development map on the overhead projector. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Councillor Parthi Kandavel asks if planning staff intend to address the lack of green space in the Scarborough Centre plan. Planning staff say there are 20 hectares of parkland in the plan.
"Amidst this tremendous density, there needs to be greater consideration for the public realm," says Kandavel of the Scarborough Centre plan. He'd like to see something akin to Nathan Phillips Square or the space around Harbourfront.
Anyway, the Scarborough Centre secondary plan report is APPROVED by show of hands. Another report coming this fall.
On an item about tree protections, Councillor Rachel Chernos Lin moves for a report on naming and shaming those who violate the city's tree bylaws. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Chernos Lin's motion to look at naming and shaming tree bylaw violators CARRIES via show of hands. The part of her motion to request the province include the tree bylaw as part of permits issued under the Ontario Building Code CARRIES 18-2.
Up now: Councillor Holyday wants the City of Toronto to oppose a City of Toronto affordable housing project at the OLT. "I think that's bananas!" says Councillor Perks. "So I'm going to vote no. And I hope you do too." secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Councillor Holyday has prepared a slideshow. It's 9:50 p.m. He's showing slides. At 9:50 p.m. "I'm simply asking for council to have leverage on how this unfolds," he says.
Anyway, Holyday loses. Council votes 9-12 to REJECT his motion to send city legal staff to oppose the 250 Wincott Drive development at the Ontario Land Tribunal. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
FINAL ITEM. Councillor Jamaal Myers, wearing a cricket jersey, asks council to support a donation for a cricket pitch at Milliken Park. They do! It CARRIES 22-0. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
"We've done it!" says Mayor Olivia Chow, thanking staff and councillors for sticking it out. She wishes everyone a good August.
And I will thank you for sticking with this thread. It was a long one. If you enjoyed it and want to show your appreciation, consider a subscription to my newsletter, City Hall Watcher. People seem to like it. I bet you will too. toronto.cityhallwatcher.com/subscribe