Toronto Council meets today! Mayor Chow has designated an item about hosting the FIFA World Cup (very expensive, it turns out) as her key matter, so it’ll be debated first. It’ll stream live here starting at 9:30 a.m. I will post through the proceedings. www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbkP...
The mayor sent a letter to councillors last night outlining her strategy for trying to keep the World Cup and its costs under control. It includes lighting the Sok Signal and calling in former budget chief and 2014 mayoral candidate David Soknacki to serve as a FIFA envoy.
Soknacki’s policy-focused 2014 mayoral campaign was popular with civic nerds but out-of-step with the bombastic circus-like atmosphere around city hall at the time. If I were him, I’d still hold a grudge against David Blaine. www.thestar.com/news/gta/cit...
For a look at what else is on council’s agenda this week — dangerous dogs, repurposing the RT, converting parking lots to housing, increasing parking fines — I had a preview in Friday’s special free issue of City Hall Watcher. toronto.cityhallwatcher.com/p/the-411-on...
Council kicks off by bringing Mayor Olivia Chow to the lectern to recognize World Water Day, which is set for Friday. “Toronto has some of the best drinking water in the world,” she notes. This year marks the water department’s 150th year as a public utility. I’ll drink to that.
Councillor Bradford wanted more details about the deal with TMU to rename Dundas Station after the university and upcoming work to find a new name for Dundas West station. Answer from City Manager says cost estimates haven’t changed and work continues. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
At Bradford’s request, Councillor Dianne Saxe moves to re-open the Dundas renaming item so it can be considered (again) at the next Executive Committee meeting. That FAILS 13-10. It needed a two-thirds majority.
After reviewing the agenda, Council is left with 37 items held for debate, plus 39 member motions that’ll be dealt with after lunch tomorrow. First up: the World Cup. Toronto will host six matches in 2026. Estimated to cost $380 million — and counting. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
City Manager says increases in World Cup costs are driven by going from hosting five matches to six, “upward pressures” on capital project estimates, and the fact that initial estimates on security costs were “not put in at a proper amount to be in the realm of what we need.”
Matlow asks about a 2018 decision that told staff not to bid for World Cup unless there was a “multiparty agreement” with province/feds to provide funding Since that didn’t happen, who decided to bid anyway? “I don’t know where that full direction came from,” City Manager says
Matlow: “Did Mayor Tory direct city staff to pursue the bid regardless of council’s resolution?” City Manager Paul Johnson: “I don’t have any knowledge of that.” Matlow asks if someone in Johnson’s office might know. Johnson says no. Any documents/emails? Johnson says no.
Here’s the 2018 report adopted by council, which seems pretty unequivocal that a FIFA bid should not have pursued without a deal worked out with the provincial and federal governments to provide funding. www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis... (PDF)
The explanation appears to be that the World Cup bid just happened, with no one pushing it forward. Are there soccer-loving ghosts at city hall, negotiating deals at night? Was a key senior staff role replaced by a drinking bird at a keyboard just mashing the “y” key?
Perks wants to go into private session for his questions about the FIFA security plan, like “is there going to be any work to remove homeless people on the streets?” and“are there any plans for additional detention facilities?” Johnson confirms he can’t answer publicly. Ominous!
Perks asks if the city has a position on removing homeless people during the World Cup. Johnson says that’s part of ongoing discussions, but city’s position is “not to have any untoward activity to unhoused persons” but “there will be impacts because of the nature of the event.”
As Councillor James Pasternak rises to ask questions about the FIFA World Cup, protestors in chamber interrupt and begin singing a song urging to “stop the occupation” and free Palestine.
Security attempts to silence the singing and stop the protest targeting Pasternak but it proves challenging as chants continue. Nunziata threatens to remove all members of the public from the council chamber if it doesn’t stop.
After staff questions, Mayor Olivia Chow is the first speaker on the FIFA item. “Spring is a time for us to reorganize and deal with some of the leftover things that are not quite organized,” she says, noting she inherited this FIFA deal.
“Would I have signed the deal without the agreement from the federal and the provincial government? No. Would I have made the bid public if I am able to, legally? Yes. However, I am saddled with what we have now,” says Chow.
Chow says she’s put a crew together. She’s got David Soknacki working as the FIFA Envoy. And Budget Chief Shelley Carroll will head a new subcommittee scrutinizing costs, line by line. And Councillor Michael Thompson will head up a “champions team” to get business sponsorship.
There will also be a “Forever Committee” designed to ensure the World Cup has legacy impact in terms of infrastructure and community benefits, Chow says. Unclear how long its mandate will last.
Nunziata asks about funding the World Cup through establishing a City of Toronto lottery. Chow doesn’t comment on the merits of that specifically, but says she’s looking for ideas wherever she can find them.
Councillor Matlow moves for a report on expanding and improving city soccer facilities for kids as part of the World Cup legacy.
“I believe that Mayor Tory and, frankly, the city scored an own goal when they executed this agreement. But here’s the question: should this agreement ever have been executed in the first place?” asks Matlow. “Who told staff to place the bid? Why did that happen?”
“The real test for us will be: will the games leave us better than they found us?” says Matlow. He acknowledges that some will say these kinds of events never do, but “what if we use this moment, as arbitrary as the deadline might be, to achieve some city building goals?”
On that note, and before I’m able to waste any more time trying to find a good animated gif of the “but it might work for us” scene from Arrested Development, council breaks for lunch. Back at 2 p.m. for the second half of the FIFA debate.
Council is back, but before they start kicking around the FIFA item again, it’s time to honour Fiona Murray, Deputy City Clerk of Elections, who is retiring from the city after a 31-year career.
Back on the FIFA item now, Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik moves for a report on “an ambitious, comprehensive community benefits plan” related to hosting the World Cup.
Councillor Alejandra Bravo moves for two reports: one on guiding principles for the community benefits plan, and one on a “compliance analysis” of labour and human rights laws, Toronto’ status as a Sanctuary City and the encampments protocol in the FIFA agreement.
Councillor Parthi Kandavel moves for a report on ensuring “the economic, social and cultural benefits of hosting the FIFA World Cup 2026, will be shared so as to positively impact all communities.” He also wants a report on “lessons learned” from FIFA deal process.
Councillor Jamaal Myers, the TTC chair, moves for the city to work with the TTC to develop a transit plan for the World Cup.
Councillor Dianne Saxe moves for a report on how the World Cup will help advance climate change goals, the potential for a “zero-waste game” and plans for implementing RapidTO bus priority on Dufferin before the event.
Before their return to the FIFA debate, Council voted 15-10 to designate three properties on Mimico Ave as heritage. Owner of 78 and 80 Mimico — 2490917 Ontario Inc — objected. An interesting vote. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Councillor Gord Perks, the only returning member of council from last term who can claim to have consistently opposed the FIFA bid, moves for a report on “a set of principles for bidding on large international events.”
Councillor Shelley Carroll moves to provide a copy of the full FIFA hosting agreement as a confidential attachment to this agenda item, allowing for some redactions on security. A service for her fellow councillors, she says — who will now always know where to find it.
Councillor Lily Cheng moves to have the city ask FIFA if Toronto can host FOUR fan festivals, instead of just one, so that Scarborough, North York and Etobicoke can have events too.
Councillor Bravo’s motion for a report on guiding principles for a World Cup Community Benefits Plan and compliance analysis of the FIFA deal as it relates to labour and human rights laws, etc CARRIES 19-5.
Councillor Dianne Saxe’s motion for a report on how hosting the World Cup can advance Net Zero goals and on a plan to install RapidTO bus priority on Dufferin ahead of the event CARRIES 21-4.
Councillor Gord Perks’ motion for a report on a “set of principles for bidding on large international events” CARRIES 20-5.
Councillor Lily Cheng’s motion to ask FIFA if Toronto can host four fan festivals instead of just one — so North York, Etobicoke and Scarborough can get in the World Cup action too — CARRIES 23-2.
All other FIFA motions CARRY via show of hands. Council ADOPTS the update on hosting the 2026 World Cup 24-1.
Up now: a report that prioritizes future transit lines in Toronto. This analysis wasn’t very supportive of suburban subway extensions along Sheppard and a Line 2 extension to Sherway Gardens, which has some councillors and community groups unhappy. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Councillor James Pasternak expresses concern about a “fixation with state of good repair” as a priority over transit expansion, saying that pouring capital dollars into rolling stock, tracks, etc takes away from spending on new lines.
This debate on transit project priority feels a bit meaningless as Queen’s Park and Metrolinx have taken control of major transit project planning, so most of what council can do just amounts to a polite suggestion.
Councillor Vince Crisanti moves to make the request to Metrolinx for a Finch West LRT extension more specific, noting the importance of a stop at Rexdale Boulevard and a connection to the future Woodbine GO Station.
Councillor Stephen Holyday moves for a report on extending Line 2 to the Sherway Gardens mall. He highlights the importance of the transit expansion office consulting with the three Etobicoke councillors on the matter.
For fantasy transit map fans, here’s what Toronto’s transit network would look like if all the transit lines under evaluation were to get built.
Councillor Mike Colle says “there may never be” transit along Eglinton “because Metrolinx cannot figure out the problem on Eglinton to make it operate! They can’t make the train run on Eglinton — they don’t know how!”
Councillor James Pasternak moves to to have council restate support for Sheppard subway extensions, both eastwards and westwards, calling them “vital.”
Councillor James Pasternak has printed off news coverage going back over ten years about his fight for what he calls the “North York Relief Line” — a Sheppard West subway extension. “This is the broken link in our system,” he says.
“As much as I love you all, you guys who are moving ‘build a subway in my ward!’ motions, buy a copy of Sim City. It’s a really fun game,” comments Councillor Gord Perks, noting that in the real world nothing good comes from politicians overruling experts on transit planning.
Councillor Crisanti’s motion requesting a Finch West LRT extension that specifically connects to Rexdale Boulevard and a future Woodbine GO Station FAILS 12-13.
Councillor Holyday’s motion for a report on a Line 2 extension to Sherway Gardens, done in consultation with Etobicoke councillors, CARRIES 16-9.
Councillor Pasternak’s motion to have council restate support for extending the Sheppard Subway eastwards and westwards CARRIES 20-5.
Transit item done. Up now: extending the vacant home tax declaration deadline from March 1 to March 15. The city has already done this so this item seeks retroactive approval. If council votes against it, they’ll shatter the space-time continuum. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Councillor Jamaal Myers asks why the city can’t just utility bills and other data to identify vacant homes, e.g. if someone is using zero water they’re probably not home. Staff say the Privacy Commissioner has told Toronto they are not allowed to use this data for this purpose.
Staff say about 80% of Toronto residential properties declared their vacancy status this year. About 656,000 properties declared. About 160,000 properties have not been heard from yet.
Councillor Dianne Saxe asks if staff have looked at a system where homeowners could opt in to allowing the city to use their utility bill data to determine vacancy, instead of having to file their status via a form every year. Staff say no, they haven’t. Not yet, anyway.
I’ve never really understood the privacy grounds objection to using utility bill data to identify potentially vacant homes. The city owns the utilities. They’ve got the data. And my electricity and water usage isn’t really something I consider super-sensitive private info.
(I’d be more concerned about such a system encouraging bad actors to do things like leaving their water running 24/7 or leaving power-sucking electrical devices turned on all the time to make it looks like their homes are occupied.)
Councillor Nick Mantas asks about a scenario where someone lives at a cottage but owns a condo in the city they occupy one day a week — would they pay the tax? Yes, say staff. If you don’t occupy your home for at least six months in any given year, you’re subject to the tax.
Councillor Paula Fletcher moves for staff to develop “professionally designed communications materials” to better inform people about next year’s vacant home tax declaration deadline.
Councillor Holyday moves for staff to develop an opt-in process where people can let the city use utility data to determine vacancy. Perks objects, saying this motion does not relate to the item before council today, which is specifically about the deadline.
Nunziata says both Holyday and Fletcher’s motions are out of order as this is just a simple item about the deadline. Councillor Amber Morley calls the question, seeking to just end this silly debate. Motion to end debate CARRIES 20-3. Item carries via show of hands.
A twist! Via a Councillor Jennifer McKelvie motion, council votes to defer the item about raising parking ticket fines to the next council meeting, in April. Aw, darn. I was looking forward to a parking debate. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
After a few small items are dispensed with, there are now 22 items left on the agenda, plus 46 member motions. Council calls it a day. Up first tomorrow: converting parking lots to housing. They’ll be back at it at 9:30 a.m. So will I.
Council’s back for day two. Before they get to thinking about whether parking lots should be used for housing, they’ve got to mark a staff retirement. Casey Brendon, Director of Revenue Services, is tapping out in April after 24 years. Steaming live: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ml_i...
Brendon says the “highlight as his career as a tax collector” was when he sat at the foot of Yonge Street and watched them tow the “rusting hulk” of Captain John’s seafood restaurant to be cut up for scrap in settlement of unpaid property taxes and utility arrears.
Council moves on, and quickly votes 19-1 to APPROVE an application for a four-storey 14-unit rental building at 72 Church Ave in North York. Councillor Lily Cheng, the local rep, is opposed. (Mantas was also a yes.) secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Up now: a report on reviewing city-owned parking lots, transit stations and other properties that could be used to build more housing or advance other goals. Holyday asks if there’s a list of specific sites under consideration. Staff say not yet. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Some councillors are asking if public surface parking lots could be replaced with underground lots. Staff say that doesn’t come cheap — underground spaces cost about $100K to $150K per space, staff say.
Councillor Vince Crisanti has concerns about losing surface parking lots. “I just want to make sure our city is open to tourism and is open to supporting local business downtown. It’s already difficult to find parking in our city.”
Councillor Chris Moise: “Is the priority in the city more parking lots or more affordable housing, currently?” Staff hedge a bit, and say it’s “not as cut and dried as your question implies” Uh, feel like the answer to that questions should have been a gimme.
Chow is first speaker on the trading-parking-for-housing item. On questioning from Fletcher, the mayor agrees that every redeveloped city-owned site will have a sustainable affordable housing component. Could be a co-op, could be TCHC building, could be through a non-profit, etc.
Councillor Brad Bradford moves to have staff work with the Toronto Parking Authority on its review of surface parking lots as housing opportunities, and prioritize those surface parking lots that are operating at a net loss. He commends Chow for moving this process forward.
Councillor Perks has concerns that Bradford’s motion might discourage staff from recommending conversion of parking lots that turn a profit, even if they’re good candidates for housing. Bradford says that’s not his intention at all. Perks is happy about that. Peace in our time.
Holyday says he will not support this item about reviewing parking lots for housing opportunities. He says this recommendation is to “give money to a select bunch” via subsidized housing and is part of the “war on the car.” He has brought photos of parking lots.
Holyday has also brought a framed photo of Doug Ford giving Mayor Chow a giant cheque for meeting the 2023 housing target. His point, I think, is that Toronto is already meeting its housing targets so converting surface parking lots is not necessary.
Councillor Paula Fletcher moves to get a list of revenues/losses for public parking lots considered for redevelopment, and for a requirement that all redevelopments include affordable housing. She also wants to prioritize redevelopment of a parking lot on Gerrard East.
Councillor Parthi Kandavel moves to include affordable retail spaces as a potential component of redeveloped community rec centres as part of this real estate review process.
Perks points out Toronto offers walking tours of things like parks and ravines, art galleries, the waterfront, museums, and food. “Do you know what there isn’t? A parking lot tour.” “It is not a successful feature of an urban city to have a lot of surface parking lots.”
Pointing to those asking for subways yesterday and surface parking lots today, Perks asks “Who in the world thinks that you need to get a subway to connect all the parking lots in your ward? It’s madness. There are times that I think that Ward Cleaver is a member of this council”
Councillor Paula Fletcher’s motion to require that any redevelopment of public parking lots include affordable housing and that the city get a list of revenue/losses for lots under consideration CARRIES 20-2.
All other motions CARRY via show of hands. Item as amended CARRIES 21-1. Toronto will begin reviewing city-owned parking lots, transit stations and other property for use as housing.
Up next: should the fine for drivers who “block the box” go up from $90 to $450? This item recommends council ask the province for permission to hike the penalty. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
On the traffic item, Councillor Brad Bradford moves to review community outreach around construction projects, with a look at having a dedicated staffer who can serve as a point of contact for councillors.
Bradford’s motion CARRIES via a show of hands. As does the item as amended. The city will send a letter asking Queen’s Park to raise the fine for drivers who block the box.
In a real sad sign of the times, no councillors showed an interest in filling a vacancy on the “Service Excellence Committee.” Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik passes a motion directing staff to ask everyone again. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
With just 16 regular items left on the agenda — plus 47 member motions — Council takes an early lunch. They’ll be back at 2 p.m. Me too.
Council’s back. But before they get back to business, it’s time for another presentation. Toronto Fire has been given Accredited Agency Status by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International, apparently. They’re going to get some credit for that.
Councillor Stephen Holyday submitted a member motion asking for a change to the policy for polling to determine support for Vision Zero road safety infrastructure. It required council to vote to re-open a previous item. Council OPPOSES that, 10-13. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Councillor James Pasternak’s motion for a review of the policy about posting things to utility poles and other structures FAILS to make the agenda. Vote was 12-11, but it needed two-thirds. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Mayor Olivia Chow’s motion to donate up to five surplus city vehicles to Ukraine this year CARRIES 23-1. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Councillor Chris Moise’s motion for a report on closing loopholes that currently allow people to park RVs on streets for weeks on end CARRIES via show of hands. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
After the member motion run-through, there are now 26 items left on the agenda, including dangerous dogs, noisy vehicles, and a program to help landlords bring rooming houses up to the standards in new city regulations.
Up first: noisy vehicles. Councillor Dianne Saxe has circulated a motion in advance, that notably calls for staff to work with community groups and resident associations on noise monitoring and setting enforcement priorities. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
I did some digging into 311 data last week and found that a huge percentage of complaints about loud vehicles in 2023 came from one area of the city, near the Allen and the 401.
Councillor Stephen Holyday says he thinks the end of the provincial Drive Clean emissions-testing program is a factor in the increase in noisy modded vehicles, because vehicles are no longer subject to inspection.
Saxe’s motion CARRIES via show of hands. New rules are set for noisy cars. Effectiveness of enforcement, if any? TBD.
Up now: dangerous dogs! Staff are recommending a new approach to dogs given a muzzle order. Notably, the city would create a name-and-shame website listing the name of the dog (but not the owner). secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
If this passes, there will also be a new standardized sign that owners of dangerous dogs must display. Here’s what it’ll look like.
Councillor Chris Moise moves to have staff also look at whether the name-and-shame list of dangerous dogs could also include dog mugshots.
Councillor Michael Thompson, speaking on behalf of Councillor Vince Crisanti, moves to request the province increase the fines for owners related to dog attacks.
Stepping away from the dangerous dog item for a few minutes, Council votes 19-2 to APPROVE a new program that’ll offer grants to landlords to bring their rooming houses into compliance with new city regulations. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
The meeting goes back to the dogs. All motions on the dangerous dog item CARRY via show of hands. Item as amended CARRIES 21-0. Coming soon: a public list of Toronto’s dangerous dogs. Mugshots TBD. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Council votes 21-0 to request an MZO to permit a 528-bed Long Term Care Home with medical office near North York General Hospital. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Councillor Stephen Holyday wants council to go into a private session to discuss two items related to a development proposal for 8 Yorkleigh Avenue, and so everything goes dark. 22 items left. I’ll be back when they are.
Back in the bright light of day, Councillor Stephen Holyday moves to have the “concepts of abuse of process and res judicata” included in training for Committee of Adjustment staff and panel members. He says he wishes he could say more about his motivations publicly. Mysterious!
Councillor Gord Perks moves for the city to drop its appeal of 8 Yorkleigh Avenue. He says he is also frustrated that he can’t say more publicly about this.
Both those motions CARRY via show of hands. Up now: Councillor Brad Bradford wants the TCDSB to reverse a recent decision to charge education development charges to “missing middle”-type developments like laneway suites, garden suites and secondary suites. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Bradford moves to ask TCDSB to review their development charge bylaw to align it with the city’s (i.e. exempting secondary suites, etc). That CARRIES 22-1.
Up now: a pair of items by Scarborough councillors Jamaal Myers and Michael Thompson pushing for the city to explore ways to make use of the bones of the Scarborough RT (RIP), maybe by building a linear park. Thompson moves to get the info as one “comprehensive report.”
Thompson is skeptical about the idea of building a High Line-style elevated park on the old RT corridor. He says tearing it down might be better, and seems frustrated by the Myers motion. Here’s Thompson’s letter about “missing context” on RT reuse. www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis... (PDF)
Probably the most interesting part of Thompson’s letter on the future of RT infrastructure is information that some developers have deals predicated on the city removing sections of elevated track.
Both RT reuse items CARRY via show of hands. Coming soon: a report on what to do with the infrastructure: build an elevated linear park, knock it down and build something else, or some kind of combo compromise.
Getting close to the end now. On a motion from Councillor Cheng seeking to hold more Canada Day celebrations across the city, Carroll passes a motion making any such celebrations conditional on federal funding. That CARRIES via show of hands. Item does too secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Council votes 24-0 in favour of a Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik motion to accept a $200K donation to install an art installation near Hanlan’s Beach on Toronto Island. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Staying on the beach, Council votes 25-0 to APPROVE a Malik motion to install a plaque commemorating Hanlan’s queer significance. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Councillor Colle moves to request the provincial government impose a lifetime driver’s license ban on anyone convicted of auto theft and for the feds to ban the export of used cars out of ports. Council says okay, sure, and approves both via show of hands. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Not so fast. Councillors Perks and Bravo feel like Nunziata improperly sped through the vote on the auto theft item and didn’t allow enough time for councillors to process what they were voting on. Looks like it’ll be re-opened and reconsidered.
Before they get back to auto theft, council votes 14-6 to approve another Colle motion requesting the provincial and federal governments fund a grant program that’d pay for security upgrades for small businesses to combat break-ins. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
As expected, Councillor Bravo moves to re-open the auto theft item so it can be reconsidered. Motion to re-open CARRIES 17-4. Council then votes via show of hands to refer it to committee for further debate and consideration.
Councillor Chris Moise missed the vote on the Hanlan’s art installation and wants to be recorded in support, so council does a redo. It CARRIES 23-0 this time. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
On an item about allowing various events to use Nathan Phillips Square, Councillor Paula Fletcher moves for a study of how the amplified sounds from events impacts people trying to work at city hall offices. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Fletcher’s motion to study how amplified sound from Nathan Phillips Square events impacts people working at city hall offices CARRIES 20-2.
That’ll do, Toronto city council. That’ll do. The March meeting is done. We didn’t get a debate on parking tickets, but we had fun anyway — didn’t we? If you found this thread useful, please consider a subscription to my City Hall Watcher newsletter. toronto.cityhallwatcher.com/subscribe