Toronto Council meets today! It’s the first post-budget meeting. The agenda features tough tariff talk, coyotes, shelter system problems, and councillor compensation. It’ll stream live here. As is my custom, I will chronicle the proceedings in a big thread. www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aF9...
As you’d expect, Mayor Olivia Chow has named the U.S. Tariff response item as the first order of business. The item about refugees in the shelter system has been scheduled for first-thing tomorrow. I’ve got a full preview of the agenda here: toronto.cityhallwatcher.com/p/council-to...
Councillor Thompson rises to speak about the mass shooting at a pub in his ward earlier this month. He urges people to call the cops if they know anything. “We have not been cowered by those amongst us who want to threaten our sense of security and enjoyment of our city,” he says.
“There are many rumours as to the potential motive for the shooting, including media speculation around the dispute in the tow truck industry. Police have not confirmed any motive. The owners are devastated … they have no idea why their establishment was targeted,” says Thompson.
Following the Piper Arms Pub shooting, Councillor Thompson says with the federal election, “It would be good to hear from our leaders vying to be the next prime minister … to promise to hold Donald Trump responsible for the flood of guns across our borders."
The City Manager has responded to an administative inquiry by Councillor James Pasternak, letting him know that a report on a “bubble zone” bylaw restricting protests will be ready for debate at the May Council meeting. Pasternak says he’s looking forward to it. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Councillor Colle steps in to introduce the agenda items from the latest meeting of the Infrastructure & Environment Committee. The chair, Councillor McKelvie, “has gone on to fight for our country” and “to try and do her best in Ajax.” (She’s running federally for the Liberals.)
Weird aside in answer to an administrative inquiry about snow clearing. Apparently 311 received 3,000 requests after a false media report that city would plow private driveways. The city doesn’t do that, but… visited the locations of the requests anyway? www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis...
Call me mean and vindictive if you must, but I feel like way way more than 74 cars deserved to be towed for blocking TTC routes during the snow storms last month. (But at least a lot of drivers actually got tickets this time versus the last major storm in 2022.)
By show of hands, Council votes to buy two new “HTO To Go” water trailers to keep people hydrated at events and during emergencies. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Councillor Paula Fletcher’s motion to rename a laneway as Luella Price Lane CARRIES 22-0. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
There is PROCEDURAL CONFUSION as councillors seek to time a bunch of items for scheduled debate. Too many items. Councillor Paula Fletcher seeks to clarify the schedule. Councillor Michael Thompson seeks to clarify her clarification. It's clarifications all the way down.
Thompson wants the Ombudsman to present later in the meeting on his report about the 2022-2023 decision to deny refugees access to the shelter system. Motion for a presentation CARRIES 21-1.
Councillor Shelley Carroll asks if it might be possible for councillors to email their requests to schedule debates ahead of the meeting, so council doesn't have to spend an hour debating motions to schedule things. Nunziata confirms that email is a technology that exists and could be used for this.
Councillor Jamaal Myers, the TTC Chair, says he's looking forward to welcoming former councillor Joe Mihevc back to the TTC Board, as a "citizen appointee." Council APPROVES Mihevc's appointment via show of hands.
Council votes to APPROVE the installation of temporary dedicated bus lanes on Queens Quay East, 19-1. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
The first debate of the session begins. It's about the mayor's plan to respond to Trump's trade war. The ten-point plan includes restrictions on U.S. companies bidding for city contracts and a six-month deferral of industrial property taxes for affected businesses. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
"There seems to be an anti-American tone to this," notes Councillor James Pasternak. "Do you think that could hurt our ability to attract American tourists to Toronto for FIFA and all year round?" Staff say the goal is to support local businesses and jobs "without tipping into anti-Americanism."
Councillor Stephen Holyday asks the mayor if there's any desire to "reverse the policy and do business with the U.S." "No. Not right now. We're under attack," says Mayor Olivia Chow. "We need to defend ourselves and attack back."
Holyday asks if the U.S. dropped the tariff talk, would the mayor be open to doing biz with the U.S. again? "If the federal and the provincial and this government collectively believe that there is peace in our land. If there's no more trade war ... then at that point, of course."
Councillor Lily Cheng asks for a breakdown of current city contracts. Staff say it's approximately 97% are Canadian. 2-3% are American. 1% is other.
Councillor Mike Colle pulls up a photo of the new "Love Local" signs going up in the city. He wants to know why there's not a Canadian flag as part of the design. "Why would we be afraid to put a Canadian flag on our campaign?"
Staff say the "Love Local" campaign was worked on with BIAs, and is actually based on pre-existing campaign and design used in Riverside. Councillor Mike Colle isn't happy about that answer. He wants more Canadian flags.
"I think something has awoken," says Mayor Olivia Chow. "A feeling of pride. Of being Canadian." She says she's been asking people if they're proud of being Canadian, and they say yes. She asks them if they want to be the 51st state and she gets a "resounding 'no way'."
Councillor Pasternak says he's a proud patriotic Canadian but warns about "economic nationalism." "We are a city that relies very heavily on foreign tourism, particularly Americans... and the last thing we need is to send a message south of the border that Toronto is not friendly to tourists."
Councillor Stephen Holyday moves to review land use plans and develop a plan to grow Toronto's port. He also wants to include improving the "mobility of people and goods" in the economic action plan.
"It's important we have conversations about expressways. And about trucking routes. And about efficient movement of traffic throughout the city. Because it's important to our economy," says Holyday. He warns about moves that undermine this, but doesn't give any specifics.
Councillor Josh Matlow moves a three-part motion: - Including a sunset clause in this plan so measures get removed if a trade agreement is reached. - Ask Ottawa & Queen's Park to cover any lost municipal revenue from plan. - Consider impact on jobs as part of future reports on the plan.
Matlow also moves a couple of environment-related motions given to him by Councillor Dianne Saxe, who couldn't be here today.
Councillor Bradford moves to strike the part of the Trade War Plan that limits use of U.S-based rideshare companies like Uber. He says these ride-share companies employ lots of people in Toronto. "These are good jobs. They are important jobs." He warns about making workers "collateral damage."
"It can't just be talk. It can't just be meetings about meetings. It needs to be real action. And so that's why I was hoping to see more action in this action plan," says Councillor Brad Bradford, calling Trump's trade war an "assault on our economy."
Bradford says instead of the tax deferrals proposed in the economic action plan, he would have liked to see tax reductions, like he moved during the budget debate last month. He says he supports this plan, but would have liked to see more "meat on the bone."
Mayor Olivia Chow asks Bradford why he doesn't want city workers to prioritize Canadian-owned rideshare companies and taxis. Bradford accuses Chow of bringing an "ideologically-driven battle to the floor." Nunziata quickly moves things along.
Councillor Mike Colle moves to add more Canadian flags to the "Love Local" campaign signs and other materials. He says he also wants to see flags on TTC vehicles and city trucks.
Councillor Paula Fletcher moves to amend Holyday's motion, so that it will direct staff to come up with a plan to maintain and sustain the city's port, instead of trying to grow it. She notes the city already has a comprehensive plan for the port lands.
"The port itself has now developed something great, which is cruising the Great Lakes on these boats — not Love Boats, but, you know, big ones — they go across the Great Lakes. It's very popular," says Councillor Paula Fletcher, touting the success of Toronto's port.
Councillor Carroll warns that because of "our sabre rattling and our booing at the hockey game," some visiting Americans are fearful they might be accosted in the streets. "The more we sabre rattle, the more we are creating this beautiful fertile ground of politics for President Trump to use."
And that takes Council to lunch. Back at 2 p.m. to wrap up the tariff talk. See you back here then.
Council has returned. Perruzza has thoughts on tariffs. He tells us "the gist" of a joke he heard from a constituent "President Trump is like a horse in a china shop. Doesn't know why he's there. And doesn't know what he's going to do next. But in the meantime, he's breaking it all apart."
Anyway, time to vote on Toronto's tariff response plan. Councillor Bradford's motion to delete the part of the economic plan asking staff to limit use of US-based rideshare platforms like Uber & Lyft FAILS 5-17.
Councillor Fletcher's motion to amend Holyday's motion so that it focuses on sustaining and maintaining — instead of growing — the Port of Toronto CARRIES 17-6.
All other motions on Mayor Olivia Chow's economic action plan to battle back against Trump tariffs CARRY via shows of hands. Plan as amended CARRIES 23-0.
With that, Council ducks into private session to discuss the Local 79 union deal and the appointment of a new Deputy City Manager for Community & Social Services. I'll be back when they get back.
Council is back — at last — and they've voted to RATIFY the deal with CUPE Local 79, 23-1.
"The Mimico community is not afraid of density, but they do want something in return," says Councillor Amber Morley, before Council votes via show of hands to APPROVE a confidential item re: an OLT hearing for 266 and 268 Royal York Road. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Councillor Dianne Saxe has joined the meeting but appears to be having some issues with her webcam.
Up now: student food programs. There's an item on the agenda that would, if approved, request some extra cash from both the federal and provincial governments. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Holyday is concerned that the school food program seems to have expanded to include a "mid-morning meal" instead of a snack. What's the difference between a meal and a snack, he asks. Staff say terms are pretty interchangeable, but more substantial food mid-morning has proven helpful.
Staff say there are examples where teachers have moved math class until after the mid-morning meal, "because the teacher has seen there's a noticeable improvement in attentiveness and math scores." "Have we thought of giving them coffee?" Holyday jokes. "No, you don't have to answer that."
Mayor Olivia Chow has a motion to increase the budget for school food programs by $5 million, paid for with unspent funds from last year's budget. She also wants to make sure the food purchased comes from local food producers.
Holyday says he criticizes school food programs because of a "fundamental philosophical discussion about the role of government — the role of this government — and the role of parents, and parenting, and what we want to teach our kids."
"What are we teaching the kids? That now, not only are many things in life the responsibility of others, now suddenly it's the responsibility of the school or the institution to put food into their mouths?" Holyday says. "Kids should learn how to make and prepare meals," he says.
Mayor Olivia Chow's motion to allocate an additional $5 million to school food programs (paid for with unspent funds from last year) CARRIES 22-1. (Nunziata was also a yes.)
School food item as amended CARRIES 22-1. City will ask federal and provincial governments for more money to expand programs and feed more kids.
City Manager Paul Johnson rises to congratulate Denise Andrea Campbell for her appointment as the Deputy City Manager for Community Development, and Kate Bassil for her appointment as Deputy City Manager for Community and Emergency Services. Both are internal promotions.
Up now: a report on an incentive program to "unstick" condo projects that are approved but not moving forward. City is proposing deferring dev charges for four years for projects with an affordable housing component. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
"Just cutting red tape won't do it," says Mayor Olivia Chow, saying that the city has already cut a bunch. "The financial math is not quite there. The interest rate is still a bit too high." She says the program is about making the math work for projects already approved.
Councillor Stephen Holyday says he'll oppose this incentive program, which he sees as a subsidy for developers. He says the soft condo market means there are lots of condos listed for people to buy, so this program is unnecessary.
Nunziata says there are lots of speakers on this condo incentive item, so Council decides to finish it off tomorrow. They'll be back at 9:30 a.m. with 76 items on the agenda. That's a lot.
Council has risen from its slumber and is back for day two of the proceedings. This morning's first debate is scheduled to be about refugees in the shelter system. The meeting stream is here. I will continue to cover things until the bitter end. www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvW8...
But first, Mayor Olivia Chow has an announcement. She pays tribute to the firefighters, police, EMS and other workers who responded to a TCHC building fire at 275 Bleaker Street in February. "The successful response was only possible because of the seamless collaboration."
Council opts to quickly deal with Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik's call for a Coyote Action Plan. Malik says the coyote increase in Fort York and Liberty Village has been caused by a loss of habitat, including at Ontario Place. Coyotes have been causing "incredible alarm" secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Malik's Downtown Coyote Action Plan item is ADOPTED via show of hands. A plan will be developed and reported. My advice: bring in some road runners.
Up now: an item about refugees in the shelter system. After being denied the chance in December, Ombudsman Kwame Addo is here to present his scathing report on decisions in 2022 and 2023 that denied refugees access to shelter spaces. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
"I am proud of the report and stand by all my findings," says the Ombudsman. He urges Council to adopt all the recommendations. But City Manager Paul Johnson has said he doesn't agree with those recommendations. Hence the tension.
"Do you feel if the folks in this situation were actually white, the outcome would have been different?" asks Councillor Jon Burnside of the Black refugees who were denied shelter access. "That wasn't what I investigated and I can't make that assumption," says the Ombudsman.
Councillor Myers asks if the city is confident this won't happen again. "We were struggling coming out of the pandemic, and then we had 20,000 additional [refugees] we had to serve. If that happens again, I cannot say that we won't see people on the street again," says Shelters GM Gord Tanner.
Deputy Mayor Malik asks Tanner about coming federal cuts to support for refugees in the shelter system. The fed contribution will drop from 95% of costs this year to 75%, then to 50%, "and then the program is dead, as far as we know," says Tanner. Could cause a $50 million budget hole, the CFO adds.
"What we need to keep an eye on is the federal support for these programs, because if that goes away, we'll be having a similar conversation here at council that we had in 2022 and throughout 2023" when refugees couldn't access shelter spaces and were sleeping on the sidewalk, says Tanner.
Thompson asks the City Manager why he refused to accept the Ombudsman report. "The report failed in my mind to stay focused on the situation that was presenting itself at the time. We had no funding federally, period, for refugees and asylum seekers at that time," says City Manager Paul Johnson.
Mayor Olivia Chow moves four requests to the federal government, asking them to not reduce funding for refugees in shelters over the coming years, to expand the definition of asylum claimant, and to establish a refugee housing benefit.
Chow notes the events in the Ombudsman's report predate her time as mayor, and outlines some of the stuff she's done since to help refugees. "We put our own money in," she says, but federal money is "winding down."
"95% to 75% to 50%? Why? Oh, maybe because the refugees will stop coming to Toronto. Seriously, you think refugees will stop coming to Toronto? Look at what's happening in Sudan today. Look at the number of people who have died," says Mayor Olivia Chow.
"There's a federal election going on. And I hope that every party running takes this refugee housing services issue seriously," says Chow, noting some success stories. "Refugees just need a bit of helping hand — and Canada has always been able to do that. Let's continue that tradition."
Councillor Alejandra Bravo moves a long 14-point motion. You can read it here. She says these are the recommendations of the Ombudsman from his report, "with technical updates reflecting council reporting structure and also updating timelines." secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
"I came to Canada in 1974 as a refugee," says Councillor Bravo. "And when we arrived at the airport, the provincial government had a system to ensure we got the support that we needed ... so my commitment to this is profound, embodied, and relentless."
Councillor Chris Moise moves to ensure all shelter policies reflect the specific needs of LGBTQ refugees.
Councillor Moise thanks the Ombudsman for the report. "A Black man was writing this report, writing about the experiences of Black people who have been on the street, and having to come to council to talk about this issue from a distance — that's difficult."
"It is unacceptable that people arrive in Canada and wind up on a sidewalk in the rain," says Councillor Gord Perks. "It's unacceptable that the City of Toronto didn't have in place the correct tools to be able to manage that."
"I'm glad Councillor Thompson raised the issue of the current federal election. NOBODY gets my vote this election if they say that municipalities have to take on federal obligations to serve refugees," says Councillor Gord Perks.
Councillor Paula Fletcher moves for a report from City Legal on options for factchecking reports from accountability offices. She also wants a review of instances where City didn't comply with Ontario Human Rights Code.
Time to vote on the refugee shelter item. Mayor Olivia Chow's motion to request the federal government NOT phase out funding for refugees in shelters CARRIES 23-0.
The part of Councillor Bravo's motion calling for a renewed public education campaign to let undocumented Torontonians know about City Hall's AccessTO policy CARRIES 22-1.
All other motions on the refugees-in-shelters item, including Bravo's motion adopting the Ombudsman recommendations (with a few technical tweaks), CARRY unanimously, 23-0.
And that takes Council to lunch. Back at 2 p.m., with 75 items left on the agenda, including snow clearing, the island ferries, and councillor compensation.
Council is back, and beginning the run-through of member motions. In most cases, these items need two-thirds support to make the agenda. If they get it, many will be held for debate later. I'll post some notable votes. (If there's one you especially care about, let me know.)
Councillor Dianne Saxe's motion to create a new park at 819 Yonge CARRIES via show of hands. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Saxe's motion calling for a report on ways to deal with vacant and derelict buildings CARRIES via show of hands. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Pasternak's motion calling for a report on getting some snow-making tech for Earl Bales Ski Hill CARRIES via show of hands. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Mayor Olivia Chow's motion calling for staff to do an analysis of where we most need public washrooms gets added to the agenda but held for debate. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen....
Chow's motion to donate up to five surplus vehicles to Ukraine CARRIES via show of hands. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Holyday's motion asking the provincial government to change regulations so Apple AirPods can be used as hearing aids in Canada CARRIES via show of hands. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Councillor Josh Matlow's motion for a report in Q4 2025 on options to deal with vacant storefronts gets added to the agenda via show of hands and held for debate. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Councillor Paula Fletcher's motion to look at ways to address the carbon footprint of Toronto's financial industry CARRIES 18-5. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Councillor Fletcher's motion to increase the compensation for people who sit on the TCHC board makes the agenda, 17-6. Holyday holds it for debate. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Councillor Lily Cheng wants to introduce this motion to use Section 37 funds to build a fence adjacent to the modular housing project at 185 Cummer Ave. Councillor Gord Perks doesn't like it and tells everyone to vote against it.
Councillor Dianne Saxe's request for a report on whether landlords should have to provide replacement units when rooming house residents get demovicted CARRIES 22-1. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Council votes via show of hands to APPROVE making a deal with the Weston Foundation for a $50 million project to spruce up Queen's Park North. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
After that frenzy, there are 27 items left on the agenda. Council returns to an item from yesterday: an incentive program to "unstick" condo projects that have been stuck by market conditions, via deferring development charges. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Councillor Brad Bradford has a long motion. He wants an indefinite deferral, resulting in a 25% reduction in development charges for all condo projects, and a 100% reduction for purpose-built rentals and three-bedroom condo units.
"We're seeing municipalities across the GTA putting forward something more ambitious than what was in front of us today, really recognizing the principal challenge to housing right is making these projects financially viable," says Councillor Brad Bradford.
Councillor Gord Perks, noting Bradford's motion redirects funds from the Housing Accelerator Fund, asks Bradford which affordable housing projects he'd cancel to fund his DC reduction. Bradford says he's been trying to get info about where those funds are going, but hasn't been able to get answers.
"My understanding of the Housing Accelerator Fund is it's for the federal government to provide us funding for bricks-and-mortar housing, and you want to use it to provide a financial incentive?" Councillor Ainslie asks. Bradford says the HAF is to help deliver more housing, and this will do that.
Councillor Alejandra Bravo says Council should stick with the program as-is and not support Bradford's motion. "Supply has not made housing more affordable, and it won't. The market will not deal with this. This is what we have government there to do," she says.
"Members, from time to time, you're asked to do something thoroughly crazy, and this is one of them — the money Councillor Bradford wants to allocate to pay for his motion is ALL allocated to affordable housing projects," says Councillor Gord Perks, pointing to 19 projects with 2,100 units.
"This is LITERALLY taking money out of building the housing for people who cannot afford to live in the current market, and saying, 'A better idea is to reduce the fees and charges that the industry pays!'" says Perks of Bradford's motion.
Offering an anecdote about the time he went to Cleveland, Councillor Josh Matlow says it's a city that "still has massive surface parking lots in their downtown — seas of them. Like how Toronto looked in the 80s." "Fantastic!" jokes Holyday.
Bradford's motion to redirect Housing Accelerator Funds to cut development charges FAILS 2-22.
Up now: do you believe in ferries? Council will discuss a couple of reports about the Toronto Island ferries, with one showing that the cost of installing infrastructure to support new electric boats has risen by $10.3 million, from $41.8 million to $52.1 million secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Pointing out Council made the call to buy electric ferries in 2019, Councillor Paula Fletcher asks, "At what point did we discover that, if we're going to buy electric ferries, they have to be plugged in?" July 2024, staff say, was first time there was an estimate on charging costs.
Chow asks what other improvements the parks department is making to the ferry terminal. Staff list better wayfinding, temporary shade, improved customer service, a "fast pass" line, and "surprise and delight opportunities." "Surprise and delight?!" asks the mayor. Food and entertainment, they say
"How the heck did this happen?" wonders Councillor Fletcher, "I don't think any of us here would go out and buy an electric vehicle and not figure out where we're parking it and where we're plugging it in — but that's what was previously done about the ferries."
Fletcher says this electric ferry deal was a "failure on the part of the parks and recreation division," blaming previous leadership in the division. "I don't like to use the words 'colossal fail,' but today we're going to be talking about a lot of colossal fails."
Councillor Burnside is sick of this ferry stuff. He moves to call the question and skip the rest of the debate. That FAILS 11-12. The ferry debate shall continue.
Staff recommendations to increase the budget for the ferry terminal infrastructure project to accommodate the new electric ferries CARRIES 20-4.
"We're going from ferries to snow," says Nunziata. Time to debate the city's handling — or mishandling — of the February snow storms. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Nunziata asks if city workers drive around after snow storms to check on whether roads and sidewalks are actually plowed, or if they just rely on GPS. Transportation GM Barbara Gray says there are staffers doing inspections, but there aren't "nearly enough to cover things comprehensively."
"I don't understand why we do bike lanes and not sidewalks," says Nunziata. "We do both," says Gray. "No we don't," says Nunziata, saying she had to walk in a bike lane on Bloor because the bike lane was plowed but the sidewalk wasn't.
Burnside quotes the mayor's comments from her press conference, where she disputed staff claim that sidewalks were 100% plowed. "You're calling staff liars — have you had an opportunity to clear the air?" "There was nothing to clear," Chow says, saying she saw first-hand sidewalks weren't plowed.
Councillor James Pasternak thanks Barbara Gray and the Transportation Department for their work after the snowstorms. "Under the circumstances, I think staff did the best they could — and on a procurement basis, you're never going to find perfection when you get this volume of snow."
Councillor Jamaal Myers asks how Transportation staff use AI to determine "hot spots" that need extra attention for plowing. Gray says AI is not used "consistently or comprehensively" by her department but they've got a pilot where they'll use AI for a salt-spreading strategy.
As councillors continue to ask staff questions about snow clearing, the Speaker says they've lost quorum. Not enough councillors in the chamber. A quorum call compels 21 councillors back into the meeting.
With 24 items left on the agenda, council decides to take a 30-minute dinner break at 6 p.m., then come back and power through and finish this thing.
On the snow item, Councillor Paula Fletcher moves for a forensic audit of the procurement that led to the City's current set of snow contracts. Most of the 11 contracts went to two companies.
Dealing with a few quick matters before the break, Council votes via show of hands to SUSPEND Duron Ontario for five years from bidding on City contracts, because of allegations of billing irregularities. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
On a vehicle-for-hire item, Councillor Bravo quickly passes a motion asking for a report on switching to a "one-driver, one-license approach" for ride-share licenses, and an extension allowing cab drivers to use vehicles up to ten model years old. Item CARRIED 20-1. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Councillor Josh Matlow's request for a report on "policy options to compel landowners to tenant vacant storefronts" CARRIES 22-1. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
After a quick amendment from James Pasternak to delete a planned traffic signal at Bathurst Street and Cocksfield Avenue, the Q1 cycling network plan CARRIES via a show of hands. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
And that takes Council to do the dinner break. Back at 6:30 p.m. to deal with 18 more items. (If you're wondering why they're powering through to finish tonight, it might be because the mayor will be in D.C. tomorrow, making the argument against tariffs.)
Council is back, and debating snow again. Councillor Stephen Holyday moves a series of requests for the upcoming review of the snow clean-up effort, including stuff he noticed about operations in his ward.
"When you screw up, and you just accept that and own it, it can go a long way with people," says Councillor Josh Matlow, encouraging staff to "speak truth to power" and tell them what it would take to actually do a better job clearing and removing snow.
Councillor Jamaal Myers has a motion to look at how other cities are using AI, machine learning, and cloud-based systems to improve snow clearing and removal. Brace yourselves for Studio Ghibli-style sidewalk snow plows.
"We don't use technology and artificial intelligence consistently. We are piloting it, but it really should be baked into the fabric of how we do business," says Councillor Myers.
Councillor Paul Ainslie, one of the first to raise questions about the snow contracts awarded in 2021, points to this ward-by-ward data of 311 complaints about snow. "Of the 25 wards, there's only five wards on that chart where, over the course of three years, snow removal got better."
Councillor Amber Morley wants a specific review of how the city handles the plowing of residential streets without sidewalks. My advice: install sidewalks.
"Things happen. Snow storms happen. They'll continue to happen. No matter how much AI, how much equipment, how much money — you're gonna get the freak snow storms you can't control. And the phone is gonna ring at your office! God darn it, answer it!" says Councillor Colle, with an onion on his belt.
"I'm asking councillors just to be brief! This is agony!" exclaims Councillor Frances Nunziata, as more and more councillors get up to speak about snow.
"Toronto cannot be ground to a halt, we cannot be seized and snowed in, and brought to our knees, because of a snow storm," says Councillor Brad Bradford. He calls it a "failure of leadership." "I still have not seen the mayor take any accountability for this," he says.
Time to vote. Councillor Fletcher's motion calling for a forensic audit of the procurement that led to the current set of snow contracts CARRIES 22-1.
All other motions CARRY via show of hands. As does the snow item as amended. The City will review its snow maintenance strategy and endeavour to do better next time. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Council APPROVES a full-time ban on heavy trucks on Evans Avenue, between Islington Avenue and Royal York Road, 22-2. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
After she produces this drawing of the fence residents want installed, Council approves Councillor Lily Cheng's fence motion for 175 Cummer Avenue by show of hands. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
It's 7:39 p.m.. Nunziata just got done reprimanding councillors for wandering around and not paying attention. Time to debate whether they should all get a raise. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Jokes aside, there's a pretty good case for a top-up. On a per-constituent basis, an analysis found Toronto councillors are the lowest-paid of comparable municipalities.
The recommendation in the staff report is to hike councillor salaries from $137,537.40 to $170,588.60, retroactive to Jan 1, 2025. VERY curious to see how this vote goes.
"Can you think of any other public servant in the City of Toronto that has not received a raise since 2006?" Councillor Jamaal Myers asks staff. Staff say no. (Councillors do get a CPI bump annually, though — it's not a total freeze like at Queen's Park.)
Myers asks when Council requested a review of their compensation. 2018, say staff. Myers asks if the recommended increase would be less if a report had been produced earlier. Absolutely, staff say. "So who dropped the ball here?" City Manager isn't sure, but suggestion is Tory held back the report.
Councillor Holyday moves receipt of the councillor salary increase item. If approved, that means no action will be taken. "If we do this, it further erodes people's confidence in government," he explains.
Councillor Chris Moise, on the other hand, moves to increase councillor salaries, at the level of the staff recommendations.
Councillor Shelley Carroll, the budget chief, moves to increase councillor salaries to $166K, foregoing their scheduled CPI increase this year. A bit of a compromise.
Carroll says the fairest way to do this would be for council to adjust their salaries at the end of a council term, to take effect at the start of the next term. She recommends doing that next term.
"These are hard times. These are desperately hard times. And we need the best in this city to want to join us in the chamber," says Carroll. She questions whether council can attract good candidates if they don't keep salaries up.
Councillor Pasternak moves to call the question, so they can proceed straight to voting on the salary hike. Motion to call the question CARRIES 15-7. Vote was not displayed on screen.
Councillor Holyday's motion to receive the report and keep councillor salaries where they are FAILS 5-18.
Councillor Moise's motion to increase councillor salaries to $170,588.60 (from $137,537.40) CARRIES 15-8.
Deputy Mayor Malik voted incorrectly, so they try to do a redo, but motion to re-open the councillor salary item doesn't get the two-thirds support it needs, 14-9. Anyway. Council moves on.
Council votes 22-0 to APPROVE moving forward with a Tamil Community Centre at 311 Staines Road in Scarborough. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Perruzza rises on a point of order to apologize for being mean to Carroll earlier. Nunziata says that's not a proper point of order. "If you love her so much, go and hug her — we're in the middle of a Council meeting!" She laments that council "becomes crazy" when they extend into the evening.
Council is now debating a $137 million contract award to GFL for multi-residential garbage collection. Councillors Myers and Fletcher are expressing concerns about GFL's environmental record. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Council presses pause on the GFL contract item because they want legal staff to look at whether they can defer or even cancel the award. TBD.
Meanwhile, Council votes 15-7 to APPROVE an application for an 11-storey building at 104-114 Finch Avenue East. The local councillor, Lily Cheng, expressed concerns about traffic turning onto Willowdale Avenue and causing back-ups. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Councillor Stephen Holyday wants to vote against a plan to widen a sidewalk on a short section of King East, at George Street. Okay, sure, whatever. It's APPROVED 16-3. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Council votes via a show of hands to approve hiking the remuneration for members of the TCHC Board. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
City Legal staff say it's okay to take some more time before awarding the GFL waste collection contract, so it gets deferred until next meeting.
And that wraps things up! Council's March 2025 is officially in the books. We learned and laughed and loved. If you liked this thread, consider supporting me with a subscription to my newsletter, City Hall Watcher. It's what makes these threads possible. toronto.cityhallwatcher.com/subscribe