Toronto Council meets today! First item up for debate after preliminaries will be the new transit deal between Doug Ford and John Tory. Streaming live here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpr8ayR5gDM
If you missed it, this week’s issue of @cityhallwatcher includes a full Council meeting preview, plus some analysis of Kensington Market retail that includes an animated pie chart. https://graphicmatt.substack.com/p/city-hall-watcher-42-the-new-kings
Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam has added a member motion to this week’s agenda asking Council to condemn Quebec’s Bill 21 and “reaffirm the City's commitment to upholding religious freedoms.” http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2019.MM11.20
Councillor Frances Nunziata is still using the opening bars of Bob Seger’s “Old Time Rock and Roll” as her ringtone.
Huh. Councillor Stephen Holyday moves to bring all the items from the most recent Audit Committee agenda forward and add them to this agenda. They weren’t due for debate in this chamber until November 26. Includes the report re: Presto reliability.
Holyday’s motion carries. So the agenda just got longer with the addition of a bunch of audit items.
After the Infrastructure & Environment Committee rejected his attempt to get a report on improving snow clearing on sidewalks, Councillor Mike Layton moves to seize the item from committee and debate it at Council.
Layton doesn’t expect this to pass, because most councillors represent areas that already have sidewalk snow clearing. But, he says, the busy pedestrian areas downtown don’t get the service - “enormous accessibility issue.”
Councillor James Pasternak rises to oppose Layton’s motion. “Nothing but a Trojan Horse motion,” he says, that will lead to a long downtown versus suburbs debate about fairness. He wants this talked about during the budget process, not now.
Deputy Mayor Denzil Minnan-Wong also opposes Layton’s motion. He says people in the suburbs also have trouble maneuvering strollers when it snows. Also thinks this should be talked about during the budget process, not now.
Councillor Gord Perks says if people are facing snow-related accessibility problems in the suburbs too then that’s something to be addressed, not a reason to do nothing. Instead of debating important safety issue, “some members of this Council just want it swept away.”
Perks uses the word “scurrilous” to conclude his speech. Councillor Paula Fletcher: “I’m going to look that up now - scurrilous.” #scurrilous
Layton’s motion needs two-thirds to pass, which is not going to happen, but this works as an opportunity for downtown councillors to make a point about the need for more sidewalk snow clearing.
“This is our last opportunity to address this coming season,” says Councillor Josh Matlow. He points out more sidewalk snow clearing is something mayor’s office endorsed last year. “But when you look at this, does it look like they care? At all? I’m not convinced.”
“I think we need a reality check,” says Matlow. “Try bringing your kids down here. Try walking with a friend who’s in a wheelchair or on crutches or moving with a cane. Try that! We have an opportunity to be leaders here.”
Interesting: Councillor Ana Bailao speaks in favour of bringing this sidewalk snow clearing item forward.
It’s weird that Tory’s office hasn’t been actively supporting this. All Layton wanted was a report. No $$$ implication (yet). Odd place to take a stand.
Here’s what we’re talking about here: areas that get mechanical sidewalk snow clearing versus areas that do not.
And here’s a map of slip and fall injuries. Strong correlation between unplowed sidewalk areas and people getting hurt.
Councillor Stephen Holyday chimes in: “I don’t even have a sidewalk in front of my house!”
“I’ve seen snowplows that have ripped entire timbers out of the ground, because it’s dark,” warns Holyday.
Councillor Karygiannis and Councillor Lai also sound kind of positive on Layton’s motion. And now Councillor Thompson says he’s struggling with the issue — could Layton’s motion actually pass?
Mayor John Tory is up now. He says the consultant’s report recommended a sidewalk snow clearing pilot, and that’s what the City is doing. (Consultant recommended a much more expansive pilot than what City is pursuing.)
Consultant HDR recommended a pilot encompassing 250 kilometres of sidewalk. City staff scaled that back to smaller-scale test on some streets with seniors and people with disabilities.
Councillor Mike Layton asks Tory to acknowledge that the planned pilot is smaller than what the consultants recommended. Tory says sure, but the smaller pilot was endorsed by staff. Layton wants to know how many km will actually be plowed. Tory says 150 km.
I believe that’s the first time someone has given that 150 kilometre figure. Would have been good info to come to Council in a report. In fact, a request for that number was part of the Layton motion the Infrastructure & Environment voted down.
I am still baffled by this. Had the committee voted for Layton’s report request, they’d: a) be having basically this exact debate; b) have more information ahead of the budget process.
Councillor Mike Layton’s motion to bring the sidewalk snow clearing debate to Council FAILS 13-12. Needed two-thirds to pass.
Every councillor who voted against Layton’s motion represents an area that gets mechanical sidewalk snow clearing.
Agenda adopted. 123 items. First up: transit. These are usually pretty quick, right?
TTC staff confirm the only Ontario Line design work done to date is conceptual. The contractor who wins the bid will be responsible for geotechnical design, etc. OL is “between zero and ten percent design” now, which is a hell of a spread.
“Don’t you think that’s VERY optimistic?” Mike Colle asks TTC staff of the 2027 Ontario Line date. TTC staffer says it’s basically impossible to assess the timeline because the province wasn’t able to provide any details.
The Ontario Line was so named because it was pitched as running from the Ontario Science Centre to Ontario Place, but the western terminus is actually Exhibition Place. So I demand they rename it. ExO Line?
Council is still on the staff questions portion of the transit debate as they head into lunch. Back at 2 p.m. for the remaining questions, then speeches & motions, then votes.
Council is back. After some housekeeping, they’ll jump right back into the transit debate. No one appears to be dressed like a Jedi so I don’t know what the point of anything even is. You can stream live here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96Bxa1rHAok
On to speakers now. Councillor Josh Matlow is up first, with some motions. He’d moves to replace the three-stop Scarborough subway in the deal with a Scarborough LRT.
Matlow also moves to use the savings from swapping out the Scarborough Subway on the Eglinton East LRT, and to build the Eglinton West LRT above ground.
Matlow’s motion also asks the province to provide “project specifications including transit mode type, track gauge, number of stations, and capacity” prior to the City reallocating federal funds to the Ontario Line.
Councillor Mike Layton moves to add inclusionary zoning and affordable housing requirements to the transit-oriented development in the transit deal.
Layton also moves to have the TTC ensure they’ve got enough buses for if/when the SRT dies.
Layton’s last motion is interesting. He’s asking for the a report on a one percent increase to the City Building Fund property tax levy, with funds going to speeding up TTC capital projects.
Councillor Paula Fletcher moves three motions: - study the impact of the Ontario Line on rail bridges through east-side of the city - look at separation requirements between passenger and heavy rail. - Analyze lost development potential at Riverdale Plaza due to Ontario Line.
Fletcher shows a video of GO and VIA trains passing through Leslieville. They are pretty loud and rumbly.
Councillor Mike Colle moves that Toronto ask the province to delay up-zoning of Yonge-Eglinton until after the Ontario Line is built.
Deputy Mayor Denzil Minnan-Wong, while pausing to bash Layton for wanting to explore raising property taxes to accelerate transit construction, moves a few motions on behalf of TTC chair Jaye Robinson.
Councillor John Filion moves to make extra double sure the Ontario Line opens BEFORE the Yonge North subway.
Filion on the province backing away from the upload of the TTC subway system: “They cased the place, then decided it wasn’t worth taking.”
Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam wants to ensure maintenance work done on new and existing transit lines will be handled by TTC workers.
Councillor Jim Karygiannis moves to ask the other levels of government to consider funding the Sheppard Subway extension. Inevitable.
Councillor McKelvie is up. No video. No Jedi costume. No Star Wars references. Haven’t been this disappointed since Phantom Menace opened with a bunch of talk about trade tariffs.
Councillor Gord Perks has a motion adding a new requirement to the transit deal: that the provincial and federal governments pay 2/3rds of TTC state of good repair costs.
Perks: “We’ve been had. We’ve been completely swindled. We’ve had our pockets picked. We’ve been tricked. We’ve been fooled.”
Councillor Gord Perks: “It is LITERALLY the worst transit deal that has ever been put in front of this Council. It is utterly shocking to me that any of you would ever consider this.” Reading between the lines: don’t think he likes this deal.
Perks: “This is all just fantasy. You’re chasing chimera. It is ridiculous. We have lost the plot. And because we’ve lost the plot, Premier Ford picked our pocket … you know how you spell transit failure in Toronto? F-O-R-D.”
Councillor Stephen Holyday has a prop. It’s his least impressive prop yet. A real misfire prop-wise after the relative sucess of the life vest and rose-coloured glasses.
Councillor Joe Cressy’s turn. He wants the City and TTC to make sure fare integration is incorporated into this deal. No fare-by-distance.
Cressy says he thinks this Council will be back in a year discussing changes to the Ontario Line driven by cost escalation as actual design work is completed. Seems like a safe bet.
Free template of a Generic Council Transit Speech you can use again and again: “People don’t care about the details of [latest transit plan]. They just want to see something built!”
Mayor John Tory: “I’m for building, not for fighting.” He says the negotiations between the province and the city were tough, but he’s happy with where things ended up.
Councillor Matlow’s motion to replace the Scarborough Subway with an LRT FAILS 8-17.
Councillor Layton’s motion to add inclusionary zoning and affordable housing requirements near transit to the deal FAILS 8-17.
Councillor Perks’ motion to make the deal conditional on other govs paying two-thirds of TTC repair costs FAILS 8-17. Getting repetitive!
Layton’s motion to ask the province to include affordable housing in transit-oriented development plans CARRIES 24-1.
Matlow’s motion requesting the province allocate savings from switching to Scarborough LRT toward the Eglinton East LRT FAILS 5-20.
Matlow’s motion to request the province build the Eglinton LRT above ground and reallocate savings to other projects FAILS 7-18.
Layton’s motion to make sure the TTC has enough buses to cover for the SRT when it fails CARRIES 25-0.
Layton’s request for a report on increasing the City Building Fund property tax levy by 1% to fund transit FAILS 7-18.
Fletcher’s motion asking for a study of the rail bridges through Leslieville CARRIES 23-2.
Fletcher’s motion requesting the City tell Metrolinx about safety requirements re: separation of heavy rail and passenger rail CARRIES 24-1.
Fletcher’s motion requesting analysis of development opportunities at Riverdale Plaza if Ontario Line portal is built there CARRIES 24-1.
Colle’s motion directing the City to tell the province Eglinton Station will be REALLY busy when the Crosstown opens CARRIES 25-0.
Minnan-Wong’s motion, placed on Robinson’s behalf, that Council confirm capacity/ reliability improvements on Line 1 are the top priority CARRIES 25-0.
Filion’s motion making EXTRA sure the Yonge North extension doesn’t open before the Ontario Line CARRIES 25-0.
Wong-Tam’s motion affirming support for TTC workers handling maintenance on new and existing lines CARRIES 23-2.
Carroll’s motion requesting a timeline for negotiating a joint operating subsidy with the provincial government CARRIES 25-0.
Carroll’s request for a report on the TTC’s state of good repair situation CARRIES 25-0.
Councillor Jim Karygiannis’ motion asking feds and province to consider Sheppard Subway extension in future stages of transit planning CARRIES 17-8.
Tory’s next key item is the optimization of the City’s real estate portfolio. There is… considerably less interest in this. It passes with no questions and no speeches, 24-0.
Council adopts an implementation strategy for the Parks & Rec master plan, 25-0.
New report with updated details on the 2020 cuts to municipal child care programs. Total cut is $5.58 million. https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2019/cc/bgrd/backgroundfile-139465.pdf (PDF)
On to road safety. Councillor Cynthia Lai moves to NOT lower the speed limit on Markham Road, as staff have recommended. She says she conducted a show-of-hands poll at a community meeting, and the hands indicated they didn’t want the limit lowered.
Councillor Mike Layton notes the wait time for the installation of traffic lights after Council approval is a year-and-half. Again, a good time to plug my Star column today about doing things faster: https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/2019/10/29/how-toronto-can-improve-transit-and-road-safety-in-days-rather-than-years.html
Speaker Frances Nunziata says she’ll oppose Lai’s move to maintain the speed limit. Nunziata has gone from a bike lane skeptic in the Ford years to a fierce advocate for road safety measures and bike lanes. It’s been quite a shift.
Councillor Anthony Perruzza: “You get hit at 20 km/h, or 30 or 50 or 60, you’re in really big trouble. Doesn’t matter what speed you get hit at.” That is contradicted by probably every Vision Zero report this Council has ever received.
Councillor Cynthia Lai’s motion to maintain the 60 km/h speed limit on Markham Road FAILS 3-22. (Took ‘em three tries to get this vote right. Time to head home.)
Council is done for the day. Back tomorrow with 38 items left on the agenda. (Plus a few more just added but not yet available.)
Freshly added to Council’s agenda: Councillor Michael Thompson wants the City to conduct a pilot project using “pedestrian detection technologies” to improve road safety. http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2019.MM11.28
Council is back for day two, with 45 items left on the agenda. After preliminaries, they’re set to debate provincial cuts to child care. Stream here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CVccTeUA9k
After Council adopted an appointment item yesterday, Toronto’s new Integrity Commissioner is Jonathan Batty. Potential nicknames: J-Bats, Batman. https://www.toronto.ca/home/media-room/news-releases-media-advisories/?nrkey=48E16DBAA4BC82E5852584A2007984A6
Toronto Wolfpack mascot Jefferson is in the chamber to celebrate the city’s rugby team.
Don’t know why they opted to use this mascot for this presentation instead of the other Wolfpack team mascot, Gordo.
A notable thing about this Council meeting is that there are no tree removal items up for debate. I’m a bit sad because dramatically livetweeting tree debates is one of my favourite bits.
On to the child care item. Cressy gets us started asking staff about the average cost of child care in Toronto. Average cost for an infant is $22,000 a year. For a toddler it’s $17,000 a year.
Here’s what the provincial cuts to child care look like. Initially, City thought they were facing a $15 million cut, but province recently backtracked and announced $12.2 million added to core funding, so net cut to operating funds is $2.8 million. But future year funding TBD.
Councillor Joe Cressy moves to call on the provincial government to implement multi-year child care budgets so the City can plan ahead with child care programs and not be worried about cuts all the time.
Cressy’s motion to request the Ministry of Education implement multi-year budgets for child care so the City can actually plan ahead CARRIES 22-0.
Council now headed into private session to talk cyber security and ransomware.
Back in public session, the cyber security item and a couple of other audit reports get passed unanimously. Now on lunch until 2 p.m.
Council is back for the afternoon session. They’ll be dealing with member motions, which includes Councillor Wong-Tam’s motion to review policies re: library room rental. Streaming live here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWfRm56O0tU
No sign of any costumes on the Council floor. So let’s remember a more interesting time: October 31, 2012. (Photos by @donpeat.)
Motion by Councillor Mike Colle requesting the police establish a Community Police Office in Lawrence Heights CARRIES 20-5. (This is an interesting vote result!)
Councillor Colle’s motion requesting a traffic calming study for the Upper Avenue Road area CARRIES 23-1.
Councillor Wong-Tam’s motion calling for a review on policies for room rental in libraries and other public spaces gets added to the agenda after an 18-4 vote. Minnan-Wong holds it for debate. They’ll come back to it.
Councillor Brad Bradford’s motion calling for a report on how to prevent cars from speeding and crashing into homes at Woodbine & Lake Shore CARRIES 24-0.
Councillor Wong-Tam’s motion calling for Council to condemn Quebec’s Bill 21 — the ban on religious symbols — CARRIES 24-0.
Councillor Thompson’s motion to conduct a road safety pilot using “pedestrian detection technologies” CARRIES 23-1.
Ten items left on the agenda. Next up: the auditor’s damning report on issues and glitches with the Presto fare system. There’s not a whole lot Council can do about this, as it’s a Metrolinx thing.
Well, that was fast. The auditor’s report on Presto is adopted on a voice vote with no debate.
Council now debating whether contractors should be allowed to display lawn signs advertising their business for seven days or thirty days when doing work in residential homes. Feel the excitement.
Councillor Ana Bailao moves to set the fine for improperly displaying an Open House sign at $500. Real estate agents beware.
Councillor Paula Fletcher has now moved to refer this sign item back to committee for more consideration.
Fletcher’s motion to refer the sign item back to committee for more consideration CARRIES 17-5. See you sometime in the future for more scintillating signage debate.
Council now debating whether to raise the Moroccan flag at Mel Lastman Square to celebrate the anniversary of Moroccan independence. Councillor Stephen Holyday has concerns about the city’s flag policy.
Councillor Stephen Holyday explains the Moroccan flag was already raised this year, so he can’t support contravening the flag policy to let the same flag rise again. He worries it’ll prompt a wave of flag raising requests.
Council votes 20-1 to allow the Moroccan flag to be raised at Mel Lastman Square on November 17.
Council is now on the item about reviewing the city’s policies re: library room rental. You can watch live here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWfRm56O0tU
Councillor Wong-Tam has revised her motion to include consultation with LGBTQ2S+ people. Calling for a report delivered in Q1 2020. https://x.com/TorontoCouncil/status/1189643451593379840
Councillor Wong-Tam’s motion calling for a review of policies governing use of community spaces CARRIES 20-1.
That concludes the agenda of this meeting of Toronto Council. Next scheduled meeting starts November 26.
As always, if you dug this thread of Council coverage, you can show your support by signing up for a subscription to my @CityHallWatcher newsletter. Monday’s issue will include a rundown of Council votes PLUS a fresh edition of Lobbyist Watch. https://cityhallwatcher.com