It’s Time for A Change - Adding Infant Changing Stations in all City-Owned Public Buildings - by Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam, seconded by Councillor Mike Layton

Moreover, it is prohibitive to many same sex couples and single parents. In 2019, New York State adopted new laws which require that any public building shall provide diaper changing accommodations regardless of the gender for which the restroom is designed, and establishes that this provision applies to restrooms constructed or substantially renovated on or after the effective date of the law. It also requires compliance with laws regarding access for persons with disabilities and with existing fire, health, and safety standards. To see this change mandated across the Province, there would need to be a change to the Ontario Building Codes, but there is nothing preventing the City of Toronto from requiring this progressive design element as a guideline in all new city-owned buildings. Furthermore, an increasing number of cities are looking at pursuing more inclusive services for people of all genders and sexes, including transgender, transsexual, intersex and gender-variant populations. If the City of Toronto wants to pride itself on being at the forefront of inclusivity, we need to ensure that our buildings include inclusive facilities.

2. City Council request the Province of Ontario to review the current Ontario Building Code requirements for washrooms to better accommodate gender identity and expression and that the Code require accessible infant changing stations in all public washrooms and washrooms added in any new public buildings or during a substantial renovation.