Buried by deferral
39 Wynford Drive heritage designation deferred to next term; separate motion on Ontario Heritage Act time limits passed
Planning and Housing Committee deferred a staff recommendation to designate a 1962 Modernist office building (39 Wynford Drive) under the Ontario Heritage Act until the next council term, citing procedural timing tied to a concurrent redevelopment application. In parallel, Councillor Matlow moved and the committee carried a separate request to the province for a three-year extension of the Ontario Heritage Act designation deadline, citing pressure on cities to fast-track heritage decisions.
The deferral of 39 Wynford to next term occurs at the last planning meeting before the election cycle changes. Matlow's separate motion on the provincial time limits suggests the deferral itself is partly a response to an externally-imposed deadline problem.
Who did what
- Councillor Josh Matlow (Ward 12) movedMoved motion requesting premier and Minister of Citizenship to extend Ontario Heritage Act designation deadline by 3 years (Jan 1, 2027 to Jan 1, 2030) for all properties on municipal heritage registers; also moved to request mayor work with GTA municipalities and AMO on the matter.
From the floor
“The provincial government has made a decision to forcefully remove heritage listed properties and make it very very difficult to ensure that there is a reasonable time frame to be able to consider whether or not these properties be fully designated. It makes it difficult for our heritage planning staff to do the work that they love and are committed to doing. And it also risks the demolition of countless properties throughout our city and across Ontario that we value and want to see preserved.”Councillor Josh Matlow (Ward 12)
“I believe that good planning can accommodate both. That good planning means that we have housing supply, we have supply of affordable units, we have school capacity and parks and infrastructure and yes, places like the Sneakydes and great cultural institutions to enjoy along with preserving what we have always loved that really tells us who we are.”Councillor Josh Matlow (Ward 12)
“That will come back to the first regular planning meeting of the next term which I believe is in December maybe January but a notice will go out of when that meeting is.”Speaker not identified
Also in this item
• Ontario Heritage Act designation deadline creates time pressure on municipalities: properties must be formally designated within a set window or are removed from the heritage register, creating a 'forced demolition' scenario for buildings listed but not yet designated. Matlow's motion highlights that the province has tightened this timeline, affecting Toronto's capacity to assess heritage value.
The journey
You can still act
On the Toronto City Council agenda for 2026-07-29
Public comment closed for the 39 Wynford item at this meeting; the separate motion requesting a provincial extension has carried and moves to Council. Residents concerned about heritage preservation can contact their councillors before the Council vote on Matlow's motion.
Decision
Item 39 Wynford Drive designation deferred to first regular planning meeting of next term (December or January); Councillor Matlow's motion requesting provincial extension of Ontario Heritage Act time limits carried unanimously.
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