In our coverage
City Council backed a letter to the federal government asking for a National Fire Administration to coordinate wildfire responseCouncil voted to send a letter of support to the federal government urging the creation of a National Fire Administration within Public Safety Canada to coordinate wildfire preparedness and emergency response across Canada's roughly 3,200 fire departments. The motion, moved by Councillor Paul Ainslie and seconded by Councillor Rachel Chernos Lin, commits no municipal spending and is advisory on a federal matter.743 Warden Avenue Section 37 agreement amended to unblock Phase 3 housingCity Council voted to amend a 2015 legal agreement on a mixed-use development in Scarborough, allowing residential townhouses to begin construction once either commercial block reaches site plan approval rather than waiting for actual construction to start. This removes a timing barrier on Phase 3 of the project, potentially accelerating housing supply on a long-stalled site.Council approves increased arborist staffing and tree maintenance budgetCity Council voted to increase resources for tree maintenance and arborist staffing to address backlogs in routine pruning across Toronto neighbourhoods. The motion aims to support the city's 40 percent tree canopy target by 2050 and reduce safety hazards from delayed pruning. The vote was unanimous.Council releases $5 million to build park at Yonge and Church with Indigenous Place Keeping focusCity Council is authorizing release of $5 million in development-secured funds to build a new park at 819 Yonge Street and 876 Church Street, emphasizing Indigenous Place Keeping. The park was previously authorized; this motion funds full completion including demolition, site servicing, construction and public art.City Council amends highway dedication at Sewells Road and Brenyon Way to remove a conditionCity Council is amending a previous decision to dedicate a strip of land at 25 Sewells Road and 182-250 Brenyon Way as a public highway. The amendment removes a condition that was blocking a rental apartment development from satisfying its site plan approval requirements. The dedication allows the applicant to proceed with the project.adoptedTempo Basketball Club long-term lease and community access agreement for 701 Fleet Street performance centreThe city authorized a long-term lease and community access agreement with Tempo Basketball Club Inc. for a portion of the property at 701 Fleet Street. The Executive Committee amended and recommended the authorization on July 21, 2026, with nine directives including requirements to negotiate a lease and community access agreement, secure city programming access, establish a construction management agreement, and protect confidential negotiation details. Toronto City Council adopted the amended item on July 29, 2026.adoptedCity reviews reserve funds status; Ainslie renews calls for province to pay institutions in lieu of property taxThe item asked City Council to approve changes to the city's reserve funds as of December 31, 2025. The Executive Committee adopted the recommendations on July 21, 2026, which included establishing a new vehicle reserve for Environment, Climate and Forestry, renaming three existing reserves to reflect divisional name changes, redirecting the Tree Canopy Reserve Fund to Environment, Climate and Forestry, and transferring $12.6 million between reserve funds. City Council adopted all the same measures on July 29, 2026.adoptedHeads and Beds levy on institutions renewed, with annual plea to the province to update the frozen $75 rateThe item asks the city to authorize collection of the 2026 Heads and Beds Levy on colleges, universities, public hospitals and correctional facilities at $75 per bed or student place, with payment due September 21, 2026. The Executive Committee amended and recommended the measure on July 21, 2026. Toronto City Council adopted it on July 29 and 30, 2026, and also requested that the Province of Ontario update the levy rate to $186.08 per head or bed to account for inflation since 1987.The consent block: variance reports, AGMs, arena boards, utility corridorsThis item, a consent calendar combining multiple city council matters, was presented to the Executive Committee on July 21, 2026. No recorded vote has been filed for this item.adoptedChild Care Expansion in High-Inequity Neighbourhoods; Update on Workforce and Funding BarriersThis item asked the Economic and Community Development Committee to receive a report on building local capacity to deliver child care in high inequity neighbourhoods. On July 14, 2026, the committee adopted a recommendation to receive the June 29, 2026 report from the Interim General Manager of Children's Services for information.amended125 Presley Avenue fence exemption approved; rear fences exceed code by 37–87 cmScarborough Community Council unanimously approved an exemption allowing rear fences at 125 Presley Avenue to exceed the municipal height limit by 37–87 centimeters on different sides. The property had received a violation notice from Municipal Licensing and Standards. The exemption resolves the code violation at this single residential site.adoptedWard 20 Car-Share Expansion Deferred; Council Seeks More Community Input on Development ImpactScarborough Community Council unanimously deferred a staff recommendation to expand free-floating car-sharing into Ward 20 (Cliffside area), citing insufficient community engagement and concerns about cumulative development impacts. The deferral allows further discussion between residents, the city, and developers before a decision is made; the councillors flagged traffic, parking, environmental, and school-capacity concerns in the neighbourhood.
Every story we have published that names this member, whether they moved the item, amended it, pressed on it, dissented, or were quoted in the room. Stories exist for the meetings the pipeline has covered, so this list reflects our archive rather than the member’s full activity. Their whole voting record is on the vote log.
In the news
Back to Councillor Paul Ainslie · Every recorded vote · Lobbying contacts