Who did what

• Councillor Ausma Malik (Ward 10) moved and amendedMoved motions protecting the land for Exhibition Place/CNE events and exploring a soccer mini-pitch; pressed staff on whether the city was subsidizing the Tempo
• Councillor Shelley Carroll (Ward 17) questioned staffQuestioned how the community access compares to other cities and to OVO, and about sponsored inspirational events for youth

From the floor

“So I just want to be very clear. Does that mean that the city is not subsidizing the tempo at all?”Councillor Ausma Malik (Ward 10)

“That's correct.”City staff

“The physical contributions by the tempo, the construction of the park as well as the community facilities and the community access hours exceed the market value of the land.”City staff

“What was there before? A really ugly parking lot. And the city have said we need to turn it into a park. Yeah, we don't have the $100 million.”Mayor Olivia Chow

“This upcoming CNE is not interrupted at all. It will go on as planned.”City staff

Also in this item

• Staff confirmed the deal is a market-rate transaction paid in physical contributions rather than cash, with contributions exceeding the appraised land value, no city subsidy.

• The 2,260 guaranteed community hours, run year-round by the city, are said to surpass precedents like the OVO Centre and Ontario Tennis Association agreements.

• Displacing the parking lot affects Exhibition Place/CNE use; staff are still negotiating mitigation including possible replacement land, with work continuing 'in the coming months.'

The journey

You can still act

On the Toronto City Council agenda for 2026-07-29

Not final, goes to City Council for a final vote. Residents can contact their councillor before that vote or watch for the Council agenda item.

Decision

Executive Committee unanimously adopted the staff recommendations plus Councillor/Deputy Mayor Malik's motions (protecting the land's role for CNE/Royal Agricultural Fair events and exploring a soccer mini-pitch), recommending the long-term lease and community access agreement to City Council.

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Who did what

• Councillor Gord Perks (Ward 4) movedMoved and carried Deputy Mayor Malik's motion on the item; asked several pressing questions of staff about whether a formal plan exists, corporate beneficiaries, and the city's red lines; summarized that city staff and public have not been given full plans and the beneficiaries remain hidden.

From the floor

“The city is the party that has the planning responsibilities to residents. The city is the party that has to think about waterfront neighborhoods, schools, daycares, parks, complete communities, and the long-term integrity of the central waterfront vision. And the city is the level of government most clearly grounded in the daily reality that of people who bear those costs.”Speaker not identified

“Our waterfront is priceless. Our health is priceless and I have no intention of letting them take these things away from us for the sake of their profits.”Speaker not identified

“The current proposal would run right across that sailing area and constrain navigation through there. And jet blast wind speed at the edge of the marine exclusion zone boundary could cause small recreational boats to become unstable or at risk of capsizing.”Speaker not identified

“Research from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego has confirmed that sewage polluted water can transfer into the atmosphere through aerosols which can carry bacteria and chemical compounds from the water into the air where they can travel inland and expose people who never enter the water.”Speaker not identified

“The province and the Toronto Port Authority need to publicly reveal their plans, their business case, and the studies related to the expansion of the island airport. Torontonians and the public deserve to have those answers and to be seen very clearly in terms of whose interest this is all happening in.”Councillor Ausma Malik (Ward 10)

“The airport itself appears to be an entity that is being directed entirely from a foreign country. And it is very disturbing for people to find that out and I know we all want to know more.”Councillor Paula Fletcher (Ward 14)

“As of today, we do not know what person or persons or corporate entity ultimately controls and benefits from any proposal to expand that facility. So we can't really see through the corporate veil to know who the man behind the curtain is.”Councillor Gord Perks (Ward 4)

Also in this item

• JP Morgan Investment Management (a subsidiary of JP Morgan Chase) is identified as an affiliate of the Infrastructure Investment Fund, which owns Newport Aviation (operator of Billy Bishop terminal). The report traces Newport ownership through Affinity Terminal Partners LP and NIPGP Trust, but city staff cannot determine ultimate controlling interests without retaining a specialist consultant. Staff were unable to verify who appoints Newport's board or controls its direction.

• The 2017 Porter proposal environmental assessment showed that closing the western gap of the inner harbor would reduce water inflow by over 50% and double the average residence time of water in the harbor. This is known to correlate with degraded water quality, increased E. coli and nutrients, higher risk of beach closures, and health effects for lake users. Current plans for a 600m+ runway extension would worsen these impacts.

• City staff confirmed they have not been provided a formal, comprehensive plan by the Toronto Port Authority or the province. The media reports suggest a 10-million-passenger capacity with potential expropriation of Little Norway Park and waterfront land, but no official plan has been submitted. Staff cannot assess impacts without a formal proposal.

• The report identifies that new buildings near the expanded airport would require enhanced building envelopes, non-operable windows, mechanical-only ventilation, and outdoor-space restrictions. The current ASHRAE ventilation standard (62.1) was not designed to protect against fine particulate matter or airborne pathogens, creating public health risks during power outages that coincide with poor-air-quality and heat events.

The journey

You can still act

On the Toronto City Council agenda for 2026-07-29

Residents can contact councillors before the next council vote on any motions arising from this committee discussion, respond to the federal government's summer 2026 consultation on the Tripartite Agreement, and continue submitting deputations if further committee hearings are held. A supplemental staff report addressing corporate-ownership transparency is expected at council.

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Who did what

• A citizen commissioner questioned staffPressed on when Line 5/6 data will enter standard reporting and on plans to mitigate the budget shortfall.
• Councillor Dianne Saxe (Ward 11) questioned staffPressed on cost to convert the streetcar network to double-ended switches (~$160M, unfunded) and which FIFA enhancements continue before the 2027 report.

From the floor

“Both uh the transit party lanes on Bath and Duffren will be um stay installed and so we'll continue to report and track on that with the city because of the rapid to program.”City staff

“That effectively translates to is circa 13.5 million below budget.”Speaker not identified

“I think of the digital signs on Duffren and when I saw them I just I don't know I felt like I left my body. It was so cool.”Councillor Alejandra Bravo (Ward 9)

“through the chair at this point it's a very high level estimate. It's about $160 million.”City staff

“We have lots of information about how great it was during FIFA. We don't have a clear plan for what's going to keep service as good as it can be pending the larger report.”Councillor Dianne Saxe (Ward 11)

Also in this item

• Bathurst and Dufferin RapidTO transit-priority lanes are now permanent, confirmed on the record; commissioners flagged this as proof of concept for extending priority lanes to St. Clair, Eglinton and Scarborough.

• TTC is running ~$13.5M under its revenue budget year-to-date and is targeting ~$80M in efficiencies/savings by year-end, with the shortfall projected to continue amid fuel, materials and tariff pressures.

• A nine-month camera pilot began July 20 recording vehicles that pass streetcars while doors are open; 2014-2024 data cited 141 such pass-by incidents endangering boarding passengers.

• Line 5 Eglinton and Line 6 Finch ridership is still not broken out in standard reporting because the data is controlled by Metrolinx; combined light-rail boardings cited at ~91k.

• Converting the entire streetcar network to double-ended switches would cost roughly $160M and is unfunded, requiring cuts to other priorities.

The journey

What happens next

A fuller World Cup evaluation report with prioritized recommendations comes to the board in early 2027; residents can depute then and can contact councillors about extending priority lanes to other corridors, which staff said would return to city council and the TTC board for approval.

Decision

Board received the CEO's report (motion moved by the Chair, carried).

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Who did what

• Councillor Alejandra Bravo (Ward 9) movedSignaled intention to move a motion on the staffing crisis and provincial cost-sharing.
• Councillor Shelley Carroll (Ward 17) questioned staffQuestioned fire inspection percentages by ward, scope of fire code enforcement (fire risk vs. carbon monoxide), and NextGen 911 data-sharing to reduce medical call response growth.

From the floor

“As of today I pulled the numbers for July; Toronto Fire Service has 222 firefighters off on WSIB. To put that into perspective we have 125 trucks available for dispatch every single day. That represents 15 of those out of service every single day just on WSIB.”City staff

“The training and mandatory certification costs are north of 5 to 8 million now annually that we have to do by law or we cannot provide those services to the citizens.”City staff

“So without provincial support and looking at the workforce cost impact the training impact, we either need more funding from the property tax base or it puts it in a position where you can't not deliver the service because that's not really an option.”Councillor Alejandra Bravo (Ward 9)

“There's been a substantial increase in lithium battery calls. You know a lot of them are in my ward in Toronto center, in St. Jamestown, in Regent Park. Two months ago we had 15 overdoses in one park in one day.”A councillor

Also in this item

• 222 firefighters currently off on WSIB mental health claims; 15 of 125 fire trucks sit idle daily as a result. Retirements will accelerate in 2027–2028, compounding the crisis.

• Lithium-ion battery fires increased 214% in 2025 (62 fires vs. 22 in 2023); identified as the greatest growing public fire safety risk in the city.

• Provincial training mandate (Ontario Regulation 34322) requires certification for all 2,800+ firefighters, inspectors, and dispatchers, costing $5–8 million annually with no provincial funding.

• Encampment fires reduced 37% (78 fewer fires in 2025 vs. 2024) through interdivisional collaboration with shelter and housing divisions.

The journey

You can still act

On the Toronto City Council agenda for 2026-07-29

Residents can contact their councillors before the next fire budget vote or council decision on provincial cost-sharing advocacy. A motion is expected at committee or council on this item.

Decision

Item received for information; no motion passed. Chief flagged the staffing crisis as requiring urgent action from council and the province, but council deferred substantive response to a separate motion process.

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Who did what

• Councillor Josh Matlow (Ward 12) moved and amendedMoved to forward the report to other governments and continue the advisory work
• Councillor Gord Perks (Ward 4) questioned staffPressed that forwarding a constitutional-relationship report requires government-to-government consultation with the Mississaugas of the Credit first
• Councillor Alejandra Bravo (Ward 9) questioned staffArgued the Mississaugas of the Credit are title rights holders with a treaty and cannot be treated as just another group to forward an item to
• Councillor Stephen Holyday (Ward 2) questioned staffQuestioned the whole direction, raised risks of local government running amok and duplicated services across the Mississauga border
• Councillor Neethan Shan (Ward 25) questioned staffAsked staff whether forwarding the report would be interpreted as council's position

From the floor

“The province, however, while committed to that principle in theory, has often disregarded it in practice. Municipalities have no secure autonomy.”Speaker not identified

“We're disappointed in the recommendation that the city manager has made accompanying our report to have it subject to further study with another report to come back to the executive committee a year from now. Frankly that strikes us as the wrong approach.”Speaker not identified

“For something where we would be considering changing constitutional relationships, do you think that part of the work that needs to be done before council takes a position on this would be that government-to-government conversation with the Mississaugas of the credit?”Councillor Gord Perks (Ward 4)

“You can't say they're just like every other group. They have a treaty with the crown. They are an order of government.”Councillor Alejandra Bravo (Ward 9)

“With your support, I'm going to remove item one, deal with that later, and then I'm going to keep number two and all is well, and let's move forward.”Councillor Josh Matlow (Ward 12)

“If we had multiple meetings of council over the next few months, might be a bit of a different scenario, but based on the time we have now, it's it's going to be the next term of council.”City staff

“So this was not an attempt in any way to delay it needlessly, but it is for us to bring back to you some other considerations.”City staff

“There's an unspoken endorsement when the council sends it, and if we're going to do that, I'd really like the work to be 100% finished.”Councillor Stephen Holyday (Ward 2)

Also in this item

• The advisory body co-chairs publicly rebuked the city manager's own recommendation on their report, calling a one-year study 'the wrong approach' and urging urgency.

• The proposed pathway is a single-province constitutional amendment under section 43 of the Constitution Act 1982, requiring only Ontario and the federal parliament, the mayor called it 'new information.'

• Forwarding the report was blocked because the Mississaugas of the Credit, as treaty title rights holders, had not been consulted on a matter touching constitutional relationships.

The journey

What happens next

The report is public; Holyday said he would tell residents to email it to their MPP. Residents can press the next council, which will receive the staff package, and the advisory work continues. Public engagement was recommended as a core part of the process.

Decision

Matlow's motion carried unanimously as amended: item one (forwarding the report to other governments) was removed mid-debate; item two (continuing/re-establishing the advisory body's work) was kept; staff will report back with a package next term; a clause thanking the co-chairs was added.

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Also in this item

• The project retains the principal facades of Strachan House (built 1888 as one of Canada's largest planing mills) within the new building base, conserving cultural heritage while enabling 296 new rental units including 60 affordable units on City-owned land.

• The 8-storey supportive housing replacement building addresses the prior supportive housing use established by Homes First in 1996, which was a key adaptive reuse innovation at the site.

The journey

You can still act

On the Toronto City Council agenda for 2026-07-29

Decision

City Council to approve alterations and demolitions under Ontario Heritage Act sections 33, 34(1)1, and 34(1)2; approve heritage easement agreement; permit 28-storey mixed-income rental building (296 units, 60 affordable) with Strachan House facade retained at base; permit 8-storey supportive housing replacement building.

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Who did what

• Mayor Olivia Chow movedMoved to expand the crisis-worker service across the entire TTC, citing 2,840 pilot cases and 783 people who had considered self-harm
• Councillor Alejandra Bravo (Ward 9) questioned staffQuestioned deputant and staff on built-in evaluation, quality, and provincial healthcare handoff before further expansion
• Councillor Ausma Malik (Ward 10) questioned staffAsked staff about paramedic dispatch integration, streetcar availability and response times; praised the program

From the floor

“Efficiency is using the right tool for the right job. And here what we've done is looked and realized we didn't have the right tools.”Councillor Gord Perks (Ward 4)

“Think about this service and then think about ICE, and you get a sense of why Toronto is a leader.”Councillor Gord Perks (Ward 4)

“Mental health, the word health is a provincial federal responsibility, and we need to talk to our senior other orders of government to say please look at this data.”Mayor Olivia Chow

“Of all the 211 calls that were made by transit riders, only 2% of them involved the police and only 6% involved special constables.”Speaker not identified

“We know just policing people and locking them up won't solve our problems. We've been doing that for decades.”Speaker not identified

Also in this item

• TTC pilot in the downtown 'U' corridor served 2,840 riders in crisis with a 98% diversion rate away from police, and response times as low as five minutes.

• Dispatch integration with Toronto Paramedic Services via the 911 system is targeted for Q1 2027, letting crisis calls be routed faster while 211 remains the public door.

• Of the pilot cases, 783 people had thought about harming themselves, underscoring the suicide-intervention role of the service.

• Toronto Police are described as increasingly willing to hand off mental-health calls to TCCS, with police now reconfiguring their own uniformed crisis response.

The journey

What happens next

As an Executive Committee item it proceeds toward City Council; residents can contact their councillor before the Council vote. Staff also flagged an ongoing 'make the right call' awareness campaign and a MAP Centre evaluation report due at year-end.

Decision

Mayor Chow moved a motion to expand the crisis-worker service across the entire TTC network; deputations and member speeches were uniformly supportive. The final committee vote is not captured in the transcript excerpt.

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Who did what

• Councillor Dianne Saxe (Ward 11) moved and amendedCredited in the agenda summary with securing a rule change requiring TTC development-application comments to flag subway capacity

Also in this item

• At College Station roughly a third of peak trains already cannot pick everyone up, while council weighs adding 3,200 more residents nearby.

• TTC comments on development applications must now flag whether the subway can absorb the new residents proposed.

The journey

What happens next

This is an update report with no discussion on the record; residents concerned about crowding near transit-adjacent developments can raise it with their councillor as development applications for the area proceed.

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Who did what

• Councillor Jamaal Myers (Ward 23) movedMoved adoption of AU13.7 waste audit recommendation

From the floor

“Population growth and evolving community needs created rising demand for both direct city services and services delivered on behalf of the federal and provincial governments. This was reflected in a $1.88 billion operating cost increase in 2025.”Speaker not identified

“A modest operating surplus of 108 million was achieved through active cost control and discipline and privatization.”Speaker not identified

“The city had an operating surplus of $108 million, which really reflects the performance of the city's tax-up supported operating activities. From an accounting standpoint, however, that surplus balance needs to be adjusted to account for not just the public sector accounting standard related requirements, but also the impacts of our capital budget.”Speaker not identified

“What happens when we carve a big chunk out of the capital plan and we suddenly get some elbow room? So what's our plan to deal with that? Does cost go up?”Councillor Stephen Holyday (Ward 2)

“We've done quite well in 2025 in terms of our overall capital spend. It is the highest capital spend we've had at least since amalgamation here in the city. But you're absolutely right, the higher capital spend, the more cash that is going out the door to be able to support those capital expenditures. It does put a pressure on our cash flow.”Speaker not identified

Also in this item

• Tangible capital assets increased 81% over ten years (from $27B in 2015 to $48.7B in 2025), creating long-term infrastructure maintenance pressures

• Reserves of $5.5 billion are 94% committed; combined with deferred revenues totaling $12 billion against $40 billion in commitments, city has limited financial flexibility for new priorities

• City achieved AA+ credit rating from rating agencies and successfully implemented new SAP S4 Hannah accounting system in November 2025 without extra time or budget

• Solid Waste Management Services oversees portfolio of 300+ contracts valued at $1.8 billion; audit identified gaps in performance monitoring and payment verification processes

The journey

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On the Toronto City Council agenda for 2026-07-29

Decision

AU13.1 approved (audited financial statements). AU13.7 approved (waste audit recommendations adopted).

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Who did what

• Councillor Jamaal Myers (Ward 23) moved and questioned staffMoved staff recommendation to approve zoning by-law amendment

From the floor

“The proposed building in metric height is 45 meters in height, 13 stories. As I mentioned, 259 units are proposed and that includes a range of room units from studio to three-bedroom units. However, it's also very important to understand that 77 of the units will be secured as affordable units and the 182 additional units will be rent controlled. This will be secured through a contribution agreement with the housing development office for a period of 40 years.”Speaker not identified

“I'm very happy to move the recommendations. Uh this building's in my ward. I want to thank the Neighbors Community Homes. This area, Kings Road, Galloway, Orton Park is one of our neighborhood improvement areas. So, this type of housing is very badly needed in my community.”Councillor Jamaal Myers (Ward 23)

“The support that we've received in getting the zoning bylaw is exactly what is needed to get affordable housing projects built in the current context where um all orders of government want to see shovel ready projects. and our organization has the bandwidth to with city support to bring this project to that state and uh bring 259 units to West Hill.”Speaker not identified

Also in this item

• 40-year affordability lock: 77 units secured as affordable, 182 as rent-controlled, via contribution agreement with city Housing Development Office. This is an unusual length and structure for Toronto; most affordability agreements run 20-30 years.

• Access mechanism still in flux: city is building a new lottery-registry system (not yet live) for allocating units in affordable projects; staff could not specify qualification criteria or timeline at meeting.

• Site context: property has been derelict; site is in a designated neighbourhood improvement area (Kingston-Galloway-Orton Park) where affordable housing is explicitly identified as badly needed by ward councillor.

The journey

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On the Toronto City Council agenda for 2026-07-29

Decision

Zoning by-law amendment approved; staff recommendation carried unanimously without recorded opposition

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Who did what

• Councillor Jamaal Myers (Ward 23) movedMoved the motion to designate the property.

From the floor

“Councelor Myers is going to move that. All those in favor, opposed, if any, that carries.”Speaker not identified

Also in this item

• This is one of eighteen pre-1870 heritage properties the city must designate or remove from the Heritage Register by January 1, 2027, under Bill 23 provincial amendments; deadline drives the batch processing.

The journey

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On the Toronto City Council agenda for 2026-07-29

Decision

Council approved the notice of intention to designate 18 Great Oak Drive under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act.

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Who did what

• Councillor Alejandra Bravo (Ward 9) questioned staffAsked about precedent with other city agencies and whether this is a chance for a strategic view beyond granular metrics

Also in this item

• There is currently no single MOU governing the roughly $1.5 billion annual City subsidy to the TTC; a first consolidated framework with performance KPIs is being developed.

The journey

What happens next

The framework itself has not been written yet; residents can weigh in when the consolidated agreement and KPIs return to the board in 2027.

Decision

Report received for information; a consolidated framework with performance KPIs is to come back in 2027

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Also in this item

• Deferral extends past the end of the current council term (October 2026), meaning the naming decision will be made by the next council composition, not the current one

The journey

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On the Toronto City Council agenda for 2026-07-29

No immediate action window; outcome depends on Indigenous community input through summer 2026 site visit

Decision

Deferred to Q2 2027 for report-back following Indigenous-led naming consultation and site visit

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Who did what

• Councillor Paula Fletcher (Ward 14) movedChair opening remarks; indicated she had requested the staff report

From the floor

“There are 10 gaps along this 75 km loop trail that could be easily fixed. And we hope you also don't ignore community groups fighting for the connection from Taylor Creek via the proposed West Scarborough rail trail to the Meadowway.”Speaker not identified

“The gaps won't be closed till 2035. So that's not a serious timeline. Imagine riding the loop with a family member. Let's say they're 8 years old. You come across the dangerous underpass on Finch Avenue.”Speaker not identified

“Scarborough needs and deserves new safe and accessible connections to the loop trail, the Meadowway and Rouge National Park to support ecological health, improved access to natural areas, expand opportunities for recreation and active transportation.”Speaker not identified

“The Scarborough wine contains grievance, gripe, lack of infrastructure, lack of connections. It's kind of a bitter wine and it's time that we made that wine sweeter and we want to connect to the rest of Toronto.”Speaker not identified

“Following the motion from city council, the west Scarborough rail path, there is work underway with TTC on the design of a parallel bridge. That is well underway, it's funded, and once we have an update on that we'll be updating the feasibility study work that was previously done.”City staff

“We do need to find the money. The partnerships are so important. The federal government has been a very good partner on all of these large TRCA city projects. Let's do the easy ones, plan the complicated ones, find the money, get people on the trails and discovering our city.”Councillor Paula Fletcher (Ward 14)

Also in this item

• Staff stated design work on a parallel bridge for the West Scarborough Rail Trail is funded and underway with the TTC, answering a key infrastructure question that has been blocking community momentum.

• A motion from city council by Councilor Kandival calling for a 10% design study that includes the West Scarborough Rail Trail was referenced by the deputant, suggesting prior council direction exists on this project.

• The first phase of the East Don Trail (4.5 kilometres) cost $22 million (half city, half federal funding) and involved complicated environmental assessments with multiple bridges, establishing precedent and cost baselines for similar multi-government trail projects.

• Staff acknowledged that bike lanes were previously removed from Scarborough (Pharmacy, Birchmount, and a segment of Brimley), framing current trail investments as partial compensation for past disinvestment in that ward.

The journey

What happens next

Residents can attend the September 27 loop trail community ride to engage with councillors and candidates. Interested parties can contact city staff and transportation department (contact information to be provided by staff) to participate in upcoming community meetings on the West Scarborough Rail Trail design. Residents can advocate with their councillors to prioritize federal funding applications and motion support at the TTC board for the project.

Decision

Staff committed to meeting with the Scarborough Junction community in the coming weeks to discuss the West Scarborough Rail Trail project and coordinate with TTC on bridge design. Design work on the parallel bridge is funded and underway. No formal motion or vote occurred; the item closed after discussion and staff commitments.

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Also in this item

• Bill 23 amendments to the Ontario Heritage Act require that properties listed on the City's Heritage Register prior to January 1, 2023 will be deemed removed from the Heritage Register unless they are designated by January 1, 2027, creating a hard deadline for this and similar properties.

The journey

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On the Toronto City Council agenda for 2026-07-29

Decision

Carried; the city will proceed with the notice of intention to designate 2 Hedgewood Road under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act.

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Who did what

• Councillor Alejandra Bravo (Ward 9) movedMoved an amendment expanding the options staff should explore, from transparency on electronic shelf labelling up to full prohibition of algorithmic personalized pricing
• Mayor Olivia Chow movedCo-mover of the original item directing staff to explore banning surveillance pricing on groceries

From the floor

“at maximum would be the full prohibition of this practice, through the restriction of predatory business practices through consumer protection measures and greater transparency in relation to electronic shelf labeling systems”Councillor Alejandra Bravo (Ward 9)

“All those in favor of councelor Bravo's motion of amendment. Post carry and item as amended. All those in favor post carry.”Speaker not identified

“I just want to point out this is our last executive committee of this term.”Speaker not identified

Also in this item

• Motion cites the City of Toronto Act's consumer-protection authority as a basis for municipal action, and references Manitoba's legislation and the federal AI strategy as precedents, a city-level attempt to regulate algorithmic pricing rather than wait for other governments.

The journey

You can still act

On the Toronto City Council agenda for 2026-07-29

The item proceeds to City Council; residents can contact their councillor before the council vote or watch for the staff report on what legal mechanisms the city can use.

Decision

Bravo's amendment carried and the item was adopted as amended, directing staff to explore legal levers (from transparency requirements on electronic shelf labelling up to full prohibition) under the City of Toronto Act's consumer-protection authority.

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Who did what

• Councillor Paul Ainslie (Ward 24) questioned staffAsked about Children's Services involvement in for-profit child care within development applications in priority neighborhoods; requested briefing on historical city matching-fund policy no longer in place.

From the floor

“We need stable, predictable funding. Over the past five years, funding has changed from year to year with new funding envelopes, different reporting requirements, and separate reconciliations. While every investment is appreciated, managing short-term funding streams has become an administrative burden, especially for smaller nonprofit operators like myself.”Speaker not identified

“Ontario is currently short nearly 10,000 registered early childhood educators. We urge the city to continue advocating to the province for a pay equity compliant provincial wage grid. Without competitive wages, we cannot recruit and retain the educators we need to expand the system.”Speaker not identified

“We ask that the city partner with nonprofit operators to identify buildings and land that could become childcare centers, particularly in Scarborough and Etobicoke, and help fast-track approvals to delay project.”Speaker not identified

“I'm trying to understand how children's services would be involved in an application like this if we need affordable child care in the community.”A councillor

Also in this item

• Ontario faces a shortage of nearly 10,000 registered early childhood educators, directly constraining Toronto's ability to meet federal child care expansion targets despite meeting space creation targets.

• The sector reports that short-term, year-to-year funding with changing reporting requirements has become an administrative burden, particularly for smaller nonprofit operators, making it difficult to plan and retain staff.

• A Scarborough development application in a neighbourhood improvement area offered child care space but proposed for-profit daycare; Children's Services confirmed it would be involved only after planning review, raising questions about city leverage on affordability.

The journey

What happens next

Residents in high-inequity neighbourhoods can advocate at council for stable multi-year child care funding and provincial wage grid advocacy; no imminent vote window evident from the record.

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Who did what

• Councillor Michael Thompson (Ward 21) movedMoved the recommendations and requested recorded vote

From the floor

“It's never easy. There's usually some give and take in these processes. But appreciate everyone's effort and being able to get it here today with a positive staff. Look forward to being approved.”Speaker not identified

“All those in favor of adopting the recommendations before you in the report. Councelor Thompson, Councelor Shan, Councelor Myers, Councelor Aninsley, Councelor Mantis. That item carries.”Speaker not identified

Also in this item

• Development includes 2,243 dwelling units and 38,233 square metres of non-residential space across eight towers ranging 12 to 48 storeys, making it a significant infill project in the Golden Mile area.

• Project adds public amenities including a new public park and two new public streets, beyond the residential and commercial components.

The journey

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On the Toronto City Council agenda for 2026-07-29

Decision

Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendment approved unanimously by Scarborough Community Council.

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Who did what

• Councillor Paul Ainslie (Ward 24) movedMoved his annual motion urging the province to update the frozen levy rate, noting provincial staff said they were studying it

From the floor

“I have my annual motion to move. Madame Mayor, the last AMO meeting I was at and provincial staff actually told me they were studying this, so there might be progress”Councillor Paul Ainslie (Ward 24)

“There was Howard Moscoe memorial motion picked up by Deputy Mayor Paul Ainslie. Good for you”Speaker not identified

Also in this item

• The $75-per-head/bed rate has been frozen since 1987; if indexed to CPI it would be $186.08 in 2026 and raise an extra $30.6M, and provincial staff are reportedly now studying updating it

The journey

You can still act

On the Toronto City Council agenda for 2026-07-29

Item proceeds to City Council; residents can contact their councillor before the Council vote, though the rate change itself depends on provincial legislation.

Decision

Committee carried both the 2026 Heads and Beds levy authority and Deputy Mayor Ainslie's annual motion asking the province to update the frozen rate.

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Who did what

• Councillor Dianne Saxe (Ward 11) movedMoved to adopt staff's revised wording clarifying exempted areas for investigation to improve policy language and ensure the city says what it means without unnecessary scope.

From the floor

“I have been working intensively with staff over the last little while to tighten up the language in this policy to make sure that we actually say what we mean and no more than what we mean.”Councillor Dianne Saxe (Ward 11)

“The primary change with regards to provincial regulations is that back in October the province made amendments to Ontario regulation 15304, and in that change what they did is they took away a municipality's right to request records of site condition for development lands that do not pose any risk to the municipality for conveyances.”City staff

“Some of those the city does not accept even though the ministry accepts them and the industry was pushing for the city to align ourselves more with what the ministry accepts, but that would put undue risk and cost on the city if we adopted those measures.”City staff

Also in this item

• Ontario stripped municipalities of the right to request site-condition records for greenfield sites, effective October 2025, narrowing Toronto's environmental oversight on low-risk land transfers under development agreements.

The journey

You can still act

On the Toronto City Council agenda for 2026-07-29

Decision

Amended policy approved by committee; staff's revised language clarifying exempted areas (e.g., near subway tunnels versus bus shelters) was adopted following Councillor Saxs's motion.

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Who did what

• Councillor Jamaal Myers (Ward 23) movedMoved the motion to receive the ACAT minutes

From the floor

“FIFA proved to be largely a non-issue from an accessibility perspective, which is I guess the highest compliment that can be paid to the TTC. ACAT did not receive any complaints related to FIFA operations.”Speaker not identified

“On April 20th there was a system-wide elevator service issue that suspended elevator service in the subway system for several hours... TTC staff were able to outline new contingency procedures that allow for monitored elevator operations during certain communication failures.”Speaker not identified

“We also discussed a proposed photo identification initiative for Wheel-Trans customers to crack down on people not properly using Wheel-Trans and also to provide greater safety for users and for operators.”Speaker not identified

Also in this item

• A Wheel-Trans photo-ID initiative is being developed to crack down on misuse of the door-to-door accessible service, a change that would directly affect how Wheel-Trans riders access the system, surfaced only inside advisory-committee minutes.

• An April 20 system-wide elevator outage suspended all subway elevator service for several hours, stranding riders with disabilities; it produced new procedures allowing monitored elevator operation during communication failures.

The journey

What happens next

ACAT is an advisory committee open to public input; the Wheel-Trans photo-ID proposal is still 'moving at committee level' and has not been decided, so riders concerned about it can raise it before any formal proposal reaches the board.

Decision

Board received the ACAT minutes for information (motion to receive, carried).

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Also in this item

• Paid sick leave (including ill-dependent) grew 20.9 percent in the same period, from $109.2 million to $131.9 million

• Overtime spending grew 22.7 percent in two years, from $109.3 million to $134.1 million

• Auditor recommends focused, division-level monitoring of payroll expenses and improvements to the Attendance Management Program

The journey

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On the Toronto City Council agenda for 2026-07-29

Decision

The committee received the report. No recommendations were adopted, studied, or referred; the item functioned as disclosure of findings and management responses.

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Also in this item

• Phase 2 construction begins Q4 2026 (within four months of meeting date), marking the start of active site works on a 45-hectare neighbourhood transformation affecting 1,208 current TCHC residents and removing 277 existing affordable units from stock during replacement.

• City committed to reimburse TCHC for infrastructure costs already incurred in 2026 before formal budget approval, indicating advance spending and financial dependency on retrospective council authorization.

• Phase 3 report-back deferred to 2030 with refined cost estimates promised 'as design advances'; infrastructure costs for a phase replacing 385 units and creating 2,512 new units (385 affordable, 2,127 market) remain unfinalised despite budget authorization requested now.

The journey

You can still act

On the Toronto City Council agenda for 2026-07-29

Decision

Adopted: City approved updated infrastructure cost estimates for Phases 2 and 3, authorized Toronto Water and Transportation Services to reimburse TCHC for 2026 eligible infrastructure costs from approved 2026-2035 capital budgets, and directed inclusion of refined cost estimates in 2027-2036 capital budget submissions.

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Who did what

• Mayor Olivia Chow moved and questioned staffMoved the motion directing TCHC and city staff to develop a comprehensive plan on aging stock, deep retrofits, rebuilds, cooling and funding sources

From the floor

“the report says that we will need $4.5 billion... residents if we don't have funding after the year 2027”A deputant

“This is I not campaigning. This is a city of Toronto city space. No electioneering, no partisanship, not running”Mayor Olivia Chow

“in August the 4th I may be evicted from my unit. Unfortunately, they said they don't have more money”A deputant

“in some cases rebuilt like region park or like center park and looking at the funding sources”Mayor Olivia Chow

Also in this item

• TCHC faces a $4.5-billion state-of-good-repair shortfall once funding lapses after 2027, disclosed inside a routine AGM/financial-statements item.

• TCHC approved raising accessible-unit conversions to up to 50 units/month at roughly $80,000 per unit; soundproof conversions for mental-health needs are capped near $27,000, which the deputant argues is inadequate.

• A deputant living in TCHC housing says he faces eviction on August 4 for refusing to move to a unit that was not properly soundproofed.

The journey

You can still act

On the Toronto City Council agenda for 2026-07-29

The comprehensive plan returns to committee/council next year; residents can depute then and contact councillors before the funding decisions in future budgets.

Decision

Chow's motion was carried and the item amended; the AGM/audited financials were received. A comprehensive plan on aging stock is to be reported back next year.

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From the floor

“Buildings make winds worse for nearby houses by altering the natural flow of air through three primary forces. Downwashing, funneling, and corner vortices.”Speaker not identified

“These homes were built 60 years ago when no large buildings existed in the neighborhoods. The planners and builders of 60 years ago did not anticipate concentrated high gust of winds impacting the homes.”Speaker not identified

“The shadow study was found to meet the city's objectives in adequately limiting shadow. That was done by setbacks, massing of the building towards Birchmount and away from the neighbouring residential property.”City staff

“The wind study was found to be acceptable, except for pedestrians on a seasonal basis. That would be in and around the site. As you get further removed from the building, the impact would be lessened.”City staff

“As the community grows quite quickly with the very large proposed developments in the vicinity of the Agent Court Mall, there's a concern with the length of time it takes for residents to use public transit. There is no higher order transit than TTC buses in all of Ward 22.”Speaker not identified

“When you're building new development in communities, it's a balancing act that you need to make sure that everyone is comfortable with. I have full reassurance from our staff that they're doing everything properly that we can do to make sure that development is done in a proper way.”A councillor

Also in this item

• Wind concerns raised by neighbours cite damage to 60-year-old homes not built for concentrated wind gusts created by tall buildings; staff wind study found 'acceptable' only for grade-level pedestrian use, not for adjacent residential property impacts

• Area faces rapid density growth (Birchmount and Agent Court proposals) without higher-order transit; only bus service available; Shepard extension under study by Metrolinks with no timeline; RapidTO on Birchmount not in first tranche

The journey

You can still act

On the Toronto City Council agenda for 2026-07-29

Decision

Staff recommendation approved unanimously (all in favour, none opposed). Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendment adopted.

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Who did what

• Councillor Shelley Carroll (Ward 17) questioned staffRaised concern about operators gaming the system by applying for restaurant licenses then operating as music venues; asked how enforcement and dual inspections would prevent dishonest applications and ensure fire code compliance.

From the floor

“Now is not the time to make metal detectors optional for venues with capacities of 151 or less after 12 shootings in 48 hours driven by illegal firearms. The threat is immediate and activity, not square footage, drives risk.”Speaker not identified

“This gap was drafted alongside municipal licensing and standards and carries the blessing of legal services that makes it the smoking gun, not a solution. Between the lines, it reads like a way to loosen licensing enforcement and generate revenue without actually funding safety.”Speaker not identified

“Um, yeah, it's just this is very simple actually. It's just about um I don't know how much you look at this stuff, but it's to do with the fire. This weekend you probably saw in the in the news there was um the fire that happened in Thailand.”Speaker not identified

“regardless of any bylaws passed by the municipality, the Ontario fire code uh still would would supersede and is the ultimate uh authority uh with respect to fire safety uh in any establishment in the city of Toronto.”City staff

“we have some of the strictest fire regulations uh candidly in the world, which is why uh we very seldom see those types of incidents uh that we you know tragically saw this week.”City staff

“bring them into compliance which means do we continue to have the pathway where they apply to be a restaurant then you come and find that oops no you're you're having uh live music here's 100 people listening now and maybe even dancing. Um bring them into compliance means upgrade their license does it not?”Councillor Shelley Carroll (Ward 17)

Also in this item

• Fire Chief stated Ontario fire code is the ultimate authority and supersedes municipal bylaws; any venue regardless of licensing category must comply with provincial fire regulations.

• Councillor Carol raised a live concern about operators circumventing the new category by applying for restaurant licenses then operating as music venues, and staff acknowledged enforcement gaps but did not commit to new deterrents.

• Only three to four existing venues are known to fit the new under-150-occupancy category, making this a narrowly targeted amendment despite its regulatory scope.

The journey

You can still act

On the Toronto City Council agenda for 2026-07-29

Decision

Carried unanimously. The definition of entertainment establishment/nightclub in Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 545 is amended to require 150+ occupancy; smaller venues serving alcohol with entertainment move to Expanded Eating/Drinking or Entertainment Place of Assembly categories, with reduced licensing requirements.

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Who did what

• Councillor Jamaal Myers (Ward 23) movedPut forward the motion directing staff to complete the RFI evaluation and continue market engagement
• A citizen commissioner questioned staffAsked staff how many organizations responded to the RFI

From the floor

“We had over 70 entities who downloaded the documents and kind of expressed some interest. At the end of the day, we've had a couple dozen who have actually responded officially.”City staff

“Translink is going through a process right now too, so it's not a quiet market, and yet we still got quite a significant response from that market.”City staff

Also in this item

• The TTC is actively sounding the market for a successor to the Presto fare system, with over 70 vendors interested and roughly two dozen formal responses.

The journey

What happens next

No open comment window stated; this is an early market-sounding stage. Future fare system procurement decisions will return to the board, residents can watch for and depute on those.

Decision

The board unanimously (7-0) directed staff to complete evaluation of the RFI submissions, including vendor interviews, and undertake additional market engagement to assess market capabilities and value for money in support of future fare collection system decisions.

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From the floor

“This is an example, a true example of efficiency. It is unbelievably expensive to all of us to have people who are homeless and showing up in emergency rooms or showing up at police stations. But here we're actually saving public money by making a public investment. This is a public public public partnership between the city of Toronto, the UHN, a public entity, and two other orders of government who are providing money. It's when the public institutions that belong to people work in concert to achieve outcomes that we really find a way forward.”Councillor Gord Perks (Ward 4)

“Having a home changed that. For the first time in a long time, I had a place where I felt safe. I could sleep through the night, focus on my health, and start building routines that other people take for granted. I wasn't given a roof over my head. I was given the opportunity to rebuild my life. What makes Dun House special isn't just the apartment. It's the people. The staff know you by name.”Speaker not identified

“Many mailboxes in our building go unopened for weeks at a time because people don't think there's going to be anything there of value. There's going to be no resident parking. People will walk, take transit, use an Uber. How and when? How will people get their families, their kids to extracurricular activities like hockey and soccer and baseball?”Speaker not identified

“I certainly welcome the city's decision to replace Straw House left vacant for many years with a new structure, a new home for some of the many people in need of supportive housing in our city. However, I have concerns about the project as it now stands. The city to take this opportunity to seize that green space and put an eight-story building on the site, giving downtown Toronto a net loss of precious green space.”Speaker not identified

“The project proposes a new community garden will be made in the adjacent parkland. This means that years of established plants and trees and habitat will be destroyed. Community garden members have proposed a plan to maintain all or part of the existing garden site while still accommodating development. To simply move a garden on paper is certainly different in reality from the years of growth and habitat that have been established.”Speaker not identified

“There is no magic money tree. The eight-story building includes 81 new supportive housing units in a standalone building A along with 236 market rate apartments. While our housing now TTO volunteers are 100% in support of this new affordable housing redevelopment project, we would like a clear explanation for the city staff choice matrix that resulted in only having a 40-year affordability period for the 60 new affordable units within building B versus the 99-year affordability period that was achieved under other sites developed via private partnerships.”Speaker not identified

“As a regular TTC user, I will tell you many mornings I wait for five street cars on King at the corner of Strachan before I'm able to get on one. The idea of putting thousands of new residents in our neighborhood, we're going to have two new towers at the corner of King and Strachan. We have four towers going up on Tecumseth just a block away. We are already getting six new towers in this neighborhood with transit that already doesn't work.”Speaker not identified

Also in this item

• This is a City-owned Toronto Builds initiative site, not a private development. The public-sector financing and operation model is explicitly contrasted by Perks with problematic public-private partnerships, framing this as a structural approach to affordable housing delivery.

• Mark Richardson and Housing Now TTO requested supplementary transparency information be provided to staff before the council vote, including clarification on why this Toronto Builds project uses a 40-year affordability period vs. the 99-year periods achieved in earlier Housing Now projects (2019-2024). This flags a policy shift in affordability terms that may not be transparent in the staff report.

• Sandy Douglas testified that the city's public consultation process had serious procedural flaws: 9,000 notices mailed but not received by nearby residents, document addresses that reference non-existent buildings (57 Strachan, 801 Wellington in the middle of the park), and five to six people inserted into the April 15 public meeting to argue 'higher and faster,' with denial by facilitators but apparent skewing of final comments toward those terms.

• The community garden occupies public land within the development site and has 60 plots and over 100 gardeners; the proposal displaces it to an adjacent park area that is a known drainage/low area and already heavily used by dog walkers and residents. Community gardeners have proposed a plan to preserve at least part of the existing site.

• The neighborhood is already receiving six new towers in close proximity (two at King and Strachan, four on Tecumseth), with the Ontario Line (which would provide adequate transit) estimated to be 10 years away. Residents raised concerns that the building's car-free design ignores the practical need for services, ambulances, deliveries, and visitors on a narrow two-lane street.

The journey

You can still act

On the Toronto City Council agenda for 2026-07-29

Council vote on this item is scheduled for later in July 2026. Residents can contact councillors before that vote or attend the public hearing at council. Mark Richardson (Housing Now TTO) requested supplementary information be provided before council vote, so there may be a brief window for comment on amended staff reports.

Decision

Approved on committee vote (unanimous); moves to City Council for final decision.

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Who did what

• Councillor Neethan Shan (Ward 25) movedMoved the staff recommendations on this item

From the floor

“We believe that this is a practical and balanced approach. It recognizes that the Coronation Drive employment area remains an important industrial employment district while also acknowledging the concerns of our neighbors about traffic safety and compatibility.”Speaker not identified

“Good planning starts with understanding the impacts before changes occur, not after problems emerge. And this amendment ensures that review occurs.”Speaker not identified

“Deafening noise, rattling vibrations, dusty air makes it undesirable to open windows, to chat outdoors with neighbors, to allow children to play safely out on front yards, to take naps, or even sleep because the trucks continue into the night.”A deputant

Also in this item

• Speed limit reduction to 40 km/h on Coronation Drive between Manse Road and Beechgrove Drive addresses safety concerns in the employment area adjacent to residential neighborhoods

• New Site and Area Specific Policy 938 requires transportation impact studies before new industrial development, formalizing requirements for industrial operators in the area

The journey

You can still act

On the Toronto City Council agenda for 2026-07-29

Decision

Approved: Official Plan Amendment with new Site and Area Specific Policy 938 requiring transportation impact studies for new industrial development; speed limit reduction from 50 km/h to 40 km/h on Coronation Drive between Manse Road and Beechgrove Drive.

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Who did what

• Councillor Dianne Saxe (Ward 11) movedMoved the motion to direct staff to study speeding up the 506; then cross-examined deputant Leblanc over his cost claims and elicited large staff cost estimates
• Councillor Jamaal Myers (Ward 23) secondedSeconded the motion and chaired; questioned deputants on scope and jurisdiction
• Councillor Alejandra Bravo (Ward 9) voted againstVoted no despite College serving her ward, arguing against singling out one line over a system-wide approach
• A citizen commissioner questioned staffQuestioned whether College is the 'most burning priority' and how it fits the Q1 2027 network study; pressed staff on cost-benefit prioritization

From the floor

“Even though college serves my community, I can't support a motion that is only addressing one street carline.”Councillor Alejandra Bravo (Ward 9)

“Traffic congestion will be a top issue in the municipal election... If you don't support transit priority, we voters will vote for candidates who do.”A deputant

“If you've done everything in your power already to speed up street cars, why move this motion now?”Councillor Dianne Saxe (Ward 11)

“I am working with a team of planners and experts, but nonetheless, I don't have the resources of a city council.”A deputant

“At $1 million we don't see how you could take the entire 14 kilometer route and 60 stops of direction and make it more reliable.”City staff

Also in this item

• Staff put costs on the record: roughly $200M+ to raise ~655 streetcar stops plus $50M for vehicle self-leveling for level boarding, and about $160M for double-point switches network-wide.

• A sitting commissioner (Saxe) used most of the debate to cross-examine a citizen advocate whose competing plan was released to media eight days before her motion, unusual treatment of a deputant.

• Staff confirmed a TTC streetcar network strategy with early findings due Q1 2027 is already underway, plus a 'surface transit toolkit', the study largely duplicates directions already given.

• A declared Ward 11 council candidate deputed on the item, and multiple deputants explicitly tied transit priority to the October 2026 election.

The journey

What happens next

Staff report back is expected in early 2027; a companion motion sits at the Infrastructure and Environment Committee on city-controlled measures. Residents on the corridor can push for the consultation channel deputants requested and watch for the streetcar network strategy findings (Q1 2027).

Decision

Motion adopted directing TTC staff to report back (early 2027) on measures within TTC control to improve the speed and reliability of the 506 streetcar. Commissioner Bravo opposed; not unanimous.

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Who did what

• Councillor Lily Cheng (Ward 18) questioned staffAsked when high-need area data was last refreshed and noted that 5 of 6 Scarborough wards are flagged as high-inequity; questioned whether change has occurred and how long the city has known about these gaps.

From the floor

“how does the strategy look to make progress in growth in areas like Scarborough and that have been identified as as inequitable?”A councillor

“the province as you are aware sets the legislative policy and funding framework so a lot of control um with this respect is with the province however the levers that are within our control which include uh consultation and engagement uh town halls as we did um uh in your ward uh and building capacity and professional development uh are within our control”City staff

“We have a 10-year capital plan that is fully committed Um and so we do not have any um unallocated funds”City staff

“Is is there a specific plan to to heighten or uh grow that solution for home childcare in areas like my ward or other wards that have that disparity?”A councillor

“there isn't per se uh strategy uh for home childcare However we do embed it into our local system planning”City staff

Also in this item

• City's 10-year childcare capital plan is fully committed with no unallocated internal funds available; expansion depends entirely on federal-provincial Canada-wide renewal negotiations

• Scarborough remains flagged as high-inequity on childcare access across 5 of 6 wards, with no change evident in latest data refresh (released with 2025 service plan); staff acknowledged not knowing when prior data was last updated

• Staff acknowledged home childcare could address inequity gaps but stated no targeted strategy exists for high-need areas, only that home childcare is embedded in routine local system planning

The journey

What happens next

Residents in high-inequity wards can depute at future childcare or budget hearings; advocacy to provincial/federal representatives on childcare funding may be more actionable than municipal.

Decision

Received the status update; no motion or recommendation to council is evident from the transcript.

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Who did what

• Councillor Shelley Carroll (Ward 17) movedMoved adoption of most consent items including variance reports, water capital plan, interim levy by-law and audited statements
• Councillor Paul Ainslie (Ward 24) movedMoved his annual 'levy on institutions' motion (the Howard Moscoe memorial motion) and moved item 27
• Councillor Gord Perks (Ward 4) amendedMoved a small amendment to the Spirit Garden item striking the second clause; asked to hold the supportive housing item
• Councillor Paula Fletcher (Ward 14) questioned staffHeld the customer experience data item and the board-composition appointments to ask why the composition was being amended
• Councillor Alejandra Bravo (Ward 9) questioned staffAsked why the board composition was being changed

From the floor

“I have my annual motion to move. Madame Mayor, the last AMO meeting I was at and provincial staff actually told me they were studying this, so there might be progress.”Councillor Paul Ainslie (Ward 24)

“I actually read the reports.”Councillor Shelley Carroll (Ward 17)

“Yeah, I just have a small amendment. It strikes the second clause.”Councillor Gord Perks (Ward 4)

Also in this item

• The Water 2026 capital budget and 2027-2035 capital plan adjustment, a multi-year infrastructure commitment worth billions, was carried with no debate inside the consent run.

• The 2027 interim property tax levy by-law, the legal mechanism by which the city collects tax in early 2027, passed in the batch.

• Ainslie's annual levy-on-institutions motion continues a long tradition (the 'Howard Moscoe memorial motion'); he reported provincial staff said they were studying the idea.

The journey

Decision

Adopted on consent

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Who did what

• Councillor Michael Thompson (Ward 21) questioned staffQuestioned the composition of the facility's board, governance of the 50% public-use requirement, enforcement mechanisms for non-compliance, and parking solutions; noted past issues with shared-space agreements not working as intended.
• Councillor Jamaal Myers (Ward 23) questioned staffRaised concerns about transit accessibility for the large Tamil community within walking distance, parking overflow on residential streets, and community involvement in Phase 2 planning; asked how the public would be involved in future site decisions.

From the floor

“In 2017, with the support of the former mayor, we were able to move a motion to ask the city staff to work together with the community to explore opportunities for the community to build a community center. The area was heavily underserviced. In the early 2000s when this community was built there was an informal promise of a community center that never materialized in the local neighborhood.”Councillor Lily Cheng (Ward 18)

“It is being built through a grassroots community initiative. The city provided the lease, but the community came together, advocated for other levels of government, and more importantly raised $17 million already in a tight economic situation with over 850 families donating $10,000 each.”Councillor Lily Cheng (Ward 18)

“We were not able to advance the auditorium because those are questions that could not be answered at this time. There was no sense of how transit could be increased, whether satellite parking could be made available, the walkway of the community center and the catchment of it as well.”City staff

“The 50% has been stipulated through the lease agreement as well as the community access agreement. The community access agreement speaks to notification of the broader community and local groups that they are aware of space at the center and if they apply for space and the space is available that decision gets made through the joint use agreement.”City staff

Also in this item

• The Tamil Community Center project is funded entirely through grassroots effort, with 850+ families each donating $10,000, raising $17 million without city subsidy; council staff and the applicant did not disclose or address ongoing governance and compliance-enforcement uncertainty, instead deferring it to Phase 2.

• Phase 2 (auditorium expansion) is indefinitely deferred: council flagged transit capacity and parking as unsolved, but the transcript does not identify when or how these constraints will be studied, nor when Phase 2 will return to committee.

• A 50% public-use requirement is locked into a lease and community access agreement, but governance of that 50% and enforcement of non-compliance rest on a corrective-action mechanism in the lease rather than proactive city oversight; council did not resolve who decides space allocation or how the public will access it.

The journey

You can still act

On the Toronto City Council agenda for 2026-07-29

Phase 2 planning will invite community input through a notice of intention to lift holds and a public comment period. The community may also write to staff during site plan review for Phase 1 and any Phase 2 hold-lifting application.

Decision

Approved zoning amendment for 3030 Markham Road to permit gas station with ancillary retail and car wash, clearing the way for Phase 1 Tamil Community Center. Phase 2 auditorium deferred pending feasibility study on transit, parking, and site plan refinement.

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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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Who did what

• Councillor Michael Thompson (Ward 21) movedMoved to defer the matter, citing discomfort with prior decisions' community impact and requesting more time for consultation

From the floor

“I'm uncomfortable with respect to decisions that we have made and its impact on the community. I'm uncomfortable in the sense that we need to afford more time for members of the community to be able to be consulted with.”Councillor Michael Thompson (Ward 21)

Also in this item

• Councillor Thompson explicitly flagged a pattern of policy-compliant applications producing negative community outcomes, suggesting a potential equity gap between what the policy permits and what serves the community fairly.

The journey

You can still act

On the Toronto City Council agenda for 2026-07-29

Contact Councillor Thompson or attend the next Scarborough Community Council meeting when this item is reconsidered, to provide input on traffic and community impact concerns.

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Who did what

• Councillor Jamaal Myers (Ward 23) movedMoved the heritage designation of 32 Bright Street

From the floor

“Councilor Myers is going to move it. All right. All those in favor? Opposed? Carried.”Speaker not identified

Also in this item

• 32 Bright Street is one of eighteen pre-1870 properties the city must designate or delist by January 1, 2027, under provincial Bill 23 amendments to the Ontario Heritage Act

The journey

You can still act

On the Toronto City Council agenda for 2026-07-29

Decision

Carried (no recorded dissent or amendment in the available transcript)

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Who did what

• Councillor Michael Thompson (Ward 21) movedMoved to defer the item, citing concerns about cumulative impacts, need for community consultation, and the balance of equity between developers and residents.

From the floor

“The holding provision would give us a sense of trust and security that things will be looked at and it gives power to the city to do that.”A deputant

“I'm uncomfortable with respect to decisions that we have made and its impact on the community. I'm uncomfortable in the sense that we need to afford more time for members of the community to be able to be consulted with. I think sometimes the policy has a negative impact on the overall concern of the community and we need to figure out how to right side that. The equity and the equality balance is actually not in favor of the community. It's actually in favor of the development and the developer.”Councillor Michael Thompson (Ward 21)

“Let's afford the community opportunity to work with the city, work with the applicant that they're representing, the developers and so on and come to a better understanding. The bluff is a treasure for us and I think we ought not to just lose the treasure by quick decisions.”Councillor Michael Thompson (Ward 21)

“The individual studies are prepared for the application but they are all termed by our terms of reference to look at the area as a whole. Traffic, engineering, water servicing, and community services facilities all need to look at existing populations as expressed by the census, apply growth factors to those populations for background growth as well as taking into account developments in the area that utilize those services.”City staff

“Should we be looking at a better system? Like there's a community association in this area that's very well organized. They have the time to dive deep into reports. I have neighborhoods in my area. There's no community association, lots of development going on and trying to get them to figure out or even for myself, you know, multiple traffic study studies, engineering studies to understand the cumulative impact of a collection of developments like this on their neighborhood.”Speaker not identified

Also in this item

• Staff acknowledged that a cumulative impact study scoped at the neighbourhood or corridor scale (rather than site-by-site) could clarify infrastructure capacity, reduce individual applicant burden, and accelerate development once capacity is known; chair flagged this as a governance gap.

• Cliffrest character study underway, led by community planning and urban design, with residents association as active participant; open house July 22, final report Q1 2027. Study aims to define determinative characteristics (built form, landscaping, setbacks) that reflect community values.

• Applicant reduced unit count from 323 to 275 and increased two- and three-bedroom units from 28% to 44%, with tree preservation improved from initial proposal (23 permit trees preserved, underground parking restructured to preserve additional trees).

The journey

What happens next

Residents can participate in the ongoing Cliffrest character study (open house scheduled for July 22); follow the cumulative impact study when it is scoped; and engage at the future deferral meeting when this item returns to council (timing not yet set).

Decision

Motion to defer carried unanimously; the item will not proceed to approval today.

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From the floor

“if you would prefer, we can just right now defer it without a deputation”Speaker not identified

“If she deputes now, she can't dispute when the item gets deferred”Speaker not identified

Also in this item

• The property is one of eighteen pre-1870 listed heritage properties facing automatic removal from Toronto's heritage register on January 1, 2027 unless designated. Deferral to next term (post-November 2026) places the designation decision after that deadline, likely blocking the city's ability to protect it.

The journey

You can still act

On the Toronto City Council agenda for 2026-07-29

A resident prepared to depute on this item; deferral to next term means deputation opportunity moves with it. Follow up if the item is scheduled again.

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From the floor

“live performance, um these are good uses and we need to make sure that they can exist in compliance with our licensing and I would say that being in communities that some of us live in is a really great scale to be able to connect to come out and it's a really important way to support working musicians in the city”Speaker not identified

Also in this item

• Toronto has almost no regulatory tool for ticket gouging or hidden booking fees; the issue sits entirely with Ontario and federal government

The journey

What happens next

Residents can petition the Ontario government or federal government on ticket regulation; this committee found no municipal lever. No further deputation window at this meeting.

Decision

Referred back to staff with no new city action; acknowledged Ontario and federal jurisdiction over ticket sales and booking fees

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Who did what

• Councillor Michael Thompson (Ward 21) questioned staffAsked clarifying questions about the holding provision and infrastructure concerns, specifically probing whether city technical services would conduct proper water and sewer analysis and whether the deputant had local knowledge the city might lack.

From the floor

“While we are discussing a single property, I urge this council to look out the window. Recognize that you are approving massive density in total planning silo within a tight two-block radius. Our neighborhood is facing five concurrent dense developments.”A deputant

“Our association has requested a cumulative study for 5 years for this environmentally sensitive area running parallel to the bluffs, but the city defers it over and over. With each passing year, more density is approved with zero proof that our local grid will hold.”A deputant

“The holding provision, the H does not kill housing. It simply guarantees that a building cannot hook up to city systems until staff verify that infrastructure can actually handle it. Unfortunately, we see this tool consistently ignored.”A deputant

“Private isolated developer negotiations strip the community of any ability to verify cumulative impacts on our grid.”A deputant

“Help me to understand the infrastructure concerns that you have. Staff uh tech services would go through and look at the water flow impact on our sewer systems and so forth.”Councillor Michael Thompson (Ward 21)

Also in this item

• Community association alleges city negotiated infrastructure capacity calculations for 3291 Kingston and 5-11 Bellamy behind closed doors, removed holding provisions right before final approval at one site, and bypassed holding provision entirely at another, shutting out the formal legal party (the association) from discussions.

• Deputant claims five concurrent major developments in a two-block radius along Kingston Road corridor (near environmentally sensitive area running parallel to the Bluffs) are each individually approved on policy grounds with site-plan-stage review, at which point the community loses communication access, with no cumulative assessment of combined stormwater, soil stability, and traffic impacts.

• Councillor Thompson's questions suggest the city's standard technical review (water/sewer analysis by Toronto Water and technical services) may not capture cumulative or neighbourhood-specific local risks, and that holding provisions exist precisely to give the city and community a verification gate before infrastructure hook-up.

The journey

What happens next

The deputant called for a mandatory cumulative impact study (water, stormwater, traffic) across all five sites before construction begins, and for enforcement of the holding provision on the 3310 Kingston Road development. A resident can request this study at a future Planning and Housing Committee meeting, depute on any of the concurrent developments as they advance, or contact their Scarborough councillor to demand infrastructure verification before further approvals in the corridor.

Decision

Approved the site-specific fence exemption at 31 McDonald Avenue to exceed Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 447 height limit by 16 centimetres.

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Who did what

• Councillor Josh Matlow (Ward 12) movedMoved revised amendment to focus on fact-finding rather than debating the substance; seeks staff and legal advice on what RentSafe can do within existing law.

From the floor

“This motion seeks to understand what our abilities are to use existing resources within our rent safe staff to be able to when they see or are told about a potential crime being perpetrated toward tenants, whether it be illegal evictions through renovictions. Often we hear about cases where landlord owned use is done fraudulently. White collar crime is still crime and if you defraud somebody that's covered under the criminal code.”Councillor Josh Matlow (Ward 12)

“A tenant should not have to become a detective to prove that they were pushed out of their home unfairly. But it is usually them who must find the evidence and figure out where to take it. The report should look beyond a simple yes or no answer and explain what officers would be legally allowed to investigate, what evidence they could collect, and how that evidence would reach the province, the police, or another appropriate authority.”Speaker not identified

“My intent with the initial wording of the motion is that we've concluded that we do have the ability to do it. I've heard others question that or have concerns about other aspects of that. So the revision is to ensure that at least the intent of the request be able to reach the next stone across the river and that we seek the facts.”Councillor Josh Matlow (Ward 12)

Also in this item

• RentSafe currently covers only larger apartment buildings, leaving tenants in condos, basement apartments, townhouses, and smaller buildings without city inspection support, a significant coverage gap that will need to be addressed in the report.

• The motion cites the 500 Dawes Ave case, where it took 15 years of complaints and fines before an incarceration order was issued, as evidence that the Landlord and Tenant Board's enforcement is often ineffective.

The journey

What happens next

No immediate window. The study will report back in 2027; residents interested in tenant protections can track the report when it arrives and advocate for implementation. Deputation window has closed.

Decision

Staff directed to report back in 2027 on whether RentSafe officers can identify and compile evidence of landlord criminal conduct for forwarding to law enforcement, with particular focus on fraudulent evictions, illegal renovictions, and landlord-owned-use fraud.

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From the floor

“I was here a month ago to oppose a bylaw amendment which was passed against my recommendations. So, I'm here again today on another development.”Speaker not identified

“the Scarbo Community Council defer consideration of this application until the applicant has provided an updated comprehensive microclimate, solar, and transportation impact study that accounts for the cumulative impacts of the adjacent tree canopy that's going to be removed from the Bellamy project.”Speaker not identified

“These developments is four in the area that are happening and they're large developments. Our little area is adjacent to the Dorothy McCarthy trail and Scarbo Bluffs. With these large developments coming into single family homes area um it is going to cause a lot of damage to the environment to the community and also to the lifestyle.”Speaker not identified

“The wind study does not incorporate the 100 plus trees that are going to be removed from Bellamy Road south which is adjacent to that other development. So that's erosion, that's uh wind gusts um and that is um a problem for migration, not to mention transportation.”Speaker not identified

Also in this item

• Resident identifies four concurrent large developments in a small single-family area and claims individual environmental and traffic studies do not assess cumulative impact; argues for holistic review before approval.

• Wind study relied upon is from 2020 and does not account for tree removal from adjacent Bellamy project (100+ trees); resident contends this gap obscures actual microclimate and erosion risk.

The journey

What happens next

If the deferral motion is brought formally, residents can contact Councillor Thompson or other members to support it before a vote; Hermas's motion text is on the record and available for deputation or written submission at the next occurrence of this item.

Decision

20 Chatterton Boulevard fence exemption approved (5-0). Kingston Road zoning amendment deferral motion: no recorded vote or outcome.

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From the floor

“Anyone want to do anything? Councilor Croanti is moving it. All those in favor? Opposed? If any, that carries.”Speaker not identified

Also in this item

• The 90-day legal deadline is July 29-31, 2026. If Council does not act by then, the Ontario Heritage Act restricts further designation efforts on this property, effectively removing a key tool to shape the developer's proposal.

• 55 Elm Street is one of 26 surviving heritage buildings along three contiguous blocks of Elm Street, comprising the most intact grouping of St. John's Ward-era built fabric in Toronto. Designation protects a broader understanding of the city's first immigrant neighbourhood.

The journey

You can still act

On the Toronto City Council agenda for 2026-07-29

Residents may depute to City Council before the July 29-31 meeting when Council must formally decide. The Heritage Conservation Bylaw process allows public input during the designation notice period following Council's decision.

Decision

Committee recommends to Council that the property be designated under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, meeting 5 of 9 prescribed criteria. Vote: unanimous (no opposition voiced).

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Who did what

• Councillor Jamaal Myers (Ward 23) questioned staffAsked detailed questions about maximum parking capacity (114 spaces identified), overflow parking strategies, street parking mitigation on Staines Road, community access provisions and the 50% operating-hours agreement, and staff feasibility of a 425-person auditorium with only 114 parking spaces.

From the floor

“We have implemented a holding provision over the auditorium phase 2 portion of the site. This means that prior to any development of the auditorium or phase 2 occurring, the TCC board must satisfy certain conditions, including a study that assesses transportation impacts including parking and makes recommendations that must be accepted by the city. And second, the TCC board must secure that parking, whether it be on-site, off-site, shared parking strategies or others, or seek a reduction in the overall size of that auditorium.”City staff

“In 2021, the city contributed to the project with the land lease at dollar 1 per year; the land's estimated value is $25 million. Last year, council also waived the zoning bylaw amendment fee of $80,000. We have raised 17 million dollars from the community itself, and beyond major donors it came from 850 grassroot level of community members who have been contributing towards this project.”Speaker not identified

“I believe the agreement spec stipulates that 50% of the time the facilities need to be open to community use. Could you just expand on that and what it actually means? Is that the vision for the Tamil community center—while yes it will be funded and a lot of the activities will be centered on serving the Tamil community, there will be services, facilities, programming available for the wider community as well.”Councillor Jamaal Myers (Ward 23)

Also in this item

• Phase 2 auditorium (425-person capacity estimated) cannot proceed until parking is studied and secured; only 114 on-site spaces are currently possible, creating a hard constraint on the building's future size independent of funding.

• The city has committed $25 million in land value at $1 per year plus an $80,000 fee waiver; the Tamil community has raised $17 million from 850 grassroots donors, showing major institutional support for a single non-profit facility.

The journey

You can still act

On the Toronto City Council agenda for 2026-07-29

Decision

Approved the Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendment; Phase 1 proceeds with 60 parking spaces; Phase 2 auditorium placed under a Holding provision pending a parking and transportation study to be submitted by the Tamil Community Centre board before the hold can be lifted.

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Who did what

• Councillor Josh Matlow (Ward 12) movedMoved motion requesting three-year extension from province and coordination with GTA municipalities and AMO

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”Councillor Josh Matlow (Ward 12)

“There is a in my opinion a very false narrative that sometimes ensues in these debates over planning between the need for housing and progress and ensuring that there is adequate housing supply and protecting what we also love and value. I believe that good planning can accommodate both.”Councillor Josh Matlow (Ward 12)

“The story of Toronto goes back thousands of years. And you know even the you know the first peoples who walked these lands I walk along Davenport which was an indigenous trail it was actually on the shore of the ancient lake Irakqua.”Councillor Josh Matlow (Ward 12)

Also in this item

• About 4,000 Toronto heritage properties currently listed on the municipal register will be automatically removed on January 1, 2027 unless formally designated under the Ontario Heritage Act; 21,000 properties across Ontario face the same deadline.

• Properties that lose listing status cannot be re-listed for another five years, making the January 1, 2027 deadline effectively permanent for undesignated properties.

• The province previously extended the deadline from January 1, 2025 to January 1, 2027 through Bill 200 (Homeowner Protection Act, 2024), citing housing affordability pressures.

The journey

You can still act

On the Toronto City Council agenda for 2026-07-29

No deputation window or comment period noted in the transcript. This is a request to the province; residents could contact their MPP or attend any future city council vote on this motion.

Decision

Motion moved by Councillor Matlow requesting the province extend the Ontario Heritage Act designation deadline from January 1, 2027 to January 1, 2030. The motion also requests the mayor coordinate with GTA municipalities and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario to seek the extension and forward the item to them for information.

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Also in this item

• Development includes demolition of one occupied affordable rental unit, a potential tension with the broader affordable housing mission of the Social Medicine Housing Initiative partnership

The journey

You can still act

On the Toronto City Council agenda for 2026-07-29

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Who did what

• Councillor Michael Thompson (Ward 21) movedMoved deferral to allow further community discussion and exploration of cumulative development impact, citing insufficient information on Cliffside area character and community concerns.
• Councillor Neethan Shan (Ward 25) secondedSupported the deferral motion (recorded vote tally).

From the floor

“The fact that the community is coming out saying look we still have some concerns... I do think there's an opportunity here for more work to be done. Let's afford the community an opportunity to be able to have further discussion.”Councillor Michael Thompson (Ward 21)

“The character analysis of the Cliffside area in the community, I'm not comfortable that we have enough information that helps us to say let's just move this along and approve it today.”Councillor Michael Thompson (Ward 21)

“I'm not comfortable moving something like this forward without having all those answers and the community understanding the impact. The community association has been asking for years about trying to understand the cumulative impact of development on their neighborhood.”Speaker not identified

Also in this item

• Councilor Mantis cited cumulative development concerns specifically: Doris McCarthy Trail lacks public parking; Bellamy and Kingston Road project raised school-capacity issues at Bliss Karman; residents cannot walk to local schools and must be bused out of the community.

The journey

What happens next

Residents can continue engaging with the city and developers during the deferral period through the scheduled community consultation. Timing and next steps were not specified on the record.

Decision

Item deferred for further community consultation; no expansion approved at this time.

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Who did what

• Councillor Gord Perks (Ward 4) movedMoved referral to Chief Planner requesting a report once negotiations between Cadillac Fairview and the province on additional land-use changes have concluded.

From the floor

“I'm going to refer the item to the chief planner and executive director city planning and request that the chief planner report once negotiations with Cadillac Fairview and the province related to additional proposed changes to land use permissions at the East Harbour have concluded.”Councillor Gord Perks (Ward 4)

Also in this item

• The province's 2022 Minister's Zoning Order for East Harbour permits up to 302,000 square metres of residential development on lands previously zoned employment-only, bypassing Toronto's official plan policies. The city's own amendment would align its planning framework to the province's override after the fact.

• Toronto received approximately 150 employment-area conversion requests as part of its Municipal Comprehensive Review; East Harbour is the fourth final report. The pattern suggests ongoing pressure to convert industrial land for housing and mixed-use development.

The journey

What happens next

Residents can contact their councillor before any future vote on the official plan amendment. If the item returns to committee before the October 2026 election, there may be a deputation window; check toronto.ca/council for future agenda dates.

Decision

Referred to Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning; report to come once negotiations between Cadillac Fairview and the province on additional land-use changes at East Harbour have concluded.

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From the floor

“Taiu is an African name, a Swahili name, which means be in good health. And it's within that spirit that I'm supporting the naming of long-term care in the name of Bernice Redman who is a trailblazer for us Canadians and Torontonians as well.”Speaker not identified

“Representation matters. It inspires young people, honours those who have come before us, and strengthens the connections between communities and the services designed to support them.”Speaker not identified

“Sometimes you don't know until later the effect of what it means to be the first person to do something and the toll it takes on you emotionally to do that. Canada is not ready to accept black nurses in training here. She had to go to the US to do it. And when she went to the US, segregation was full-blown.”Speaker not identified

“This is a historic moment and I'm so glad to finally get to meet you Bernice in person. She told me the incredible story of her aunt and it just blew my mind how much adversity she had to overcome.”Councillor Jamaal Myers (Ward 23)

Also in this item

• The Redmon and Carnegie families are among Toronto's first Black families, with multiple family members becoming pioneers in their fields; Herb Carnegie, Bernice's brother, was one of Canada's first Black professional hockey players and has a community recreation centre named after him on Finch Avenue

• Bernice Redmon had to leave Canada to pursue nursing training because Canadian institutions would not accept Black nurses, and upon returning had to retain lawyers to gain entry into the field

The journey

Decision

The long-term care home at 4610 Finch Avenue East will be named Bernice Redmon Long-Term Care Home

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From the floor

“I'll just move the deferral. All those in favor? Opposed? Carried. So that will come back to the first regular planning meeting of the next term which I believe is in December maybe January but uh a notice will go out of when that meeting is.”Speaker not identified

Also in this item

• The property is one of eighteen pre-1870 listed properties citywide that the city must designate or remove from the Heritage Register by January 1, 2027, under Bill 23 amendments to the Ontario Heritage Act.

The journey

What happens next

A resident may depute at the next planning meeting when the item returns. The notice of designation process is non-statutory, so deputation at deferral does not bar deputation at the future hearing.

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From the floor

“Canada is not ready to accept black nurses in training here. She had to go to the US to do it. And when she went to the US, segregation was full-blown. So, she went from walking the streets in Toronto, but couldn't go to school to become a nurse. And then had to go to the US and she couldn't drink from the water fountains, and she couldn't go to the restrooms, and she couldn't go to restaurants.”Speaker not identified

“This is the legacy that I come from. I am so proud to stand here on behalf of her. I'm named after her, Bernice Carnegie. That name really resonates with me now. It means so much to me now because I carry her story forward.”Speaker not identified

“The Redmonds, if you don't know them, and the Carnegies are an incredible family. They were one of the first black families in Toronto. So, oftentimes when their family did something, they were the first black family to do X or Y.”Councillor Jamaal Myers (Ward 23)

Also in this item

• Bernice Carnegie was denied nursing training in Canada and forced to train in the United States, where she faced Jim Crow segregation; she required lawyers to practice nursing upon returning to Canada

• The Carnegie and Redmond families are among Toronto's earliest Black residents, arriving in 1912-1913 when the city's Black population was approximately 500 people; multiple family members have had public facilities named after them (Herb Carnegie rec center, Freeman Redmond Circle)

The journey

Decision

Approved naming of long-term care home at 4 Brooklawn Avenue after Bernice Carnegie

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From the floor

“I think a name will tell the story of what the building is about, what the services are going to be about. It's the same thing with the naming of Taiu. Taiu is an African name, a Swahili name, which means be in good health.”Speaker not identified

“She's also the first black woman to be appointed to the Victorian Order of Nurses. And so it is with that spirit that we are supporting this naming.”Speaker not identified

“Representation matters. It inspires young people, honors those who have come before us, and strengthens the connections between communities and the services designed to support them.”Speaker not identified

Also in this item

• The facility will include a Black-focused care unit, designed to serve Black and racialized communities with culturally tailored care.

The journey

You can still act

On the Toronto City Council agenda for 2026-07-29

Decision

Motion passed unanimously to name the long-term care home in honor of Bernice Redmond.

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Who did what

• Councillor Michael Thompson (Ward 21) questioned staffAsked the deputy questions about community consultation, unit mix, parking, tree preservation, and school impacts on the development.
• Councillor Jamaal Myers (Ward 23) questioned staffQuestioned whether individual studies examine the development in isolation or area-wide; asked about basement flooding areas and tree removal impacts on water runoff.

From the floor

“We have increased the two and three-bedroom units, increased the proportion of parking, reduced the number of units, and are now preserving 20 additional trees, 50 percent of the trees on the site, which I think is very notable for an urban site.”Speaker not identified

“The individual studies are prepared for the application but they are all termed by our terms of reference to look at the area as a whole. Traffic, engineering, water servicing, and community services facilities all need to look at existing populations.”City staff

“For the average person that's a technicality in that they would see developments, but for us, if the engineering was on one side of the street, depending on what it connected to, that would be a different report.”Councillor Jamaal Myers (Ward 23)

Also in this item

• Transcript discussion focuses on a mid-rise development at or near 689 Morrish Road with changes to unit mix (increased 2 and 3-bedroom units), parking, and 50 percent tree preservation, but the fence exemption agenda item itself receives no recorded decision.

The journey

What happens next

If the exemption is still pending: residents may depute at the next Scarborough Community Council meeting or contact their council member before any vote. Check the official meeting minutes for the actual decision record.

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Who did what

• Councillor Frances Nunziata (Ward 5) movedMoved adoption of financial statements item AU13.4

From the floor

“Population growth and evolving community needs created rising demand for both direct city services and services delivered on behalf of the federal and provincial governments. This was reflected in a $1.88 billion operating cost increase in 2025.”Speaker not identified

“A modest operating surplus of 108 million was achieved through active cost control and discipline. The city continued to invest significantly in infrastructure by adding over $6 billion of new tangible capital assets to support service delivery and to accommodate growth.”Speaker not identified

“It's important to note that the majority of the city's accounting surplus relates to the city's investments of tangible capital assets rather than the amounts generated from the operating surplus.”Speaker not identified

“While the operating result was favorable, this is a relatively moderate surplus. And it demonstrates that similar to other cities, our city has limited capacity to significantly replenish reserves through annual operating results alone.”Speaker not identified

“So theoretically, we could have come in with a zero budget increase, tax increase, and still had a few million dollars left for the surplus. Would that be a correct assessment?”Councillor Jamaal Myers (Ward 23)

“We had already accounted for those funds. Um I won't take up all of your time and talk about the challenges of using one-time funds for ongoing expenses. I'll leave that alone. But we had already accounted for that and leveraged it as part of our planning process.”Speaker not identified

“The reserves and discretionary reserve funds, which are part of our accumulated surplus balance, represents important fiscal tools. These balances provide flexibility to manage our ongoing financial risks, including stabilizing our tax rate changes, supporting various capital investments and responding to emergencies or unexpected events.”Speaker not identified

“Approximately 94% of our reserves were committed for various operating and capital priorities, which really shows that we're using our balances intentionally. However, this also indicates that there is limited flexibility to redirect these balances to new or emerging pressures without affecting our existing plans and commitments.”Speaker not identified

“I think we have around 12 billion when you combine the two [reserves and deferred revenue accounts] and we have around $40 billion of commitments.”Speaker not identified

Also in this item

• The city's tangible capital assets grew 81% over 10 years, from $27 billion in 2015 to $48.7 billion in 2025, reflecting sustained infrastructure investment but creating long-term maintenance and replacement pressures that will strain both capital and operating budgets.

• Toronto holds a AA+ credit rating from multiple agencies, which reduces borrowing costs; however, the city maintains a 15% debt-service-ratio cap to preserve operating revenue flexibility, and controller flagged that hitting capital spending limits while managing this ratio will require difficult prioritization choices.

• The city received the Canadian Award for Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association, and successfully implemented a new SAP S/4HANA accounting system in November 2025 without exceeding time or budget.

The journey

You can still act

On the Toronto City Council agenda for 2026-07-29

Decision

Audit Committee adopted the recommendation to accept the 2025 audited financial statements for the Consolidated City, Sinking Funds, and Trust Funds; the statements will proceed to City Council for final approval

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