Who did what

• Councillor Gord Perks (Ward 4, Parkdale-High Park) 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.”An advocacy group representative

“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.”Affiliation not stated

“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.”Affiliation not stated

“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.”Affiliation not stated

“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, Spadina-Fort York)

“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, Toronto-Danforth)

“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, Parkdale-High Park)

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

• Councillor Alejandra Bravo (Ward 9, Davenport) movedSignaled intention to move a motion on the staffing crisis and provincial cost-sharing.
• Councillor Shelley Carroll (Ward 17, Don Valley North) 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, Davenport)

“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 Dianne Saxe (Ward 11, University-Rosedale) 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.

On video

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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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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.

On video

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Who did what

• Councillor Jamaal Myers (Ward 23, Scarborough North) 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.”A consultant for the applicant

“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, Scarborough North)

“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.”An organization representative

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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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

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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

• Councillor Michael Thompson (Ward 21, Scarborough Centre) 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.”Affiliation not stated

“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.”The chair

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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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, Parkdale-High Park)

“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.”Affiliation not stated

“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?”Affiliation not stated

“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.”Affiliation not stated

“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.”Affiliation not stated

“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.”Affiliation not stated

“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.”Affiliation not stated

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 Paul Ainslie (Ward 24, Scarborough East) 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.”Affiliation not stated

“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.”Affiliation not stated

“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.”Affiliation not stated

“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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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.”Affiliation not stated

“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.”Affiliation not stated

“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.”Affiliation not stated

“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

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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 Lily Cheng (Ward 18, Willowdale) 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

You can still act

You can weigh in

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 Michael Thompson (Ward 21, Scarborough Centre) 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, Scarborough North) 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, Willowdale)

“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, Willowdale)

“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 Jamaal Myers (Ward 23, Scarborough North) 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.”The chair

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

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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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From the floor

“Anyone want to do anything? Councilor Croanti is moving it. All those in favor? Opposed? If any, that carries.”The chair

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 Michael Thompson (Ward 21, Scarborough Centre) 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, Scarborough Centre)

“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, Scarborough Centre)

“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.”The chair

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

You can still act

You can weigh in

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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Who did what

• Councillor Josh Matlow (Ward 12, Toronto-St. Paul's) 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, Toronto-St. Paul's)

“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, Toronto-St. Paul's)

“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, Toronto-St. Paul's)

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.

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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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Who did what

• Councillor Michael Thompson (Ward 21, Scarborough Centre) 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, Scarborough Centre)

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

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You can weigh in

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.

On video

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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

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

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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”Affiliation not stated

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

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You can weigh in

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 Jamaal Myers (Ward 23, Scarborough North) 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.”An advocacy group representative

“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, Scarborough North)

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

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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 Gord Perks (Ward 4, Parkdale-High Park) 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, Parkdale-High Park)

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

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You can weigh in

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

“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.”Affiliation not stated

“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.”Affiliation not stated

“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.”Affiliation not stated

“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.”Affiliation not stated

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

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You can weigh in

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.

On video

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Who did what

• Councillor Josh Matlow (Ward 12, Toronto-St. Paul's) 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, Toronto-St. Paul's)

“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.”A deputant

“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, Toronto-St. Paul's)

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

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You can weigh in

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.

On video

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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.”Affiliation not stated

“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.”Affiliation not stated

“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.”Affiliation not stated

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

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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.

On video

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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.”Affiliation not stated

“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.”Affiliation not stated

“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.”Affiliation not stated

“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, Scarborough North)

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

On video

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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.”A deputant

“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.”A deputant

“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, Scarborough North)

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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