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, University-Rosedale) 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.”An organization representative

“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, Davenport)

“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, University-Rosedale)

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

You can still act

You can weigh in

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).

On video

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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, Davenport) questioned staffQuestioned deputant and staff on built-in evaluation, quality, and provincial healthcare handoff before further expansion
• Councillor Ausma Malik (Ward 10, Spadina-Fort York) 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, Parkdale-High Park)

“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, Parkdale-High Park)

“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.”An advocacy group representative

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

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

You can still act

You can weigh in

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.

On video

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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.

On video

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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 Alejandra Bravo (Ward 9, Davenport) 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, Davenport)

“All those in favor of councelor Bravo's motion of amendment. Post carry and item as amended. All those in favor post carry.”The chair

“I just want to point out this is our last executive committee of this term.”The chair

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.

On video

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Who did what

• Councillor Alejandra Bravo (Ward 9, Davenport) 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

On video

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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.

On video

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Who did what

• Councillor Jamaal Myers (Ward 23, Scarborough North) 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.”City staff

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

“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.”Affiliation not stated

“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, Etobicoke Centre)

“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.”Affiliation not stated

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

You can still act

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

Decision

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

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

You can still act

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

Decision

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

On video

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Who did what

• Councillor Paul Ainslie (Ward 24, Scarborough East) 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, Scarborough East)

“There was Howard Moscoe memorial motion picked up by Deputy Mayor Paul Ainslie. Good for you”The chair

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.

On video

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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.

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.

On video

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Who did what

• Councillor Jamaal Myers (Ward 23, Scarborough North) 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

You can still act

You can weigh in

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.

On video

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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.

On video

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Who did what

• Councillor Dianne Saxe (Ward 11, University-Rosedale) 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, Scarborough North) secondedSeconded the motion and chaired; questioned deputants on scope and jurisdiction
• Councillor Alejandra Bravo (Ward 9, Davenport) 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, Davenport)

“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, University-Rosedale)

“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

You can still act

You can weigh in

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.

On video

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Who did what

• Councillor Paula Fletcher (Ward 14, Toronto-Danforth) 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.”An advocacy group representative

“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.”Affiliation not stated

“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.”Affiliation not stated

“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.”Affiliation not stated

“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, Toronto-Danforth)

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

You can still act

You can weigh in

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.

On video

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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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Who did what

• Councillor Shelley Carroll (Ward 17, Don Valley North) movedMoved adoption of most consent items including variance reports, water capital plan, interim levy by-law and audited statements
• Councillor Paul Ainslie (Ward 24, Scarborough East) movedMoved his annual 'levy on institutions' motion (the Howard Moscoe memorial motion) and moved item 27
• Councillor Gord Perks (Ward 4, Parkdale-High Park) 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, Toronto-Danforth) 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, Davenport) 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, Scarborough East)

“I actually read the reports.”Councillor Shelley Carroll (Ward 17, Don Valley North)

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

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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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

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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 Frances Nunziata (Ward 5, York South-Weston) 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.”City staff

“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.”City staff

“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.”City staff

“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.”City staff

“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, Scarborough North)

“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.”City staff

“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.”City staff

“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.”City staff

“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.”City staff

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.

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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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