Toronto Council meets today!
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And that takes Council to lunch. There are still 113 items left on the agenda. Abandon all hope, ye who enter here.
Back at 2 p.m.
Council is about to return. Before they get back to the bad landlord debate, they'll pay tribute to Will Johnston, the Deputy City Manager responsible for Infrastructure and Development Services. He's retiring from city hall next week.
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Council is about to return. Before they get back to the bad landlord debate, they'll pay tribute to Will Johnston, the Deputy City Manager responsible for Infrastructure and Development Services. He's retiring from city hall next week.
Chow takes the lectern to praise Johnston's work. She heralds his "dedication to public services" on issues like transit, development and snow clearing.
"We know you're looking forward to returning to Vancouver, where you don't have to look at that 60 cm of snowstorm in one day," the mayor adds.
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Chow takes the lectern to praise Johnston's work. She heralds his "dedication to public services" on issues like transit, development and snow clearing.
"We know you're looking forward to returning to Vancouver, where you don't have to look at that 60 cm of snowstorm in one day," the mayor adds.
Johnston gets the standard-issue retirement photo with the mayor and thanks a long list of people. "I am very grateful and honoured for having the opportunity to play a role in helping to shape this incredible city." He gets a standing ovation. Nunziata asks why the heck he's going to Vancouver.
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Johnston gets the standard-issue retirement photo with the mayor and thanks a long list of people. "I am very grateful and honoured for having the opportunity to play a role in helping to shape this incredible city." He gets a standing ovation. Nunziata asks why the heck he's going to Vancouver.
Back to bad landlords. Councillor Lily Cheng moves to conduct user experience consultations with the new database once it launches, and to look at requiring landlords to inform tenants when their building has a property standards issue.
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Back to bad landlords. Councillor Lily Cheng moves to conduct user experience consultations with the new database once it launches, and to look at requiring landlords to inform tenants when their building has a property standards issue.
Chow is up to speak on bad landlords. She's got a looong motion that is now posted on the item. Some key recs to the provincial gov:
- Higher fines
- Eliminating appeals for property standards orders
- Bring back rent control and introduce vacancy control -
Chow is up to speak on bad landlords. She's got a looong motion that is now posted on the item. Some key recs to the provincial gov:
- Higher fines
- Eliminating appeals for property standards orders
- Bring back rent control and introduce vacancy control"There's no escape. We will shut down slum landlords, because we are the City of Toronto — we are the government," declares Mayor Olivia Chow.
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"There's no escape. We will shut down slum landlords, because we are the City of Toronto — we are the government," declares Mayor Olivia Chow.
Time to vote. The part of Mayor Chow's motion calling for the province to bring back universal rent control and add vacancy control (in addition to some other changes) CARRIES 24-2.
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Time to vote. The part of Mayor Chow's motion calling for the province to bring back universal rent control and add vacancy control (in addition to some other changes) CARRIES 24-2.
All other amendments CARRY via show of hands. The bad landlord item CARRIES 25-1. But WAIT, Holyday says he actually meant to vote YES. This is the first time this has ever happened, he says, apologizing.
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All other amendments CARRY via show of hands. The bad landlord item CARRIES 25-1. But WAIT, Holyday says he actually meant to vote YES. This is the first time this has ever happened, he says, apologizing.
They redo the bad landlord vote for Holyday. He remembers, this time, where the YES button is. It CARRIES 26-0.
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They redo the bad landlord vote for Holyday. He remembers, this time, where the YES button is. It CARRIES 26-0.
Before the next item, Councillor Gord Perks rises to pay tribute to the departing David Stonehouse, the longtime director of the waterfront secretariat. "He asked that we not do this, but in typical fashion, we're going to ignore advice from staff," jokes Perks.
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Before the next item, Councillor Gord Perks rises to pay tribute to the departing David Stonehouse, the longtime director of the waterfront secretariat. "He asked that we not do this, but in typical fashion, we're going to ignore advice from staff," jokes Perks.
Up now: the island airport. Premier Doug Ford says he intends to pass legislation that would take Toronto's spot in the tripartite agreement governing Billy Bishop Island Airport, which would clear the runway for airport expansion. https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2026.MM39.59
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Up now: the island airport. Premier Doug Ford says he intends to pass legislation that would take Toronto's spot in the tripartite agreement governing Billy Bishop Island Airport, which would clear the runway for airport expansion. https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2026.MM39.59
"I would suggest that the provincial government could assume responsibility for the agreement through legislation, but the federal government would not have to accept the amendment to the contract," says the city solicitor re: the tripartite agreement. The feds could stop Ford, in other words.
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"I would suggest that the provincial government could assume responsibility for the agreement through legislation, but the federal government would not have to accept the amendment to the contract," says the city solicitor re: the tripartite agreement. The feds could stop Ford, in other words.
Fletcher asks how the city is supposed to deal with all the ongoing planning applications in the port lands if flight paths are going to change at the island airport.
"That is certainly something that we will want to look at," say staff. Okay then.
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They redo the bad landlord vote for Holyday. He remembers, this time, where the YES button is. It CARRIES 26-0.
> They redo the bad landlord vote for Holyday. He remembers, this time, where the YES button is.
It would actually be a funny self-deprecating joke if he weren't such an insufferable, pompous, pedantic, regressive, self-interested ass.
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Fletcher asks how the city is supposed to deal with all the ongoing planning applications in the port lands if flight paths are going to change at the island airport.
"That is certainly something that we will want to look at," say staff. Okay then.
"Can you help me understand how the airport operations could make life less livable in this city?" wonders Holyday. Staff cite significantly increased traffic, interference with recreational uses in the harbour, the potential for "jet blast screens" on the runway, noise, etc.
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"Can you help me understand how the airport operations could make life less livable in this city?" wonders Holyday. Staff cite significantly increased traffic, interference with recreational uses in the harbour, the potential for "jet blast screens" on the runway, noise, etc.
Councillor Matlow has a motion on the island airport. It asks staff for advice on "potential legal options to defend the City of Toronto's interests" in waterfront lands like the airport.
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Up now: the island airport. Premier Doug Ford says he intends to pass legislation that would take Toronto's spot in the tripartite agreement governing Billy Bishop Island Airport, which would clear the runway for airport expansion. https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2026.MM39.59
@GraphicMatt Ford thinks he is king. I imagine he's making a fine profit by damaging the province.
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Councillor Matlow has a motion on the island airport. It asks staff for advice on "potential legal options to defend the City of Toronto's interests" in waterfront lands like the airport.
"Doug Ford needs to understand that leadership is NOT cutting partners out and making announcements AT people rather than WITH people," says Matlow. He says it doesn't matter what you think about jets on the island, people should want a better process.
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"Doug Ford needs to understand that leadership is NOT cutting partners out and making announcements AT people rather than WITH people," says Matlow. He says it doesn't matter what you think about jets on the island, people should want a better process.
"We firmly say, and we demand, a seat at the table. We deserve it, and there is no table without us," says Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik.
"Everything has been put at risk, and we simply cannot take the premier's word that he somehow has the city of Toronto's interest at heart."
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"We firmly say, and we demand, a seat at the table. We deserve it, and there is no table without us," says Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik.
"Everything has been put at risk, and we simply cannot take the premier's word that he somehow has the city of Toronto's interest at heart."
"If they take this land of the city, what is next — and in whose interest? What important housing projects are going to be interrupted, cancelled, or backtracked -- what is up for grabs next, without say from our residents?" asks Malik.
