Toronto Council meets today!
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"Why would we pay twice?" Councillor Holyday wonders, pointing out that the city already pays $145 million a year to contractors to remove snow. He likens this to "the checkers checking the checkers who check things."
@GraphicMatt if only they'd actually clear and remove the snow ...
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Toronto Council APPROVES the development of a pay-to-shovel program, similar to NYC's, in time for next winter. The vote is 17-9.
I have no idea what this is all about but any program Holyday is against, I support 100% even knowing nothing else about it.
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I have no idea what this is all about but any program Holyday is against, I support 100% even knowing nothing else about it.
@chu @GraphicMatt makes it easy to follow the transcript, right?
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Toronto Council APPROVES the development of a pay-to-shovel program, similar to NYC's, in time for next winter. The vote is 17-9.
Up now: should council pursue an audit of John Tory's SmartTrack project? The AG says it might be impossible given the office lacks the power to audit Metrolinx, but some councillors want to try anyway. https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2026.AU11.3
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Up now: should council pursue an audit of John Tory's SmartTrack project? The AG says it might be impossible given the office lacks the power to audit Metrolinx, but some councillors want to try anyway. https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2026.AU11.3
Councillor Fletcher asks about the secrecy surrounding the SmartTrack agreement with Metrolinx.
Staff say the agreement "defines what we are allowed to share and not share."
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Councillor Fletcher asks about the secrecy surrounding the SmartTrack agreement with Metrolinx.
Staff say the agreement "defines what we are allowed to share and not share."
"It's a bit of a transit scandal. It's a bit of a transit embarrassment," says Fletcher of SmartTrack and the secrecy around the project. She also points out SmartTrack was premised on additional electrified GO Train service, but now that project has been further delayed and scaled back.
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"It's a bit of a transit scandal. It's a bit of a transit embarrassment," says Fletcher of SmartTrack and the secrecy around the project. She also points out SmartTrack was premised on additional electrified GO Train service, but now that project has been further delayed and scaled back.
On the SmartTrack audit, Councillor Holyday moves for an investigation into who leaked confidential information about this SmartTrack report to the media. He points to a February Toronto Star story that references seeing the confidential attachment.
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On the SmartTrack audit, Councillor Holyday moves for an investigation into who leaked confidential information about this SmartTrack report to the media. He points to a February Toronto Star story that references seeing the confidential attachment.
Councillor Myers moves to request Metrolinx provide documents about SmartTrack, that the Ontario AG conduct its own audit, and to make sure any future transit agreements include an audit provision.
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Councillor Myers moves to request Metrolinx provide documents about SmartTrack, that the Ontario AG conduct its own audit, and to make sure any future transit agreements include an audit provision.
On SmartTrack, Myers says, "It's really sad that we spent so much money on this program while we allowed the TTC to deteriorate to the state that it is ... think of what we could have done with $1.5 billion had we just focused that on the TTC."
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On SmartTrack, Myers says, "It's really sad that we spent so much money on this program while we allowed the TTC to deteriorate to the state that it is ... think of what we could have done with $1.5 billion had we just focused that on the TTC."
"This is a real scandal," says Councillor Alejandra Bravo of SmartTrack. "Property tax dollars that should have been invested in the city of Toronto went into a fictional plan called SmartTrack, which was essentially to subsidize a provincial plan that cannot materialize."
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"This is a real scandal," says Councillor Alejandra Bravo of SmartTrack. "Property tax dollars that should have been invested in the city of Toronto went into a fictional plan called SmartTrack, which was essentially to subsidize a provincial plan that cannot materialize."
Myers' motion to request Metrolinx provide documents for a city audit, that the provincial Auditor look into the SmartTrack project, and that the city put audit clauses into future transit agreements CARRIES 24-1.
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Myers' motion to request Metrolinx provide documents for a city audit, that the provincial Auditor look into the SmartTrack project, and that the city put audit clauses into future transit agreements CARRIES 24-1.
Council approves a continued investigation into the SmartTrack project. The vote is 25-0.
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Council approves a continued investigation into the SmartTrack project. The vote is 25-0.
And that takes Council to the matter of lunch. There are 103 items left on the agenda, though the member motion run-through after lunch will help to quickly dispense with many of them. I hope. I pray.
See you back here at 2 p.m.
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And that takes Council to the matter of lunch. There are 103 items left on the agenda, though the member motion run-through after lunch will help to quickly dispense with many of them. I hope. I pray.
See you back here at 2 p.m.
Council is stirring to life. Before they get back to business, a presentation about the winners of the Mayor's AI Awards is on the schedule. Prepare for emdashes and emojis.
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Council is stirring to life. Before they get back to business, a presentation about the winners of the Mayor's AI Awards is on the schedule. Prepare for emdashes and emojis.
Mayor Chow takes the lectern to talk about the awarded AI projects: a recreation planning project, a 311 virtual assistant, an IT assistant, and a building permit precheck project.
"The work reflects what's possible when technology supports — not replaces — the people who serve our city," she says
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Mayor Chow takes the lectern to talk about the awarded AI projects: a recreation planning project, a 311 virtual assistant, an IT assistant, and a building permit precheck project.
"The work reflects what's possible when technology supports — not replaces — the people who serve our city," she says
Chow gives a shoutout to former councillor and mayoral candidate David Soknacki, who has been working with her on tech initiatives and encouraged Chow to launch the AI Awards.
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Chow gives a shoutout to former councillor and mayoral candidate David Soknacki, who has been working with her on tech initiatives and encouraged Chow to launch the AI Awards.
It's video time. A narrated vid gives us some quick screenshots of the winning AI projects.
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It's video time. A narrated vid gives us some quick screenshots of the winning AI projects.
On to member motions. Councillor Anthony Perruzza's motion to introduce city-run grocery stores is ADDED to the agenda, 22-4. They'll debate it later. https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2026.MM39.27
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On to member motions. Councillor Anthony Perruzza's motion to introduce city-run grocery stores is ADDED to the agenda, 22-4. They'll debate it later. https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2026.MM39.27
The financial impact summary for Perruzza's city-run grocery stores item suggests council tread carefully, noting that the program would likely come with high costs that do not exist within the budget. It suggests a "robust analysis" first.
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The financial impact summary for Perruzza's city-run grocery stores item suggests council tread carefully, noting that the program would likely come with high costs that do not exist within the budget. It suggests a "robust analysis" first.
Councillor Burnside's motion to change city hall's flag policy and restrict the flying of foreign flags on "courtesy flagpoles" is added to the agenda, 22-4. They'll come back to it. https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2026.MM39.35
