Toronto Council meets today!
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Councillor Dianne Saxe, on the other hand, says she'll support protecting more trees. "The most effective response to heat is trees," she says. "And trees don't grow overnight." Toronto won't achieve its tree canopy coverage goals if trees aren't allowed to grow, she says.
Councillor Stephen Holyday is also opposed to the tree strategy. He says it's "heartbreaking to see the instances where somebody can't do what it is they dream of on their own land" because of the permit requirement for removing trees.
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Councillor Stephen Holyday is also opposed to the tree strategy. He says it's "heartbreaking to see the instances where somebody can't do what it is they dream of on their own land" because of the permit requirement for removing trees.
"This particular item is perhaps the largest and most profound thing we are dealing with today," says Holyday of the tree strategy. "This touches 300,000 trees." He worries residents might respond by proactively cutting down trees to get ahead of the rule changes.
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"This particular item is perhaps the largest and most profound thing we are dealing with today," says Holyday of the tree strategy. "This touches 300,000 trees." He worries residents might respond by proactively cutting down trees to get ahead of the rule changes.
Council votes to APPROVE, in principle, reducing the protection threshold for private trees to 20 cm. Staff will first report on impacts before the change goes into effect. The vote is 18-6.
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Council votes to APPROVE, in principle, reducing the protection threshold for private trees to 20 cm. Staff will first report on impacts before the change goes into effect. The vote is 18-6.
The rest of the tree strategy is APPROVED 21-3. https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2026.IE27.8
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The rest of the tree strategy is APPROVED 21-3. https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2026.IE27.8
Mayor Olivia Chow remains STEADFAST in her position against three-day council meetings. She moves to take a 30-minute break at 6 p.m., then come back and finish this agenda. There are 27 items left.
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Mayor Olivia Chow remains STEADFAST in her position against three-day council meetings. She moves to take a 30-minute break at 6 p.m., then come back and finish this agenda. There are 27 items left.
After a minor wording tweak, Councillor Pasternak's motion calling for a report on the design of multiplexes carries via a show of hands. https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2026.MM39.13
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After a minor wording tweak, Councillor Pasternak's motion calling for a report on the design of multiplexes carries via a show of hands. https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2026.MM39.13
Council is wading into the flag policy debate. Councillor Thompson has an amendment to continue to allow the flying of not-for-profit and charitable org flags, but would still ban foreign flags as of Dec 1, 2026.
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Council is wading into the flag policy debate. Councillor Thompson has an amendment to continue to allow the flying of not-for-profit and charitable org flags, but would still ban foreign flags as of Dec 1, 2026.
Councillor Pasternak, meanwhile, has a motion that would just eliminate the flying of any flags on the courtesy flagpoles after the current schedule of flagraisings is completed.
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Councillor Pasternak, meanwhile, has a motion that would just eliminate the flying of any flags on the courtesy flagpoles after the current schedule of flagraisings is completed.
Councillor Nick Mantas says he's against these flag policy changes. "We're basically penalizing 160 countries that we recognize in our city for a few groups."
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Councillor Nick Mantas says he's against these flag policy changes. "We're basically penalizing 160 countries that we recognize in our city for a few groups."
Councillor Thompson's motion to stop flying foreign country flags on the courtesy flagpoles at city hall and the civic centres CARRIES 20-6. Other kinds of flags will still be permitted.
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Councillor Thompson's motion to stop flying foreign country flags on the courtesy flagpoles at city hall and the civic centres CARRIES 20-6. Other kinds of flags will still be permitted.
Pasternak's motion to stop flying all flags is ruled redundant. With that, the amended flag policy is APPROVED 19-7.
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Pasternak's motion to stop flying all flags is ruled redundant. With that, the amended flag policy is APPROVED 19-7.
Council is on dinner break until 6:30. There are 21 items left, including Perruzza's city-run grocery store item, Bradford's subway safety item, and Chow's no-ICE-in-Toronto item. Could be a late one.
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Council is on dinner break until 6:30. There are 21 items left, including Perruzza's city-run grocery store item, Bradford's subway safety item, and Chow's no-ICE-in-Toronto item. Could be a late one.
Council returns. Councillor Morley starts us off by saying she voted incorrectly on the last item (the flag stuff) but Nunziata rejects her request for a re-vote. Exciting stuff. The new livestream is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ds4Qm64i1D0
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Council returns. Councillor Morley starts us off by saying she voted incorrectly on the last item (the flag stuff) but Nunziata rejects her request for a re-vote. Exciting stuff. The new livestream is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ds4Qm64i1D0
Council starts off with a Vision Zero item. Nunziata moves for staff to look at traffic safety improvements for Humber Boulevard North. She says a 15-year-old was hit by a driver on the street this week and is in hospital, so she wants urgent change. https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2026.IE27.9
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Council starts off with a Vision Zero item. Nunziata moves for staff to look at traffic safety improvements for Humber Boulevard North. She says a 15-year-old was hit by a driver on the street this week and is in hospital, so she wants urgent change. https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2026.IE27.9
Councillor Moise, meanwhile, wants to install a sidewalk on a section of Sumach Street that currently doesn't have a sidewalk.
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Councillor Moise, meanwhile, wants to install a sidewalk on a section of Sumach Street that currently doesn't have a sidewalk.
Councillor Matlow, in contrast, has a motion to NOT install a planned sidewalk on Warwick Ave.
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Councillor Matlow, in contrast, has a motion to NOT install a planned sidewalk on Warwick Ave.
All the Vision Zero motions CARRY via show of hands. So does the item as amended. Moving on.
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Councillor Matlow, in contrast, has a motion to NOT install a planned sidewalk on Warwick Ave.
@GraphicMatt Restoring balance to the universe.
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All the Vision Zero motions CARRY via show of hands. So does the item as amended. Moving on.
Up now: an updated secondary plan for North York Centre. Councillor Lily Cheng, the local rep, has concerns about how the area could support 100,000 more people moving in over the next 30 years. https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2026.PH28.6
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Up now: an updated secondary plan for North York Centre. Councillor Lily Cheng, the local rep, has concerns about how the area could support 100,000 more people moving in over the next 30 years. https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2026.PH28.6
Councillor Mike Colle emerges from the shadows to complain about development and the Ontario Land Tribunal. "We have an unworkable system that basically rubber stamps development after development, and we have no way of providing any kind of community infrastructure," he says.
