Matt Elliott
Anyway, that brings us to the matter of lunch.
Council will return at 2 p.m., with 49 items left to deal with, including 37 member motions that should mostly go pretty quick. See you back here soon.
Thompson rises on a point of order about the decision before lunch to dispense with the Ombudsman report.
"What a shameful act that has taken place today ... to waive this particular matter, not to deal with it. In fact, we're treating dogs better than people in this city."
Fletcher suggests as an alternative, a bunch of councillors and staff have a meeting with staff to "iron some of these things out" regarding the Ombudsman report.
"Maybe there'll be something that comes back to council, but I think that's the most appropriate way to do that."
After the member motion run through, there are now just 14 items left on this council agenda.
At the end of the tunnel, light.
Councillor Nick Mantas asks if the federal government is being a "fair and honest partner" to the city re: refugee funding.
"We're very concerned about what this signal means for the future funding of this program," staff say, diplomatically.
"Do you think that property taxpayers should be the source of primary funding for asylum seekers in our city?" Councillor Lily Cheng asks General Manager of Shelters Gord Tanner.
"The shelter system in Toronto cannot support the immigration system of Canada," responds Tanner.
Councillor McKelvie wants to know why the details of the SmartTrack cost overruns can't be public. "Has Metrolinx explained to us why there is a significant overrun and why they will not make that public?"
Staff say Metrolinx's view is this is "commercially confidential" info.
"How long are we going to continue calling this SmartTrack?" Councillor Josh Matlow asks transit staff.
"Do you really want me to answer that?" responds Derek Toigo of the Transit Expansion Office.
"Maybe it should be PastTrack," says Speaker Nunziata.
Councillor Mike Colle asks what happens if Council just decides to walk away from this whole SmartTrack thing.
Toigo says the signed agreement says the City would still be on the hook to pay for costs that have occurred to date, and potentially other costs going forward.
Councillor Gord Perks moves to rename all five SmartTrack Stations:
- Boondoggle Station
- Too Good to Be True Station
- Won't Get Fooled Again Station
- Ever Get the Feeling You've Been Cheated Station
- Tory's Folly Station
Nunziata rules Perks' renaming motion out of order.
"If we're pleading with the province for funding, I don't think this is the way to do it," she explains.
Holyday says Perks was wrong to name Tory in his motion, and wants Nunziata to strike it from the minutes.
Pasternak is also very offended by Perks' motion. "This brings this whole chamber into repute." He also wants this expunged from the official meeting minutes. The Clerk says he can't edit the minutes.
Seriously, though. I've already posted about it, guys. It belongs to history.
"When it becomes clear that it's stupid, accept stupid and move on!" thunders Councillor Anthony Perruzza about the SmartTrack plan. "You can't fix stupid!"
"We just keep doing stupid!"
The SmartTrack vote will have to wait, as it's almost time for the dinner break.
But before they go, after a few tiny tweaks, Council votes via show of hands to approve the slate of mid-term appointments to committees and boards. https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2024.ST7.1
The bells are ringing, and councillors are sloooowly trickling back in for their evening session.
The new meeting livestream is here. Viewer discretion is advised. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWNRxxxqzXw
City Council - December 18, 2024 (Evening Session)
Saying he shares the frustration with Metrolinx, Councillor Matlow asks Colle if he'd consider withdrawing the motion. Matlow says these stations are still useful, if the province pays.
"The time for appeasement is over. Appeasement doesn't work with Metrolinx," Colle says.
McKelvie asks Colle if maybe her motion is more productive than his.
"No, because Metrolinx doesn't believe in accountability and transparency - that's been proven!"
"I'm asking them to stop fooling and farting around," McKelvie says.
"They're not going to do that," Colle says
After much cajoling, Councillor Colle withdraws his motion to defund SmartTrack. "You said it was stupid — I'm withdrawing it," explains Colle to Nunziata.
But Perruzza wants a recorded vote on whether to withdraw. The withdrawal CARRIES 19-4.
jarek
Norman Wilson