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."
"I must tell you, I had a hard time reading this report and for this council to just allow it to pass like that, it's just shameful," Councillor Thompson says again regarding the Ombudsman report on refugee access to shelter beds.
Councillor Dianne Saxe's motion for a report on allowing trailers to serve coffee and baked goods CARRIES via show of hands.
https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2024.MM24.5Agenda Item History 2024.MM24.5
Agenda Item History 2024.MM24.5
Councillor Bradford's motion for a report on "nuisance lighting" CARRIES 17-5.
https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2024.MM24.9Agenda Item History 2024.MM24.9
Agenda Item History 2024.MM24.9
Councillor Matlow's motion to establish an advisory board to look at ways to give Toronto more autonomy and powers FAILS to get the votes it needs to make the agenda. Vote was 13-10. It needed a two-thirds majority. It will be referred to Exec Committee.
https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2024.MM24.15Agenda Item History 2024.MM24.15
Agenda Item History 2024.MM24.15
Councillor Ainslie's motion to support a high-speed rail connection between Toronto and NYC CARRIES via show of hands.
https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2024.MM24.23Agenda Item History 2024.MM24.23
Agenda Item History 2024.MM24.23
Councillor Pasternak's motion to oppose the President-elect's proposed tariffs on Canadian goods CARRIES via show of hands. Now that Toronto Council has weighed in, I think Trump will probably reconsider.
https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2024.MM24.27Agenda Item History 2024.MM24.27
Agenda Item History 2024.MM24.27
Councillor Thompson's motion requesting the federal government respond to Trump's tariffs by slapping tariffs on goods like "delivery trucks and automobiles and auto parts that regularly conceal smuggled firearms" CARRIES 20-2.
https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2024.MM24.29Agenda Item History 2024.MM24.29
Agenda Item History 2024.MM24.29
Mayor Olivia Chow's motion to issue more licenses to water taxi operators serving Toronto Islands and improve water taxi service CARRIES via show of hands.
https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2024.MM24.39Agenda Item History 2024.MM24.39
Agenda Item History 2024.MM24.39
After the member motion run through, there are now just 14 items left on this council agenda.
At the end of the tunnel, light.
Up now: the Shelter Safety Action Plan. Staff have put together a 36-month plan designed to reduce violence and improve safety for both shelter users and staff.
https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2024.EC17.4Agenda Item History 2024.EC17.4
Agenda Item History 2024.EC17.4
Mayor Olivia Chow asks staff about the federal funding plan for refugees in shelters. Staff confirm Ottawa is funding 95% of costs this year, but plan to reduce that to 75% next year and then to 50% the year after.
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.
On the shelter item, Councillor Amber Morley moves for shelter supervisors and managers to complete appropriate anti-Black racism incident management training."
Councillor Alejandra Bravo moves to accelerate the expansion of the specialized refugee shelter system. Motion also asks council to reconfirm commitment to make shelter beds available to everyone regardless of status.
"It is really frustrating to try to explain to people that you can't arrest your way out of the homeless crisis," notes Councillor Mike Colle. "I think the premier now says he's going to fine homeless people $10,000 — how in the hell is that going to work?"
"I saw first-hand how the Ukranian refugees were treated versus how Black people from Africa were treated when they came here," says Councillor Chris Moise. "I hope there were lessons learned from that."
Mayor Olivia Chow moves to call on the feds to reverse planned changes that'll reduce access to housing assistance for refugees, and to provide a "welcoming response" and "coordinated national system" for all refugee arrivals.
Bravo's motion to accelerate expansion of specialized refugee shelter system and housing options CARRIES 23-0.
Recommendation to request the province allow all safe-injection sites to continue to operate CARRIES 18-4.
The Chow and Morley motions CARRY via show of hands. Remainder of safe shelter strategy item CARRIES 21-1.
Up now: SmartTrack. Still a thing! But increasingly less of a thing. Because of cost increases, staff are recommending axing two of the remaining stations in the plan, at King-Liberty and Finch-Kennedy.
https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2024.CC24.3Agenda Item History 2024.CC24.3
Agenda Item History 2024.CC24.3
This is, obviously, quite a change from the original 2014 SmartTrack plan pitched by John Tory. That one had 22 stations. Ah, memories.
Councillor Myers asks why Metrolinx's costs for building these SmartTrack stations keep going up. Staff say Metrolinx blames labour market conditions & interest rates. Myers asks if Council can request a third-party audit. Staff say council can request, but province has to agree.
Councillor Bravo asks about the status of a pedestrian bridge that was promised as part of the King-Liberty SmartTrack station. Staff confirm that if the station is removed from the plan, the bridge will be, too.
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 Bravo moves to ask Metrolinx to continue plans for a pedestrian/cycling connection between Sudbury Street and Joe Shuster Way, even if the King-Liberty SmartTrack station gets the axe.
"This is the worst deal possible. This is not SmartTrack. PastTrack is what one person suggested, but I think it's time that we face that this is a failure that has had real material consequences," says Bravo.
"We have to also be very clear that our previous mayor locked us into this bad deal — paying for more than half of the costs of a provincial project of transit infrastructure that we will neither own nor operate," says Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik.
Councillor Jennifer McKelvie has two motions making requests of the province. She wants Queen's Park to step up and at least match the city's contribution to the SmartTrack project. She also wants them to conduct a third-party review of the Metrolinx cost estimates.
Councillor Nick Mantas moves to have the City Manager tell the province that Toronto really really wants the Finch-Kennedy SmartTrack station, and that costs have already been incurred doing prep work.
Quick digression, as Mayor Olivia Chow moves for council take a break at 6 p.m. and come back at 6:30 p.m. to try to finish up this agenda tonight. That CARRIES 19-3.
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
"We gave away a really good future for the City of Toronto for fairy dust," says Gord Perks, blasting former mayor John Tory for disrupting transit plans to shoehorn in his SmartTrack scheme.
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.
"We actually do in this chamber name things after politicians all the time," notes Perks. "You may not like that that's how I feel, but I have a right to move that motion, and you have the right to rule it out of order."
@GraphicMatt maybe if we rename all of the stations after the esteemed former mayor Rob Ford, the province will be more inclined to build more of them?
Matt Elliott
jarek