Councillor Jon Burnside moves for a report on what would be required to do a data analysis of taxi driver wages. Lack of digital meters has been a barrier to getting the kind of data the city needs.
Bradford says this debate about rideshare wages is about the mayor trying to save face after she tried and failed twice to impose a license cap on the number of drivers. Ads will be costly and province already has legislation on gig work. "Let's give our heads a shake," he says.
"I want to use my comments to unmask what I think is a deeper philosophical conversation. I think it's about defining what a proletariat is," says Councillor Stephen Holyday.
Huh. Well. Okay. Did anyone have "proletariat" on their Council Bingo card?
Colle: "How many here would work for six or seven bucks an hour in Toronto traffic? And the other thing is then we've got unlimited number of ebike drivers, delivering food because the people won't get out of their house to walk down the street to get something to eat!"
"Imagine the life of a driver. They drive around, and a third of the time, the car's empty. They work day in and day out. They get sick, they get no pay. They have no health benefits," says Mayor Olivia Chow.
"How can anyone in Toronto survive with six dollars an hour?"
"This is a season where we talk about hope," says Mayor Chow, adding that surely Toronto and Ontario could have similar rideshare rules to NYC. "I think it's our responsibility to do something, say something, and push for it — because we cannot turn a blind eye to injustice."
Bradford wants to ask Chow about her attempts to institute a rideshare license cap. Perks and Bravo rise on points of order to say the rideshare cap item isn't before council today.
"I just want to suggest this belongs in his media scrum he's going to do after," says Bravo.
Nunziata, the newly-appointed Vice Chair of the Planning & Housing Committee, agrees with the points of order and shuts down Bradford, the previous Vice Chair. Politics!
Time to vote. Councillor Burnside's motion for a report on what it would take to do a similar study of taxi driver wages CARRIES 21-2.
The rideshare driver wage item is APPROVED 21-2. City Manager has been asked to do a communications campaign advocating for higher gig worker wages.
After passing this amendment by Councillor Paula Fletcher calling for more density and affordable housing, Council votes via show of hands to approve report on next phase of waterfront revitalization.
https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2024.EX19.2Agenda Item History 2024.EX19.2
Agenda Item History 2024.EX19.2
Council dips back into their debate about indoor temperatures in rental units, and the potential for setting a new rule for a maximum temperature of 26 degrees.
https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2024.PH17.5Agenda Item History 2024.PH17.5
Agenda Item History 2024.PH17.5
Councillor Dianne Saxe moves to have staff report on "avoidable sources of indoor heat" in rental units like "fossil gas stoves."
"I'm alarmed that some voices in this conversation have said, 'hold on, hold on, this is going to make it more expensive for landlords!'" says Councillor Perks. He points out things like the fire code and building code also raise costs for landlords, but no one thinks twice.
Councillor Saxe's motion to report on avoidable sources of heat in rental units, like gas stoves, CARRIES 18-4.
Recommendation to report back on implementing a 26 degree maximum temperature, and to request the province amend the RTA to introduce a max temp, CARRIES 21-1.
Council votes via show of hands to adopt a motion from Councillor Dianne Saxe to look at raising some charitable funds to do environmental protection work on Toronto Islands.
https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2024.IE18.10Agenda Item History 2024.IE18.10
Agenda Item History 2024.IE18.10
Council votes 19-0 to APPROVE a revamped Affordable Home Ownership program, raising the eligibility threshold to households who make up to ~$160,000 per year.
https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2024.PH17.7Agenda Item History 2024.PH17.7
Agenda Item History 2024.PH17.7
Wow. In a big surprise, Council has just voted to receive and take no action on the Ombudsman's report on the 2022-2023 decision to deny refugees access to the shelter system. No debate and no recorded vote.
https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2024.CC24.1Agenda Item History 2024.CC24.1
Agenda Item History 2024.CC24.1
The receipt motion on the Obudsman's report from Councillor Paula Fletcher was slipped in right before the lunch break. The report, focusing on refugee access to shelter beds, was previously scheduled for debate later this afternoon — now that debate won't happen.
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.
Council is back from lunch. They're kicking things off with a presentation honouring TTC driver Marc Torres, who rescued passengers from a burning car after a collision in October. He's in the chamber with his family today to be honoured for his service.
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."
Thompson wants to re-open the Ombudsman report item so it can be properly debated. But a motion to re-open is DEFEATED 9-14.
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?"
Matt Elliott
Red :3
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Tapas Easwar
Steve Hayman 🇨🇦
jarek