Toronto City Councillor
Ward 25 Don Valley West

 As a service to residents of Ward 25, I provide a brief summary of the highlights of the City Council meetings of February 5 – 8, 2007

Water service capital improvements and water rates increased 10.8%

Council approved a nine per cent increase in water revenue for Toronto Water for its operating and capital budgets. Because the increase will take place part way through the fiscal year, the rate increase will be 10.8% on future water bills. The increase will help the City complete projects to improve the water infrastructure and to keep the water delivery and waste water system in good repair, to ensure the City is in compliance with new provincial legislation requirements for drinking water safety and reporting, to help clean up City beaches for public swimming, and to acquire land to preserve source water.

Election Finance Reform

Council refused to immediately deal with a motion by Councillor Michael Walker and myself to address municipal election finance reform. Instead, it referred the motion to the Mayor’s Executive Committee (where it may well be shelved for several years). It is unfortunate that some Councillors prefer a status quo that permits them to accept election contributions from corporations and unions with interests in City business, that permits them to carry surplus donations forward to the next election and that permits massive loopholes in fundraising spending limitations – despite the almost unanimous view of citizens that undue influence by special interests resulting from election contributions must be ended and that certain unfair advantages of incumbency should be removed in order to improve the democratic process.

Lobbying Control Framework

Council adopted the framework which includes a lobbyist registration system and a Lobbyist Registrar to provide oversight. It requires that the activity of lobbying Members of Council and City staff to be disclosed within two days of the activity, and for this information to be publicly accessible for Members of Council, staff and the public. By a decision of Council’s new Speaker, my proposed amendment that lobbyists report on their election contributions to the Councillors they lobby was ruled out of order. This was particularly bizarre since the same amendment had been accepted and PASSED last year when the Lobbyist Registry was debated, but ultimately not approved. The appointment of the City’s first Lobbyist Registrar, Marilyn Abraham, was also approved. The Registrar and City Manager will report to Council when the lobbyist registry system is ready for use, and subsequently will recommend to Council when the reporting of lobbying activity is required. The Lobbyist Registrar will develop a plan to recover some of the Registry costs by charging a fee to lobbyists.

West Queen West Triangle appeal of OMB decision

Council directed City officials to take actions on multiple fronts to appeal a decision by the Ontario Municipal Board on the West Queen West Triangle developments. The OMB overruled the City’s rejection of plans by developers to build condominiums in the neighbourhood that may have a negative impact on employment in this artistic community. The actions included: to send a letter to the Ontario Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing requesting that the OMB decision be overturned; to submit a request to Divisional Court to appeal the OMB decision; to request the OMB to reconsider its decision; and to have City staff speak to the developers to explore a settlement.

Proposed Commercial/Residential Development at 1121 Leslie refused

Council approved a recommendation by North York Community Council that a proposal to redevelop the existing Sony site on Leslie north of Eglinton to a combined commercial and residential site be REFUSED. The lands are located within an Employment Area in the City’s Official Plan and thus are subject to City and provincial provisions which would preserve our employment lands. The recent high rate of loss of employment lands in the City to residential development has caused concern that the City could ultimately become a bedroom community to our wealth-producing “905” neighbours. We will monitor whether the applicant appeals the City’s decision to the OMB.

Spraying to control Gypsy Moths in Ward 25 and other areas of the City

To control and outbreak of European Gypsy Moths and prevent damage to trees, Council approved the spraying and other forms of removal of the moth larvae from trees on City and privately-owned property in our ward and also Wards 2, 3, 4, 5, 13, 22, 26 and 27. The Parks, Forestry and Recreation Division will conduct an education campaign to advise residents in areas impacted by Gypsy Moths on methods to remove and destroy eggs.

Rate increase for homemakers and nursing services

Council approved rate service increases to community agencies that service the Homemaking and Nursing Services Program (HMNS) from $16.83 to $20.65 effective January 1, 2007. This rate is an all-inclusive rate to cover hourly wage costs, as well as travel expenses and pay equity adjustments. The Ontario Government pays 80 per cent of the HMNS program costs, and the City pays 20 per cent. The previous rate was set in 2004, and since then staff costs have risen, making it a challenge for agencies to not drop the level of service provided. The City is engaged in funding discussions with the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care for additional funding to help cover costs of agencies that charge more than the new rate. The HMNS provides services to 2,300 vulnerable residents, largely seniors who are frail and elderly and people with disabilities who are not receiving services through Community Care Access Centres.

New partnership for immigration and settlement

Council ratified a September 29, 2006 Memorandum of Understanding with the federal and provincial governments that establishes a formal framework for discussions between the governments on matters of immigration and settlement. City’s search and rescue team to service Canada The City will be able to deploy its Heavy Urban Search and Rescue (HUSAR) Team anywhere in Canada after Council approved its use, contingent on signed agreements with Ontario’s Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services and the federal Department of Public Safety. The federal Department of Public Safety will reimburse the City for the costs of deployment outside of Toronto. Council also approved the potential deployment of HUSAR internationally.

Powers of Community Councils enhanced

Council approved the move of more local, routine matters to be dealt with at Community Council rather than City Council. The new responsibilities include the approval of traffic calming measures such as speed bumps, the naming of streets, permit appeals for residential front yard parking, accepting the donation of Art in Public Spaces ranging from $50,000 to $200,000 in value, the approval of encroachment agreements for roads, parkways and ravines, boulevard café applications, and the appointment of citizens to arena boards, agency and museum boards, and Business Improvement Areas. City Council retains the right to make decisions on matters of city-wide significance and those that impact more than one Community Council.

Compensation of Elected Officials

Council refused to deal with a motion by Councillor Michael Walker and myself to reconsider the increase in remuneration to Councillors which took effect on January 1, 2007. Instead, it referred the motion to the Mayor’s Executive Committee (where it is likely to receive a quick death). It is very clear that many Councillors have grown comfortable with the 9% increase they voted themselves and with the generous salary review mechanism they approved during the last term of Council.