Councillor Neethan Shan

“On March 23, 2026, the Government of Ontario announced…that it intends to (1) introduce legislation that would, if passed allow it to take ownership of the City-owned land at [Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport lands] …and (2) declare [the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport lands] a Special Economic Zone...The Province has announced that it will provide compensation to Toronto in exchange for the lands.” City Council “requested the City Solicitor to report …on potential legal options to defend the City of Toronto’s interests, including property ownership, in the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport lands…and other important City-owned Waterfront lands.”

This document discusses protecting Ontario Place and the “Rebuilding Ontario Place Act (ROPA)" which is “stripping away the public’s rights, eliminating transparency, and shielding government decisions from legal accountability.” This act also involves the Environmental Assessment Act because the government is not obliged to follow the obligations under it through ROPA. This can cause negative impacts to the “natural environment (...) infrastructure and traffic.”

There are around 15,000 recycling bins (Blue Bins) located in public spaces across Toronto. Under the terms of the provincial takeover of Ontario’s Blue Bin (paper and packaging recycling system), the material collected from these bins is no longer collected and processed under the Blue Bin recycling program. These materials are collected and treated as solid waste and combined with other garbage. 

Since most people assume the items they place in Blue Bins are being recycled, the fact that they currently are not being recycled misleads people, which can reduce people's trust in recycling programs. This motion asks the city to find affordable ways to bring back a proper recycling program or remove recycling bins altogether if they are not being recycled. It also asks the Province of Ontario to help create a better recycling system for people when they are away from home.

This document discusses the “Scarborough Centre Secondary Plan (Secondary Plan)” and the “Official Plan Amendment 871 (OPA 871)”. This plan involves “the future growth and transformation of approximately 175 hectares of lands within Wards 21 and 24,” including “the construction of a new subway station as part of the Line 2 East Extension.” In addition, this plan outlines other community improvements including creating additional employment opportunities, incorporating “new and reconfigured public streets,” “redesignation of select lands as Parks and Natural Areas,” and either removing or continuing policies that are supporting or no longer relevant to the area. OPA 871 not only continues Scarborough’s economic role, but also “anticipates accommodating approximately 72,000 residents and 21,000 workers over the next 30+ years” through the secondary plan.

“Yonge Street between Sheppard and Finch is the backbone of North York’s downtown, home to the highest concentration of office towers outside Toronto’s core and a critical route for drivers, pedestrians, transit riders, businesses, cyclists, and micromobility users…Transform Yonge represents one of North York’s most significant public-realm upgrades. This reconstruction offers a rare chance to widen sidewalks, add greenery and amenities, improve crossings, and deliver protected bike lanes that meet the needs of a modern urban centre.”

“City Council, in 2021, adopted the TransformTO Net Zero Strategy (NZS), a target of net zero GHG emissions community-wide by 2040, and the short term implementation plan for 2022-2025. The NZS Action Plan for 2026-2030, outlined in this report, builds on the work done to date and retains the net zero GHG ambition but also recognizes that action is being carried forward under a different policy context and different economic and social conditions.”

“The Finch West LRT is projected to have 51,000 riders each day, and bring 230,000 people within walking distance of rapid transit. It will move generations of people across the northwest of our city, connecting them to jobs, education, family and friends with greater ease. It will help reduce congestion on our roads and help people choose transit over driving.”

“Toronto is a growing city with at least 700,000 new Torontonians expected by 2051.” Ensuring sustainable environments for new and current residents “requires a city-wide policy and regulatory environment that is supportive of local businesses and services locating within communities. Despite smallscale retail, service and office uses historically playing an important role in many of Toronto's Neighbourhoods, these types of uses were strictly limited by policies and zoning provisions established in the mid-20th century, many of which remain today. As a result, many of Toronto's current residents have never had these amenities close to their homes, and others have seen them decline over the decades as existing establishments closed, and new ones did not take their place [...] Compact, well-connected Neighbourhoods reduce car dependency and enable people to live carlight or car free, which helps cut carbon pollution. The increased availability of goods nearby to where people live may also contribute to the reduction in online shopping and delivery of goods which generates carbon emissions and packaging waste.”

The GO Expansion Program has sought a variety of objectives to grow the service capacity of Go Transit in order to meet the growing needs of the city. Further, “[m]etrolinx has recently proposed a service change whereby the SCOW Station would be serviced by the Union-Pearson Express (UPE) trains on the UPE line instead of GO trains on the adjacent Kitchener line. Metrolinx has indicated that this service change is required to maintain the 15-minute (or better) service frequency commitment made by Metrolinx for the SmartTrack Program, which can no longer be maintained by GO service.” Maintaining and building new efficient public transit enables lower carbon transportation choices.