Items

“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.

“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.”

On April 16th, a New York Times article titled “A wellness Company with False Claims, Global Aims and a Toronto Island” pointed out that the development has ‘already exacted a severe toll. The province has razed mature trees, destroying a waterfront recreation space beloved by Torontonians and the habitat of many animals including beavers, minks, foxes, coyotes and over 170 species of birds’. Potential disasters raised in the New York Times Article can still be averted.

Young people will inherit the planet and will bear the brunt of climate change impacts for the longest time. They are the generation that will live with the escalating effects of extreme weather, resource scarcity, and environmental degradation. Young people have a moral right to be informed and consulted on issues that will profoundly affect their future. As stated by Vote16 Canada, research from Elections Canada found that “16-17s are just as interested, if not more, in participating in various forms of political activity, including both voting and non-electoral civic activities. [Moreover], Canadian scholars have found that 16-17s are not less politically developed than adults, and, depending on the aspect being looked at, they are more knowledgeable or as knowledgeable as adults. Compared to 18-20s, they know as much about political institutions, the campaign promises, and the candidates…As of today, 17 countries have a minimum voting age of 16 for at least one level of government, including Germany, Scotland, Wales, Austria, Belgium, Finland, and several cities in the US.”

“Toronto needs a new arrangement with senior levels of government that ensures we have the independence necessary for 21st century cities to thrive and achieve results for residents… It's time for Canada's largest city to have the tools it needs to effectively chart its own course to decide how we grow, get around, support each other, and improve our quality of life. A City Charter will also assist in making the division of roles and responsibilities between senior levels of government and City Hall more transparent and therefore more accountable to the public.”

The City of Toronto and the province were meant to work together on future projects regarding the Ontario Place. Recently, the province has announced that it will not ask the city's permission to remove trees in areas such as the East Island and Mainland Island, with later plans affecting the  West Island. The province has already contracted companies to help remove the trees. As the city rules are not being followed, required rules and checks, such as heritage studies and environmental assessment, are not completed before work begins. The planned tree cutting range also includes land owned by the city, where the rules must be applied.

“Gasoline-powered leaf blowers and other types of small engine equipment are powered by inefficient two-stroke engines. The process of incomplete fuel combustion generates dangerous hydrocarbon 500 times that of an average automobile and produces toxic aerosol (including carcinogenic particulates) for us to breathe in.”