City Council meeting beginning February 29, 2000

Toronto's bid for 2008 Olympics
Council voted almost unanimously in support of Toronto making a bid to host the 2008 summer Olympic Games. Toronto received financial guarantees from the provincial and federal governments that will reduce the City's financial risk. Council endorsed commitments to ensure that hosting the Olympics at a cost of about $2 billion would yield a legacy of local economic, social, environmental and city-building benefits such as waterfront development. The International Olympic Committee will announce its selection of a host city in 2001.

Report card on homelessness
Council adopted the Toronto Report Card on Homelessness 2000. Produced by City staff in consultation with a reference group that has broad representation, the report card describes what each level of government is doing in response to recommendations made by the Mayor's Homelessness Action Task Force. The report card says homelessness in Toronto is becoming more widespread, especially for low-income families.

Tiered response to emergencies
Council endorsed efforts to improve and expand a tiered (co-ordinated) approach to emergency response by Fire, Ambulance and Police. Ambulance and Fire Services managers will work together over the next 18 months on a project to improve the response system, including the implementation of computer-aided dispatch for Fire with direct links to similar systems used by Ambulance and Police. The term "tiered response" refers to response to an incident by more than one of the three emergency services.

Rent supplement program
The City of Toronto is expressing concerns about a new Ontario rent supplement program. Council decided to ask the Province to reconsider its plan to provide short-term funding for rent subsidies. The program would put the City in the difficult position of having to cancel the subsidies or to pick up the program costs of $50 million a year when the proposed three to five-year provincial funding ends. Ontario municipalities assume responsibility for administering housing programs next year.

City labour relations
Council directed City officials to take steps to resolve a lack of progress in contract negotiations with Local 79 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE). Local 79 represents a total of 20,000 Toronto municipal employees including planners, nursing home staff, inspectors, public health nurses and clerical staff, among others.

Clothing optional beach
Council approved a two-year extension to last summer's pilot project for a clothing-optional beach on Toronto Island. Police reported few problems and there were few public complaints during the 1999 pilot project. This year, the City will extend the beach by about 100 metres in order to include a nearby lifeguard station.

Appointment of City Councillor
Council appointed Cesar Palacio one of the two Ward 21 (Davenport) representatives on City Council. The appointment, effective March 1, fills the vacancy that resulted when Dennis Fotinos resigned earlier this year. Councillor Betty Disero is the other Ward 21 representative.

Amended fair wage schedules
Council approved fair wage schedules covering this year and next year for suppliers of goods and construction services to the City. Establishing fair wage rates is intended to create a level playing field and prevent conflicts between organized and unorganized labour in the awarding of civic contracts. The updated schedule adds apprenticeship training as a component of the new wage schedules in order to encourage contractors to hire and train apprentices.

Managing storm water runoff
The City will give high priority to strategies for managing storm water runoff that pollutes the Toronto waterfront. Council supported the creation of a Wet Weather Flow Management Master Plan aimed at reducing or eliminating pollution that occurs when storm sewers overflow. The City considers the improvement of water quality along the lake shore important for the Olympic bid and for the revitalization of the waterfront area.

Trans Canada Trail in Toronto
Council endorsed the concept of a Trans Canada Trail across the Toronto lake shore area as part of a national project to create a 16,000-km hiking trail. About 1,450 kilometres of trail are now registered in Ontario for the Trans Canada Trail. Toronto will participate in Relay 2000 events this summer celebrating the national trail project.

Commemoration of Irish famine
Council approved a proposal by the Canadian Irish community to fund the improvement and maintenance of an area in a waterfront park to commemorate those who came to Toronto because of the Irish famine (1847 to 1850). About 100,000 Irish refugees immigrated to Canada during the famine, many of them arriving in Toronto by boat. A specific park site has not yet been chosen.

Previous Council Highlights

Council Highlights is an informal summary of Council's recent decisions, produced for readers' convenience. Any questions about this summary can be emailed to Strategic Communications at stratcom@toronto.ca

The formal documentation of Council's decisions is available at http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/index.do

Questions about the formal documentation can be emailed to the City Clerk's Office at clerk@toronto.ca