Toronto city council meets after executive committee shakeup

Toronto city council met Tuesday, the day after Mayor Rob Ford made big changes to his executive committee.

The first item on the agenda, as chosen by Ford, was a study related to traffic lights and congestion. It passed, with amendments.

Click here to see the meeting agenda.

“I want to talk about this fantastic report, that every single councillors just approved, about traffic signal co-ordination in this great city,” Ford said as council broke for lunch.

“Whether you walk, cycle or take transit or drive, we have all felt the negative impact of traffic in this great city.”

Ford said the city will consider implementing traffic signal co-ordination and look to fix the city’s busiest intersections.

After speaking, Ford opened the floor to questions. The first question was about drug allegations. It was followed by a series of questions the Toronto Sun – seen as a Ford ally – said Ford had refused to answer.

Ford asked, “any questions about this report?” He then left the news conference.

Other agenda items

Council voted to consider adopting a ranked ballot system.  The motion passed 26-15.  The system would allow voters to number their choices for mayor or councillor.  Any changes to the municipal electoral system would first require the province to alter legislation.

The cost of studying Toronto’s casino bid was not discussed because city manager Joe Pennachetti had responded to a councillor’s request for the cost.

Coun. Mary Fragedakis had asked that the cost of the study and consultations be made public. Pennachetti responded with a public letter that outlined the expenses  — including more than $300,000 in consulting fees.

Councillors were set to debate the future of the UofT’s back campus field – but it was held over until first thing Wednesday morning, when Day 2 of the meeting gets underway. The university was scheduled to break ground July 1 on its $9.5 million Pan Am Games project for field hockey and para soccer that would see the grass replaced with a hybrid artificial turf.

However, the Toronto and East York community councils are recommending the field be declared a heritage site, which means the grass would stay and Pan Am officials would have to find a new pitch.

A scathing ombudsman report released last week blasted the city’s treatment of seniors in community housing. Councillors will vote whether to accept the recommendations listed in the report.

Ombudsman Fiona Crean said there has been “a pattern of callous and unfair treatment of many seniors” at Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC).

Executive committee shakeup

In Monday’s executive committee shakeup, Mayor Ford replaced Coun. Jaye Robinson,with Coun. Anthony Perruzza .

Robinson spoke to reporters before the council meeting. She said she has not spoken to the mayor directly and was given no reason for her dismissal.

“It is unfortunate that the executive committee no longer seems to have room for a diversity of voices and points of view,” Robinson said.

Ford also removed Coun. Paul Ainslie as chair of the government management committee, replacing him with Coun. Norm Kelly. Ainslie will now be the chair of the parks and environment committee.

Robinson was one of six executive committee members who signed an open letter urging the mayor to be more transparent in his response to the allegations of reported drug use last month.

Ainslie has been in the outs with the Ford administration since he was quoted in the Toronto Star, saying the mayor was asked to leave the Garrison military fundraising ball in February because he appeared to be impaired.

Ford’s brother, Coun. Doug Ford, said the move was not related to their criticism of the mayor.

With files from The Canadian Press