Toronto City Council Meeting 32

Toronto City Council meeting 32 opened with a memorial for Toronto Police Constable Mark Pinos Stoan, then moved through administrative items, Toronto Hydro's annual general meeting, updates on the city's 311 modernization work, and motions on LGBTQ+ legal services and major-event planning tied to homelessness and human-rights impacts.

Topics Discussed

1. MEMORIAL

Mayor Olivia Chow opened the meeting with a moment of silence for Toronto Police Constable Mark Pinos Stoan, calling him "an 18-year member of the Toronto Police who tragically lost his life on June 11th while on duty."

2. 311 MODERNIZATION AND SERVICE ACCESS

Council discussed EX 32.1, Simplifying the 311 Intake Experience. Staff said the city now handles more than 1.5 million customer interactions a year and outlined planned changes including photo sharing, a public-facing AI chatbot, a new 311 homepage, improved search, a mobile app and better service-request updates.

One staff update set a timeline for some of those changes: "By the end of this year, we'll have launched a pilot to test photo sharing with customers, a public-facing AI chatbot, and the first version of our new 311 homepage and improved search."

Councillor Neethan Shan said the city had reached a point where service improvements were necessary to maintain public trust in 311: "if we don't revamp and restructure and and and increase the type of efficiencies and communication and transparency uh it'll be a hard thing to bring back people to call 311."

Mayor Chow also said the system had become easier to use compared with her own earlier experience trying to report a neighbourhood issue: "I tore my hair out and now it's really quite incredible the improvement."

Council also discussed giving residents more information after they submit requests. Josh Matlow said, "our goal is that all our service requests will receive more information on the outcome of their request," with parks staff already sending written notes to customers.

3. TORONTO HYDRO ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Council considered Toronto Hydro's annual general meeting and financial statements. Brian Bentz, chair of Toronto Hydro's board, described the utility as "a $7.7 billion asset that provides strong financial returns while also delivering the essential service of electricity to Torontonians."

Toronto Hydro told council that demand is expected to rise sharply: "electricity demand in Toronto will roughly double over the next 25 years."

The utility also emphasized its financial position, saying it has "the strongest credit ratings of any of the local distribution companies here in the province," which it linked to financing stability.

Discussion included the pressure created by housing intensification. A Toronto Hydro representative said multiplex conversions can require much larger electrical service upgrades: "the power needs are often 10 times the amount that was there."

4. HOUSING CONNECTIONS, MID-RISE DEVELOPMENT, AND TORONTO HYDRO REQUIREMENTS

Council heard concerns about how Hydro connection requirements affect mid-rise and neighbourhood-scale housing projects.

Gord Perks said the city should focus on making mid-rise housing easier to build, including utility connections: "I really think it's important for the city of Toronto to try to focus its efforts on on supporting mid-rise."

He added that council should aim to create "more small scale connection opportunities like what's available in some of the other municipalities around Toronto already" by the end of 2027.

Toronto Hydro and staff said they are reviewing standards and processes as the city sees more small-scale intensification. Staff noted that the volume of multiplex housing units "has quadrupled in the last four years" and that these projects often require much more power than the homes they replace.

Council adopted direction asking staff to address obstacles posed by Toronto Hydro affecting mid-rise and neighbourhood-scale development.

5. HOMELESSNESS, HUMAN RIGHTS, AND FUTURE MEGA-EVENT PLANNING

Council discussed human-rights guidelines for major events, including FIFA World Cup 2026, and heard deputations focused on unhoused residents, displacement and conditions around Union Station.

Serena Perie said she was concerned the city was still too early in its planning: "it reads like a plan to have a plan. We knew FIFA was coming."

Another speaker, Serena, said the city needs to go beyond recognizing rights and expand housing and supports: "We need to build more affordable and deeply affordable, supportive housing at a scale that is equal to the need."

Mayor Chow said city staff are already coordinating across divisions and agencies around Union Station and homelessness outreach. She described the area as "a very complex ... large urban station with many ... different owners" and said the city's goal is "to connect with individuals that we see who are experiencing homelessness."

Perks said future event planning should not worsen conditions for vulnerable residents: "Major events should not exacerbate disparity and harm to our most vulnerable residents."

Council passed a motion requesting a report on lessons from FIFA World Cup 2026, homelessness supports and future major-event planning with human-rights compliance.

Motions

• City of Toronto Investment Report (2025) — approved
• Asset Management Planning — approved
• Fair Wage Office — approved
• Exploring legal service for the LGBTQ+ community at The 519 Community Centre — adopted
• Direction to address obstacles posed by Toronto Hydro affecting mid-rise and neighbourhood-scale development — passed
• Motion requesting a report on lessons from FIFA World Cup 2026, homelessness supports, and future major-event planning/human-rights compliance — passed
• Keyside development update — adopted

Attendees

• Mayor Olivia Chow
• Deputy Mayor Paul Ainslie
• Councillor Gord Perks
• Councillor Alejandra Bravo
• Councillor Stephen Holyday
• Councillor Neethan Shan
• Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik