Executive Committee 31: Youth Programs, Heat Protection, and Waterfront Infrastructure

Executive Committee 31, chaired by Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik, focused on youth programming, extreme heat responses including the air conditioner benefit pilot and a proposed maximum indoor temperature bylaw, the future of the 838 Broadview site, waterfront infrastructure, capital budget adjustments, and the annual report on council remuneration and expenses.

Topics Discussed

1. YOUTH PROGRAMS AND EMPLOYMENT

Committee considered expanding youth programs to create safer and stronger neighbourhoods. Speakers and councillors linked youth employment and community supports to violence prevention. Deputy Mayor Malik said her priority has been to ensure "public investments and our public dollars" are "doing double and triple duty" through "job training, apprenticeships, and work for young people in particular." A speaker also urged the city to prioritize Indigenous youth in job creation during Indigenous Month.

2. AIR CONDITIONER BENEFIT PILOT AND MAXIMUM HEAT BYLAW

On EX 31.2, the committee considered standardizing the air conditioner benefit pilot while hearing repeated calls for a maximum indoor temperature bylaw for rental units. Dr. Millie Roy of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment said such a bylaw is urgent and "a matter of protecting public health that will save lives." Another speaker said "cooling today is not a luxury. It's life and death."

Several deputants argued the air conditioner program should be treated as temporary rather than a substitute for regulation. Kimberly Wargala said the program "must be viewed as a stop gap not a final solution. The solution is a maximum heat bylaw." A doctor speaking to committee said a "26° C maximum indoor temperature standard paired with robust tenant protections is a critical health intervention."

Councillors pressed staff on legal and practical barriers. Councillor Josh Matlow said "this has to stop. Like we have to get to the finish line. We have to get to a maximum temperature bylaw that is effective, that works." Staff cautioned that any city bylaw could not conflict with provincial legislation. Councillor Neethan Shan said, "Our ability to regulate things under the city... would not be able to conflict with any provincial legislation." The acting deputy city manager said bringing in such a bylaw "would present significant risk to vulnerable tenants."

Committee members also discussed how other municipalities have approached the issue. Matlow noted Toronto could not simply copy another city's rules, calling it "a bit more of an iterative process."

3. 838 BROADVIEW DEVELOPMENT PLAN

Committee heard an update on 838 Broadview and adjacent properties. A speaker said a previously approved combined-site plan was being displaced by a smaller standalone approach and argued "a decade's worth of work has already been done. There's no reason to start over." The same deputation said Habitat for Humanity had been prepared to deliver the approved project as a 100 percent affordable rental building and that an offer to sell adjacent lands to the city had also been declined.

Councillors discussed the difference between affordable and supportive housing and the funding constraints attached to supportive housing. Councillor Paula Fletcher said supportive housing is typically smaller and "for highly supportive housing, deeply supportive housing, you don't want really to get above 50 or 60 units." Staff added that "conversations are ongoing with all orders of government" to secure the capital and operating funding needed to continue building supportive housing.

4. WATERFRONT DOCK WALLS AND BREAKWATERS

On EX 31.4, staff reported on waterfront dock walls and the western beaches breakwater action plan. The discussion focused on ownership, maintenance responsibilities, and the role of shoreline protection in future waterfront development. Staff said weakened dock walls are "more susceptible to environmental impacts related to climate change" and that the work is needed so investments in "housing, parks and public realm investments in transportation infrastructure can advance."

Staff said about 400 to 500 metres of aging dock wall had already been replaced through waterfront revitalization work. The Toronto Port Authority was identified as the owner of about eight kilometres of dock wall in the central waterfront and as responsible for the remaining 40 metres at Wards Island's Eastern Gap.

5. COUNCIL EXPENSES AND CAPITAL BUDGET

Committee also considered EX 31.5 on capital budget carry forwards and future-year commitments, including $237.22 million in unspent capital project funding identified in the notes. On EX 31.6, the annual report on remuneration and expenses of members of council and council appointees, speakers debated how council spending should be presented.

One speaker called the figures "unprecedented numbers" and said "the spending is getting progressively worse." Another speaker said the report reflected "poor judgment and weak stewardship of public funds." Councillor Rachel Chernos Lin argued the current presentation makes it easy for people to "cherrypick figures for their own political means" and asked for "maximum transparency," including open data and a dashboard so residents can compare expenses in context.

Motions

• 838-844 Broadview Avenue / development options review — Passed
  Executive Committee requested the Deputy City Manager, Planning and Growth Management, and the Executive Director, Housing Development Office, to review options for the property and report to the May 21-22, 2026 meeting of council.

• Maximum temperature bylaw / provincial and jurisdictional review motions — Considered
  Committee discussed motions seeking examples from other municipalities and requests to the province regarding tenant protections and Residential Tenancies Act changes. The excerpts provided do not clearly confirm the final wording or disposition of each motion.

• Indoor temperature bylaw stakeholder working group motion — Carried as amended
  The notes state a motion carried as amended to establish a stakeholder working group including tenants, legal experts, and public health officials to work through implementation challenges.

Attendees

Present in the excerpts provided:

• Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik
• Councillor Paula Fletcher
• Councillor Alejandra Bravo
• Councillor Josh Matlow
• Councillor Dianne Saxe
• Councillor Gord Perks
• Councillor Rachel Chernos Lin
• Councillor Neethan Shan

Other councillors are referenced in the notes, but the excerpts do not provide a complete attendance list for the meeting.