Ben Spurr

At Downsview Park where Mayor Olivia Chow is joined by federal housing minister Gregor Robertson and CEO of Build Canada Homes (and former mayoral rival) Ana Bailao to make a housing announcement.

TTC beefing up subway service as more commuters return to the office Improvements the TTC is planning to implement Sunday will restore service on Line 2, Bloor-Danforth to pre-pandemic levels, the city says.

TTC beefing up subway service as more commuters return to the office www.thestar.com/news/gta/ttc...

Scarborough—Rouge Park byelection results: Neethan Shan wins Monday’s byelection in Ward 25 Scarborough—Rouge Park was held to replace former councillor Jennifer McKelvie.

Neethan Shan wins Scarborough-Rouge Park byelection www.thestar.com/news/gta/sca...

Mayor Chow and Deputy Mayor Malik have arrived.

Scarborough—Rouge Park byelection results: Neethan Shan in early lead Monday’s byelection in Ward 25 Scarborough—Rouge Park was held to replace former councillor Jennifer McKelvie.

Nothing official yet in the Scarborough-Rouge Park byelection, but Neethan Shan has just entered a ballroom at the Scarborough Convention Centre to his supporters chanting his name. He's in the lead with more polls still to report. www.thestar.com/news/gta/sca...

Mayor Olivia Chow at Wellesley station announcing details of a pilot project that will deploy Toronto Community Crisis Service teams to downtown subway platforms.

Why a small sticker slapped on your blue bin has Toronto city hall in a big uproar New provincial rules will change who is responsible for collecting and disposing of recyclables in Toronto as the city’s landfill nears capacity.

The latest in our Waste Not, Want Not series about Toronto's trash: It’s a small sticker slapped on the side of Toronto blue bins, but it signals a big — and possibly difficult — change the city’s recycling program www.thestar.com/news/gta/why...

New poll shows how Olivia Chow might fare against possible mayoral contenders — including John Tory Forum Research surveyed 1,000 adults across Toronto on Wednesday and Thursday, asking about their support for four potential candidates well ahead of the October 2026 mayoral race.

From David Rider: New poll shows how Olivia Chow might fare against possible mayoral contenders — including John Tory www.thestar.com/news/gta/new...

Ottawa shirking responsibility for sheltering refugees, Chow warns, after Carney government offers Toronto just a quarter of requested funds Mayor Olivia Chow warned the federal government’s new funding formula would leave Toronto $107 million short this year.

Scoop: Toronto and the federal government could be headed for another dispute over refugee supports, with Mayor Olivia Chow warning council that Ottawa looks set to "walk away" from its duty to house asylum seekers www.thestar.com/news/gta/ott...

Edward Keenan: His name was JahVai Roy. We cannot forget him We must not only remember the loss of this 8-year-old boy, but fight to prevent it from ever happening again.

A powerful piece from @thekeenanwire.bsky.social, on the unfathomable death of 8-year-old JahVai Roy. "We came to know him only because we failed to protect him — even in his own home, even in his own bed, even in the arms of his mother." www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...

‘Horrific, senseless act’: Mayor tells mother of 8-year-old fatal shooting victim JahVai Roy police are doing everything possible to find perpetrator Mayor Olivia Chow says she has spoken with Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw and the city and police are doing everything possible to find those responsible for the death of

‘Horrific, senseless act’: Mayor tells mother of 8-year-old fatal shooting victim JahVai Roy police are doing everything possible to find perpetrator www.thestar.com/news/gta/cit...

Coun. Dianne Saxe has some stronger words about today's bike lane ruling, saying the Ontario government's "wasteful and dangerous plan" has been "dealt a serious blow."

Statement from Mayor Chow's office on bike lane ruling stops short of explicitly saying she welcomes the court's decision. Says bike lanes keep ppl safe, council should have control of municipal infrastructure, and city is reviewing the ruling.

Video of Mayor Olivia Chow welcoming Gaza refugees to Toronto pulled from Instagram over online abuse The original Instagram post included a video in which the mayor at city hall holds a video call, greeting a Palestinian family that has fled Gaza as they arrived at Pearson International Airport.

Mayor Olivia Chow's office says she was forced to remove a video she posted to social media in which she welcomed a Palestinian family to Toronto, after they faced a barrage of online abuse www.thestar.com/news/gta/vid...

City Council - July 24, 2025 YouTube video by Toronto City Council

If you missed yesterday's debate, Coun. Amber Morley gave a barnburner of a speech in which she both acknowledged local residents' serious concerns about the shelter slated for her ward, and expressed full-throated support for the plan www.youtube.com/live/JZIRzT5...

‘We have a housing crisis, folks’: Council moves ahead with six shelter sites after heated debate Some councillors took issue with a previous decision that delegated site selection to city staff rather than elected officials.

'Consultation' is a 'slippery word': Council moves ahead with six shelter sites after heated debate www.thestar.com/news/gta/we-...

Toronto appoints a new medical officer of health City council on Wednesday approved the appointment of Dr. Michelle Murti as the city’s new medical officer of health, replacing Dr. Eileen de Villa, who stepped down in December.

From Ben Cohen: Council has also approved the appointment of a new medical officer of health www.thestar.com/news/gta/tor...

‘No compromises’: Ottawa issues warning to Toronto about housing funding over sixplex vote Housing Minister Gregor Robertson expressed his “disappointment” with city council’s decision last month to not allow sixplexes citywide in a letter to Mayor Olivia Chow.

Meanwhile, Ottawa issued a warning to Mayor Olivia Chow that Toronto's federal housing funding could be at risk over council's refusal to legalize sixplexes city-wide, but gave the mayor six months to sort it out www.thestar.com/news/gta/no-...

Toronto council strengthens oversight of major events after watchdog flags potential FIFA risks Toronto’s auditor general found a lack of transparency around the World Cup bid could have put the city at financial risk.

In a politically charged moment at city hall yesterday, council dredged up a report that found former mayor John Tory violated ethics rules over a World Cup vote and his relationship with his former staffer. Tory is considering running for mayor again. www.thestar.com/news/gta/tor...

‘Get your butt in that chair’: Do virtual meetings hurt Toronto city council’s effectiveness? Some say remote meetings have been a boon to overstretched councillors, while others say they are a distraction that has led to bad policy being made.

From Mahdis Habibinia and me: ‘It looks bad’: Toronto council can meet virtually. Does the city suffer when councillors skip in-person sessions? www.thestar.com/news/gta/it-...

‘No compromises’: Ottawa issues warning to Toronto about housing funding over sixplex vote Housing Minister Gregor Robertson expressed his “disappointment” with city council’s decision last month to not allow sixplexes citywide in a letter to Mayor Olivia Chow.

‘No compromises’: Ottawa issues warning to Toronto about housing funding over sixplex vote www.thestar.com/news/gta/no-...

I’m witnessing the deliberate starvation of Gaza’s children – why is the world letting it happen? | Nick Maynard A permanent ceasefire, the free and safe flow of aid, and the lifting of the blockade are needed now – all could be achieved with political will, says UK surgeon Nick Maynard

"Four babies have died in the last few weeks in this hospital – not from bombs or bullets, but from starvation." www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

The city stopped this bistro from opening its patio after two neighbours objected. A Toronto councillor wants to stop that from happening again Coun. Brad Bradford wants the city to make it easier for businesses to open side street patios by raising the bar on the number of objections needed to stop them.

The city stopped this bistro from opening its patio after two neighbours objected. A Toronto councillor wants to stop that from happening again www.thestar.com/news/gta/the...

Numbers cited in that piece are staggering. “174,000 buildings have been destroyed or damaged, accounting for up to 70 percent of all structures in the Strip…more than 58,000 people have been killed, according to Gazan health authorities, including more than 17,000 children.”

Omer Bartov, professor of Holocaust and genocide studies at Brown University: “…the systematic destruction in Gaza not only of housing but also of other infrastructure… reflects a policy aimed at making the revival of Palestinian life in the territory highly unlikely.”

NYT Opinion: I’m a Genocide Scholar. I Know It When I See It t.co/3RnIdyymc1

Toronto’s most famous sandwich is a celebrity favourite. Now, the brothers who perfected it are leaving the St. Lawrence Market after 48 years Robert and Maurice Biancolin of Carousel Bakery on the peameal bacon that started it all and the beloved customers who joined them on the journey.

The Biancolin brothers’ bakery is famous for its peameal bacon sandwiches. They’re retiring this summer. Background from @kelseyleewilson here www.thestar.com/news/gta/tor...

Mayor Olivia Chow is at St. Lawrence Market this morning to give a key to the city to Robert and Maurice Biancolin, longtime operators of the Carousel Bakery.

Michael Ford, former MPP and premier’s nephew, registers as lobbyist at Toronto city hall A city database shows Ontario Premier Doug Ford's nephew registered to lobby city officials late last month.

Michael Ford, former MPP and premier’s nephew, registers as lobbyist at Toronto city hall www.thestar.com/news/gta/mic...

How Olivia Chow plans to stop shuttered pools and slow snow removal from happening again Toronto’s mayor says she’s focused on improving services for the public.

And here's me on the "renewal" of senior staff Mayor Olivia Chow says she's overseeing at city hall www.thestar.com/news/gta/how...