Ben Spurr

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...

Doug Ford, Olivia Chow and the closed pools: What really happened — and why Toronto’s mayor and Ontario’s premier found themselves at odds over city pools, each pointing a finger after more than a dozen closed at the peak of a record heat wave.

Here's Kate Allen with a fantastic deep dive (heh) into what happened with this week's Toronto pool closures www.thestar.com/news/gta/dou...

Driverless vehicles have hit Toronto’s streets. Here’s what you need to know — from secret rules to ticketing confusion The first of a planned series of driverless delivery vehicles have rolled out onto the streets in downtown Toronto as part of a test program by Magna and the province.

From Mahdis Habibinia: Driverless vehicles have hit Toronto’s streets. Here’s what you need to know — from secret rules to ticketing confusion www.thestar.com/news/gta/dri...

Could this Toronto council hopeful become part of the next power couple at city hall? A school trustee’s campaign for a seat on Toronto council could make her part of the latest political power couple to grace city hall.

Could this Toronto council hopeful become part of the next power couple at city hall? www.thestar.com/news/gta/cou...

Is this councillor already campaigning to unseat Toronto’s mayor? Why the next race may be starting early One Toronto city councillor is already trying to position himself as the best placed centre-right challenger to take on progressive mayor Olivia Chow.

ICYMI: From Mahdis Habibinia and me: Is this councillor already campaigning to unseat Toronto’s mayor? Why the next race may be starting early www.thestar.com/news/gta/is-...

Nominations for the Ward 25 byelection to replace Jennifer McKelvie open this morning. Scarborough businessman Shawn Allen is among the first to register.

Premier announces official groundbreaking of East Harbour transit hub, which will connect GO Transit and the Ontario Line and is expected to serve approximately 100,000 daily riders.

The mayor, premier and ministers pose with workers on the East Harbour project.

At a press conference at the East Harbour site where Premier Doug Ford and Mayor Olivia Chow are making a transit announcement. These planks show where the VIPs will stand.

Mayor Chow helps unveil the World Cup countdown clock in front of city hall

‘It is shameful’: City staff slammed for leaving Toronto rooming-house tenants in ‘inhuman conditions’ Toronto city council approved the recommendations in a scathing ombudsman’s report that detailed how staff failed to act while tenants in a rooming house went without basic utilities for six months.

‘It is shameful’: City staff slammed for leaving Toronto rooming-house tenants in ‘inhuman conditions’ www.thestar.com/news/gta/it-...

Mayor Olivia Chow threatens to cut 2026 World Cup budget over funding dispute with province A city report says that the cost of some services the province said it would pay for out of its $97-million contribution are “substantially higher” than budgeted, which may leave Toronto on the hook f...

Mayor Olivia Chow is threatening to cut $40 million from Toronto's World Cup budget if Premier Doug Ford doesn't agree to provide more cash for the event www.thestar.com/news/gta/may...