Matt Elliott
@graphicmatt.com
City columnist, contributing to the Toronto Star & writing the award-winning City Hall Watcher newsletter. A lot about Toronto Politics and then some nerd stuff. Humber College prof. (he/him)
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Matt Elliott
@graphicmatt.com
· 15h
Handing out some housing report cards
City Hall Watcher #359: Some charts of which wards are contributed to Toronto's housing starts. Plus a provincial perspective and a Ford fact check
toronto.cityhallwatcher.com
Check your inbox: it's City Hall Watcher #359!
A look at how each ward is doing on housing starts — and whether councillors and MPPs in Toronto are on track to hit the provincial housing target by 2031. Also: a classic Ford fact-check.
toronto.cityhallwatcher.com/p/handing-ou...
A look at how each ward is doing on housing starts — and whether councillors and MPPs in Toronto are on track to hit the provincial housing target by 2031. Also: a classic Ford fact-check.
toronto.cityhallwatcher.com/p/handing-ou...
Check your inbox: it's City Hall Watcher #359!
A look at how each ward is doing on housing starts — and whether councillors and MPPs in Toronto are on track to hit the provincial housing target by 2031. Also: a classic Ford fact-check.
toronto.cityhallwatcher.com/p/handing-ou...
A look at how each ward is doing on housing starts — and whether councillors and MPPs in Toronto are on track to hit the provincial housing target by 2031. Also: a classic Ford fact-check.
toronto.cityhallwatcher.com/p/handing-ou...
Handing out some housing report cards
City Hall Watcher #359: Some charts of which wards are contributed to Toronto's housing starts. Plus a provincial perspective and a Ford fact check
toronto.cityhallwatcher.com
November 24, 2025 at 9:58 PM
Check your inbox: it's City Hall Watcher #359!
A look at how each ward is doing on housing starts — and whether councillors and MPPs in Toronto are on track to hit the provincial housing target by 2031. Also: a classic Ford fact-check.
toronto.cityhallwatcher.com/p/handing-ou...
A look at how each ward is doing on housing starts — and whether councillors and MPPs in Toronto are on track to hit the provincial housing target by 2031. Also: a classic Ford fact-check.
toronto.cityhallwatcher.com/p/handing-ou...
My @thestar.com column this week: A third-party review says Toronto’s streetcars are among the slowest in the world. But they don’t have to be.
Maintenace improvements, operational changes and a little political will could really speed things up.
www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
Maintenace improvements, operational changes and a little political will could really speed things up.
www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
Matt Elliott: Toronto’s streetcars are some of the slowest in the world. Here’s how the city could speed them up
The TTC likes to blame the sluggish pace of streetcars on things beyond its control, but the data tells a different story.
www.thestar.com
November 18, 2025 at 7:23 PM
My @thestar.com column this week: A third-party review says Toronto’s streetcars are among the slowest in the world. But they don’t have to be.
Maintenace improvements, operational changes and a little political will could really speed things up.
www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
Maintenace improvements, operational changes and a little political will could really speed things up.
www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
Check your inbox: it’s City Hall Watcher #358!
Your complete recap of last week’s Council meeting! I list the compromises made on corner stores, and try to solve the mystery of why Chow dissolved the parking board. Plus: quotable quotes!
toronto.cityhallwatcher.com/p/council-co...
Your complete recap of last week’s Council meeting! I list the compromises made on corner stores, and try to solve the mystery of why Chow dissolved the parking board. Plus: quotable quotes!
toronto.cityhallwatcher.com/p/council-co...
Council comes to compromise on corner stores and — surprise! — disbands the TPA Board
City Hall Watcher #358: Your complete Toronto Council recap for November 2025, featuring votes on neighbourhood retail, the Toronto Parking Authority Board, snow, and more.
toronto.cityhallwatcher.com
November 18, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Check your inbox: it’s City Hall Watcher #358!
Your complete recap of last week’s Council meeting! I list the compromises made on corner stores, and try to solve the mystery of why Chow dissolved the parking board. Plus: quotable quotes!
toronto.cityhallwatcher.com/p/council-co...
Your complete recap of last week’s Council meeting! I list the compromises made on corner stores, and try to solve the mystery of why Chow dissolved the parking board. Plus: quotable quotes!
toronto.cityhallwatcher.com/p/council-co...
Not sure yet — the confidential decision should be made public soon now that it’s been adopted by council. I’ll keep an eye on it.
November 14, 2025 at 9:46 PM
Not sure yet — the confidential decision should be made public soon now that it’s been adopted by council. I’ll keep an eye on it.
Dubious ones. toronto.citynews.ca/2025/10/06/c...
Etobicoke residents sue City over proposed homeless shelter
A community group in Etobicoke is suing the City for $1 million in damages over the plan to build a homeless shelter.
toronto.citynews.ca
November 14, 2025 at 4:04 AM
Dubious ones. toronto.citynews.ca/2025/10/06/c...
Some residents opposed to shelters have started suing consultants hired by the city to run consultations and shelter operators. Motion is for city to cover legal costs related to these suits. Significant, but probably not a big deal to wait another month to pass it. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Agenda Item History 2025.MM34.24
Agenda Item History 2025.MM34.24
secure.toronto.ca
November 14, 2025 at 4:00 AM
Some residents opposed to shelters have started suing consultants hired by the city to run consultations and shelter operators. Motion is for city to cover legal costs related to these suits. Significant, but probably not a big deal to wait another month to pass it. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Other one got deferred to next month. Everybody was leaving so they were gonna lose quorum
November 14, 2025 at 3:12 AM
Other one got deferred to next month. Everybody was leaving so they were gonna lose quorum
Thanks for following this thread. Some real twists and turns. Nobody expected a TPA Board dissolution.
If you liked this thread and found it useful, please consider supporting me with a subscription to my newsletter, City Hall Watcher. It keeps me going. toronto.cityhallwatcher.com/subscribe
If you liked this thread and found it useful, please consider supporting me with a subscription to my newsletter, City Hall Watcher. It keeps me going. toronto.cityhallwatcher.com/subscribe
Subscribe to City Hall Watcher
A weekly newsletter about Toronto City Council by Matt Elliott. Click to read City Hall Watcher, a Substack publication with tens of thousands of subscribers.
toronto.cityhallwatcher.com
November 14, 2025 at 3:05 AM
Thanks for following this thread. Some real twists and turns. Nobody expected a TPA Board dissolution.
If you liked this thread and found it useful, please consider supporting me with a subscription to my newsletter, City Hall Watcher. It keeps me going. toronto.cityhallwatcher.com/subscribe
If you liked this thread and found it useful, please consider supporting me with a subscription to my newsletter, City Hall Watcher. It keeps me going. toronto.cityhallwatcher.com/subscribe
And that will finally do it. Remember how they said they were going to stay late yesterday so they could wrap up early today? Good joke. Everybody laugh.
Council's November 2025 meeting is adjourned at 10:02 p.m.
Council's November 2025 meeting is adjourned at 10:02 p.m.
November 14, 2025 at 3:02 AM
And that will finally do it. Remember how they said they were going to stay late yesterday so they could wrap up early today? Good joke. Everybody laugh.
Council's November 2025 meeting is adjourned at 10:02 p.m.
Council's November 2025 meeting is adjourned at 10:02 p.m.
Mayor Olivia Chow's motion to dissolve the TPA Board and conduct a governance review CARRIES 15-4.
November 14, 2025 at 2:58 AM
Mayor Olivia Chow's motion to dissolve the TPA Board and conduct a governance review CARRIES 15-4.
At long last, it is time to vote. Councillor Bradford's motion to keep the current TPA Board FAILS 4-15.
November 14, 2025 at 2:57 AM
At long last, it is time to vote. Councillor Bradford's motion to keep the current TPA Board FAILS 4-15.
Councillor Perruzza moves for the report on a new governance structure for TPA to come before the end of this council term.
November 14, 2025 at 2:49 AM
Councillor Perruzza moves for the report on a new governance structure for TPA to come before the end of this council term.
Councillor Burnside asks Chow if she's potentially interested in bringing the TTC in-house as a city department, too. She says no. She thinks the current model works well for the TTC.
November 14, 2025 at 2:46 AM
Councillor Burnside asks Chow if she's potentially interested in bringing the TTC in-house as a city department, too. She says no. She thinks the current model works well for the TTC.
Bradford now gets a chance to question the mayor, since she spoke. Under questioning, she notes Chair of the current TPA Board Hartley Lefton resigned this morning, but she says it's completely unrelated to this motion.
November 14, 2025 at 2:37 AM
Bradford now gets a chance to question the mayor, since she spoke. Under questioning, she notes Chair of the current TPA Board Hartley Lefton resigned this morning, but she says it's completely unrelated to this motion.
Chow says TPA could find efficiencies in areas like insurance, technology, cyber security, and procurement if they were more integrated with city operations.
"There's nothing underhanded here," she says. Just wants to look at consolidated operations.
"There's nothing underhanded here," she says. Just wants to look at consolidated operations.
November 14, 2025 at 2:31 AM
Chow says TPA could find efficiencies in areas like insurance, technology, cyber security, and procurement if they were more integrated with city operations.
"There's nothing underhanded here," she says. Just wants to look at consolidated operations.
"There's nothing underhanded here," she says. Just wants to look at consolidated operations.
Mayor Olivia Chow is up to explain why she wants to get rid of the TPA Board. She says TPA's parking lots are city assets., and they could be raising more funds.
She notes the 2026 city budget is a tough one. "We have to find money."
She notes the 2026 city budget is a tough one. "We have to find money."
November 14, 2025 at 2:28 AM
Mayor Olivia Chow is up to explain why she wants to get rid of the TPA Board. She says TPA's parking lots are city assets., and they could be raising more funds.
She notes the 2026 city budget is a tough one. "We have to find money."
She notes the 2026 city budget is a tough one. "We have to find money."
Nunziata says as a TPA board member, she's seen a lot of opportunities for efficiencies. She notes TPA has their own IT department and other duplicative departments.
"I believe we can get more revenue. That we should get more revenue," she says.
"I believe we can get more revenue. That we should get more revenue," she says.
November 14, 2025 at 2:25 AM
Nunziata says as a TPA board member, she's seen a lot of opportunities for efficiencies. She notes TPA has their own IT department and other duplicative departments.
"I believe we can get more revenue. That we should get more revenue," she says.
"I believe we can get more revenue. That we should get more revenue," she says.
Councillor Fletcher moves to strike part of the mayor's motion that would have appointed herself and Nunziata to the new TPA Board as non-voting members. She says it's not necessary. New board will be purely made up of senior staff.
November 14, 2025 at 2:19 AM
Councillor Fletcher moves to strike part of the mayor's motion that would have appointed herself and Nunziata to the new TPA Board as non-voting members. She says it's not necessary. New board will be purely made up of senior staff.
Councillor Bradford's motion to defer the TPA Board dissolution item until next month's meeting FAILS 5-14.
November 14, 2025 at 2:14 AM
Councillor Bradford's motion to defer the TPA Board dissolution item until next month's meeting FAILS 5-14.
Bradford says the way Nunziata has been running this meeting is an "affront on the democratic process in this chamber."
Of the TPA change, he says he thinks this is actually about installing new leadership, like happened with the TTC.
Of the TPA change, he says he thinks this is actually about installing new leadership, like happened with the TTC.
November 14, 2025 at 2:12 AM
Bradford says the way Nunziata has been running this meeting is an "affront on the democratic process in this chamber."
Of the TPA change, he says he thinks this is actually about installing new leadership, like happened with the TTC.
Of the TPA change, he says he thinks this is actually about installing new leadership, like happened with the TTC.
Councillor Brad Bradford accuses Chow of trying to dissolve the TPA Board "under the cover of darkness" and says she is not being honest about her reasons for doing this.
"You should be very honest and stop grandstanding," shoots back Nunziata.
"You should be very honest and stop grandstanding," shoots back Nunziata.
November 14, 2025 at 2:10 AM
Councillor Brad Bradford accuses Chow of trying to dissolve the TPA Board "under the cover of darkness" and says she is not being honest about her reasons for doing this.
"You should be very honest and stop grandstanding," shoots back Nunziata.
"You should be very honest and stop grandstanding," shoots back Nunziata.
Bradford moves to delay the dissolution of the TPA Board to next month's meeting. He says he has a lot of questions that need answering, and an extra month would help.
If that fails, he's got a motion to NOT dissolve the TPA Board, and instead leave it in place for the governance review.
If that fails, he's got a motion to NOT dissolve the TPA Board, and instead leave it in place for the governance review.
November 14, 2025 at 2:07 AM
Bradford moves to delay the dissolution of the TPA Board to next month's meeting. He says he has a lot of questions that need answering, and an extra month would help.
If that fails, he's got a motion to NOT dissolve the TPA Board, and instead leave it in place for the governance review.
If that fails, he's got a motion to NOT dissolve the TPA Board, and instead leave it in place for the governance review.
Mayor Chow is back in the chamber. Bradford asks if he can get another five minutes to ask questions of the mayor, now that she's back. Nunziata says no. Bradford challenges that ruling. Chair is UPHELD, 14-5.
November 14, 2025 at 2:04 AM
Mayor Chow is back in the chamber. Bradford asks if he can get another five minutes to ask questions of the mayor, now that she's back. Nunziata says no. Bradford challenges that ruling. Chair is UPHELD, 14-5.
Council is back, finally. Holyday wants to know if reps for the Toronto Parking Authority are here now. Nunziata says no.
"We didn't invite them," she says.
"So where are they?" Holyday asks.
"They're not here," says Nunziata.
It goes on like this for a while.
"We didn't invite them," she says.
"So where are they?" Holyday asks.
"They're not here," says Nunziata.
It goes on like this for a while.
November 14, 2025 at 1:50 AM
Council is back, finally. Holyday wants to know if reps for the Toronto Parking Authority are here now. Nunziata says no.
"We didn't invite them," she says.
"So where are they?" Holyday asks.
"They're not here," says Nunziata.
It goes on like this for a while.
"We didn't invite them," she says.
"So where are they?" Holyday asks.
"They're not here," says Nunziata.
It goes on like this for a while.
"Everybody is a little hungry and a little hangry," says Fletcher. She and Nunziata decide to take a ten-minute recess so councillors can eat. Weird vibes.
November 14, 2025 at 1:13 AM
"Everybody is a little hungry and a little hangry," says Fletcher. She and Nunziata decide to take a ten-minute recess so councillors can eat. Weird vibes.