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Matt Elliott

@graphicmatt.com

9.1K followers 120 following 3.8K posts

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 · 2d

Check your inbox: it’s City Hall Watcher #352!

An epic-length DOUBLE issue. LOBBYIST WATCH has news for #TeamGondola and stuff about robot chefs. Your COUNCIL PREVIEW, meanwhile, looks at the speed camera debate, budget woes, noisy pickleball, and more. toronto.cityhallwatcher.com/p/gondola-lo...

Gondola lobbyists pull up to City Hall

City Hall Watcher #352: LOBBYIST WATCH returns, with stories about gondolas and a soccer pitch. Plus your October Council meeting preview, with speed cameras, a new addition and more.

toronto.cityhallwatcher.com

Matt Elliott @graphicmatt.com · 12h

And that'll do it for today, apparently. Council wraps up early as Nunziata notes there's a playoff game tonight.

Back tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. with 68 items left on the agenda.

Matt Elliott @graphicmatt.com · 12h

The Toronto Parking Authority's Environmental, Social and Governance report for 2024 is ADOPTED by Council 19-1. Curious. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...

Matt Elliott @graphicmatt.com · 12h

Councillor Gord Perks, meanwhile, blames the provincial government for making changes to legislation governing development charges.

But nothing will change today. No motions moved on the deferred revenue item. It CARRIES via show of hands.

Matt Elliott @graphicmatt.com · 12h

"I've had smaller developers mention to me that, you know, what a burden the DCs are on them kicking off their project, because they'd like to see it financially viable. And my response is, 'That's not my problem,'" says Holyday

Matt Elliott @graphicmatt.com · 12h

Holyday, I think, is trying to argue that Council's recent decisions to defer or waive development charges to support affordable housing have created this budget crisis. But on questioning from Perks, the CFO says those decisions aren't really a factor here — it's just a market thing.

Matt Elliott @graphicmatt.com · 13h

Up now: deferred revenue. Wait, don't fall asleep! Councillor Stephen Holyday wants to know about the "dire" state of the city's development charge reserves. The CFO confirms that the situation is indeed pretty dire, and the city may need to delay some capital projects.

Matt Elliott @graphicmatt.com · 13h

And that's it for the speed camera debate. Will any of it move the premier? TBD.

Matt Elliott @graphicmatt.com · 13h

Councillor Matlow's motion to have the City Solicitor report on options to protect all road safety measures, including speed cameras, CARRIES 22-2.

Matt Elliott @graphicmatt.com · 13h

Councillor Myers' motion to report on the lowest recorded speed at which tickets were issued by the speed cameras CARRIES 20-5.

Matt Elliott @graphicmatt.com · 13h

Recommendation for council to express its continued support for speed cameras CARRIES 24-1. Guess who.

Matt Elliott @graphicmatt.com · 13h

Matlow voted the wrong way on Chow's blackout period recommendation, so they retake the vote. This time it CARRIES 17-8.

Matt Elliott @graphicmatt.com · 13h

Chow's recommendation to install larger signs warning drivers of speed cameras CARRIES 21-4.

Matt Elliott @graphicmatt.com · 13h

Chow's recommendation to consider creating a blackout period after a driver receives their first speed camera ticket, so they can't receive subsequent tickets until they receive their first ticket in the mail, CARRIES 20-5.

Matt Elliott @graphicmatt.com · 13h

A recommendation from Mayor Olivia Chow to send notification to households about the loss of speed cameras in their neighbourhood and the safety impact is APPROVED 20-5.

Matt Elliott @graphicmatt.com · 13h

Councillor Perruzza's motion to pause the speed camera program while staff consider changes FAILS 4-21.

Matt Elliott @graphicmatt.com · 13h

Councillor Burnside's motion for a review of speed limits on wide roads in community safety zones CARRIES via show of hands. So does Councillor Saxe's motion for a report on costs of replacing the speed camera program with police officers. And Colle's motion for a report on the cost of roundabouts.

Matt Elliott @graphicmatt.com · 13h

Councillor Holyday's motion to look at installing colour vinyl wraps on speed cameras, perhaps to make them look like wasps or other types of wildlife, CARRIES 20-5.

Matt Elliott @graphicmatt.com · 13h

Councillor Fletcher's motion to refer motions from Holyday and Cheng that would change the speed camera program to staff so they can instead be part of negotiations with Queen's Park CARRIES 21-4.

Matt Elliott @graphicmatt.com · 13h

Councillor Brad Bradford's motion to make it clear that Council only supports speed cameras in school zones (not broader community safety zones) FAILS 5-20.

Matt Elliott @graphicmatt.com · 13h

Time to vote on speed camera stuff. Council first votes via show of hands to conduct a review of the appeals process for speed camera tickets. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...

Agenda Item History 2025.IE24.4

Agenda Item History 2025.IE24.4

secure.toronto.ca

Matt Elliott @graphicmatt.com · 13h

After much consideration, Councillor Fletcher withdraws her amendment to Bradford's motion. She says instead she'll just vote against the Bradford motion. Okay then.

Matt Elliott @graphicmatt.com · 13h

Things pause as Councillor Stephen Holyday, unhappy that Fletcher is trying to refer three of his motions, wants to know if he's allowed to give a speech opposing the move. The ancient texts are consulted at great length, and it is decided he doesn't get to speak. Okay then.

Matt Elliott @graphicmatt.com · 14h

Fletcher's point is that it doesn't make sense to pass motions that make changes to the speed camera program until and unless the city gets any indication that these changes will actually help convince Ford to let the city keep the speed camera program.

Matt Elliott @graphicmatt.com · 14h

Councillor Fletcher's motions are ready. She moves to:

- Amend Bradford's motion to make it clear Council supports speed cams in school zones AND community safety zones.
- Refer a bunch of motions to the City Manager so they can be part of any negotiations with Queen's Park re: the cameras.

Matt Elliott @graphicmatt.com · 14h

Weird undercurrent in this debate where some councillors casually suggest most drivers just ignore all signage, so the signs warning of a speed camera ahead must be much bigger and much flashier than typical signage.