Item - 2021.DM30.2

Tracking Status

  • City Council adopted this item on March 10, 2021 with amendments.

DM30.2 - Cancelling City of Toronto Advertisement in Corriere Canadese - by Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam, seconded by Councillor Paul Ainslie

Decision Type:
ACTION
Status:
Amended
Wards:
All

City Council Decision

City Council on March 10, 2021, adopted the following:

 

1.  City Council reaffirm its policies against hateful speech and its support for the City of Toronto's  Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Two-Spirit+ communities against discrimination and harassment.

 

2.  City Council express its displeasure to the Corriere Canadese following reports of the printing and distribution of homophobic and transphobic articles about the Toronto Catholic District School Board, its Trustees and  Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Two-Spirit+ families.

 

3.  City Council direct the City Manager to inform all media vendors, including the Corriere Canadese, that they must sign and comply with the City of Toronto's Human Rights and Anti-Harassment/Discrimination Policies if the City is to purchase advertising space in the future, as outlined in the supplementary report (March 5, 2021) from the Chief Communications Officer.

Background Information (City Council)

Item DM30.2
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/dm/bgrd/backgroundfile-164644.pdf
(March 5, 2021) Supplementary report from the Chief Communications Officer on Working with advertising vendors to uphold human rights and anti-harassment/discrimination standards (DM30.2a)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/dm/bgrd/backgroundfile-164735.pdf

Communications (City Council)

(January 30, 2021) E-mail from Nicole Richard (DM.Supp)
(January 30, 2021) E-mail from Joanne McBay (DM.Supp)
(January 31, 2021) E-mail from Carla DeSantis (DM.Supp)
(February 1, 2021) Letter from Markus de Domenico, Trustee Ward 2, Norm Di Pasquale, Trustee Ward 9, Ida Li Preti, Trustee Ward 3, Maria Rizzo, Trustee Ward 5, Toronto Catholic District School Board (DM.New)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/dm/comm/communicationfile-128319.pdf
(February 1, 2021) E-mail from Kyle Iannuzzi (DM.New)
(February 2, 2021) E-mail from Paolo De Buono (DM.New)
(February 2, 2021) E-mail from Stephanie McCracken, The Church-Wellesley Village Business Improvement Area (DM.New)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/dm/comm/communicationfile-128322.pdf
(February 2, 2021) E-mail from L. Pennacchio (DM.New)
(March 7, 2021) E-mail from Nick Rondinelli (DM.Supp)
(March 10, 2021) E-mail from Kyle Iannuzzi (DM.New)

Motions (City Council)

1 - Motion to Adopt Item as Amended moved by Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam (Carried)

That City Council delete the Recommendations:

 

Recommendations to be deleted

 

1.  City Council direct the City Manager to immediately cease all City of Toronto paid advertising in the Corriere Canadese following the reports of the printing and distribution of homophobic and transphobic articles about the Toronto Catholic District School Board, its Trustees and its Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Two-Spirit students.

 

2.  City Council direct the City Manager to inform the Corriere Canadese that it must sign and comply with the City of Toronto’s Human Rights and Anti-Harassment/Discrimination Policies if it is to become a vendor again in the future.

 

3.  City Council direct the City Manager to consult with the City Solicitor and update the City's advertising and promotions policies by ensuring full alignment with the City’s Human Rights and Anti-Harassment/Discrimination Policies.

 

4.  City Council direct the City Manager to report to the Executive Committee in the third quarter of 2021 on strategies to proactively ensure that all media selected for City advertising are in compliance with the City’s Human Rights and Anti-Harassment/Discrimination Policies, such report to include consultation with the City's Human Rights Office and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Two-Spirit Advisory Committee.

 

and adopt instead the following new recommendations:

 

1.  City Council reaffirm its policies against hateful speech and its support for the City of Toronto's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Two-Spirit communities against discrimination and harassment.

 

2.  City Council express its displeasure to the Corriere Canadese following reports of the printing and distribution of homophobic and transphobic articles about the Toronto Catholic District School Board, its Trustees and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Two-Spirit families.

 

3.  City Council direct the City Manager to inform all media vendors, including the Corriere Canadese, that they must sign and comply with the City of Toronto's Human Rights and Anti-Harassment/Discrimination Policies if the City is to purchase advertising space in the future, as outlined in the supplementary report (March 5, 2021) from the Chief Communications Officer.

Vote (Adopt Item as Amended) Mar-10-2021 3:45 PM

Result: Carried Majority Required - DM30.2 - Wong-Tam - motion 1 - Adopt the Item as amended
Total members that voted Yes: 24 Members that voted Yes are Paul Ainslie, Ana Bailão, Brad Bradford, Shelley Carroll, Mike Colle, Gary Crawford, Joe Cressy, John Filion, Paula Fletcher, Mark Grimes, Stephen Holyday, Cynthia Lai, Mike Layton, Nick Mantas, Josh Matlow, Jennifer McKelvie, Denzil Minnan-Wong, Frances Nunziata (Chair), James Pasternak, Gord Perks, Jaye Robinson, Michael Thompson, John Tory, Kristyn Wong-Tam
Total members that voted No: 0 Members that voted No are
Total members that were Absent: 2 Members that were absent are Michael Ford, Anthony Perruzza

Point of Privilege by Councillor Paula Fletcher

Councillor Fletcher, on a Point of Privilege, stated that she felt it was inappropriate for Councillor Pasternak to characterize staff as having "hid behind" the Charter and Supreme Court precedent.


Point of Order by Councillor Gord Perks

Councillor Perks, on a Point of Order, stated that the Speaker should rule on Councillor Fletcher's Point of Privilege.

Ruling by Speaker Frances Nunziata
Speaker Nunziata accepted the Points of Privilege and Order and asked Councillor Pasternak to withdraw his comments. Councillor Pasternak rephrased his comments.

Source: Toronto City Clerk at www.toronto.ca/council