Item - 2021.RM38.1

CALL TO ORDER: 9:37 a.m.

Speaker Nunziata took the Chair and called the Members to order.

The meeting opened with O Canada.

December 15, 2021

Speaker Nunziata called upon Mayor Tory to address City Council.  Mayor Tory, on behalf of City Council, acknowledged the passing of the 62nd Mayor and First Mayor of the amalgamated City of Toronto, Mel Lastman.  Mayor Tory spoke of Mr. Lastman's career in politics which started in 1969: that he was elected Mayor of North York in 1973, an office he held for ten terms, and that he was elected Mayor of the amalgamated City in 1998 and retired in 2003.  Mayor Tory remarked what an enormous job it was to be the Mayor of the amalgamated City and to try to bring together a group of people, 54 Members of Council, who were married in forced circumstances by the Province, and to try to move forward a united City. Mayor Tory noted the success of former Mayor Mel Lastman in the creation of the first Mayor's Committee on Child Abuse, and the first Mayor's Committee on Drinking and Driving, as well as his keen interest in Race Relations and Elder Abuse issues. Mayor Tory noted that these were issues that Mel Lastman took leadership of and addressed the challenges in a forthright way. Mayor Tory remarked on the work of Mr. Lastman with the Provincial and Federal levels of government on Toronto's waterfront, work that continues today.  Mayor Tory spoke of how people loved Mel Lastman because of his authenticity, and that he was extremely kind-hearted and respectful to everyone no matter what their station in life. Mayor Tory commented that Mel Lastman was larger than life and that he defended, promoted and advanced the interest of the City. Mayor Tory, on behalf of Members of City Council and the people of the City of Toronto for which he served for so long, thanked Mel Lastman for this service and thanked Mel Lastman's family for supporting him during his service.  Mayor Tory, on behalf of Members of City Council and the people of the City of Toronto, expressed his sincere condolences to Mel Lastman's family.

Members of Council observed a moment of silence and remembered:  

Former Mayor Mel Lastman

Ray Biggart

Brenda Christine Connor

Sylvia Searles Elam

David Fox

Tom Mangos

David Smiley

Amaresh Tesfamariam

Raymond Vandette  

Speaker Nunziata acknowledged that City Council was meeting on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.  Speaker Nunziata also acknowledged that Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 signed with the Mississaugas of the Credit.

Speaker Nunziata advised Council of the following:

For the benefit of those who are connected to the internet, the City Clerk has posted all of the agenda materials for today's meeting at toronto.ca/council.

Members, although Civic Buildings, including City Hall are currently closed to the public, I want to emphasize that today's Council meeting is being conducted publicly and is being streamed live on YouTube.  I want to welcome the public who are watching our meeting this morning.

December 17, 2021

Members of Council observed a moment of silence and remembered:  

Dr. Robert Bennett