Item - 2024.RM19.5

Tracking Status

  • City Council considered this item on June 26 and 27, 2024 and received the item for information. No further action will be taken on this item.

RM19.5 - Petitions

Decision Type:
ACTION
Status:
Received
Wards:
All

City Council Decision

City Council on June 26 and 27, 2024, received the following petitions for information:

 

1. Petition headed "Stop the Renaming of Yonge-Dundas Square Petition from the Citizens of Toronto" by Councillor Stephen Holyday, Ward 2, Etobicoke-Centre, containing the signatures of approximately 30,000 persons. 

 

2. Petition headed "We the Residents Living off of Garratt Blvd are Outraged by the Latest Update (April 2024). It is Unfair to Target Garratt Blvd, as the Only Extended Road in the Ancaster Community" by Councillor James Pasternak, Ward 6, York Centre, containing the signatures of approximately 38 persons. 

 

3. Petition headed "Revised Transportation Plans for the Proposed Downsview Lands Re-Development to Limit Negative Impacts to Ancaster Community" by Councillor James Pasternak, Ward 6, York Centre, containing the signatures of approximately 539 persons.  

 

4. Petition headed "Africentric Alternative School Estella Wheeler Petition" by Councillor James Pasternak, Ward 6, York Centre, containing the signatures of approximately 823 persons.

Motions (City Council)

Petition Filed (Carried)

That City Council receive the petitions for information.


Point of Order by Councillor Paula Fletcher

Councillor Fletcher, rising on a Point of Order, stated that petitions are important, but they are usually from residents of the City of Toronto.

 

Councillor Fletcher further stated that she has looked at the petition presented by Councillor Holyday quite extensively and there are names from all over, including Tampa, Florida, and that there are some Toronto residents’ signatures in the petition, but it would be misleading to say they are all Toronto residents.


Point of Order by Councillor Stephen Holyday

Councillor Holyday, rising on a Point of Order, stated that he would like the Speaker to rule whether Councillor Fletcher’s statement was a Point of Order and either enter it into the minutes or not.

Ruling by Councillor Frances Nunziata
Speaker Nunziata accepted the Points of Order and ruled that Council should not get into a debate on the matter.


Point of Order by Councillor Stephen Holyday

Councillor Holyday, rising on a Point of Order, stated that if Council is going to start filtering petitions, he would like the Speaker to let Council know what the rules are.

Ruling by Speaker Frances Nunziata
Speaker Nunziata accepted the Point of Order and ruled that the filing of petitions is not debatable and thanked Councillor Fletcher for making her point.


Point of Order by Councillor Chris Moise

Councillor Moise, rising on a Point of Order, stated that Councillor Holyday stated that there are 30,000 signatures in the petition but Councillor Moise went through them and there were many duplications so there were not 30,000.

Ruling by Speaker Frances Nunziata
Speaker Nunziata thanked Councillor Moise.


Point of Order by Councillor Paula Fletcher

Councillor Fletcher, rising on a Point of Order, stated that Councillor Holyday claimed that the petition was from Toronto residents and that she was simply informing Council that the signatures were not all from Toronto residents. Councillor Fletcher further stated that she is not counting everything, but Members have a right to understand where things are from.

Ruling by Speaker Frances Nunziata
Speaker Nunziata accepted the Point of Order and thanked Councillor Fletcher

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