Item - 2025.CC33.1
Tracking Status
- City Council adopted this item on October 8 and 9, 2025 with amendments.
CC33.1 - Expanding Toronto Community Crisis Response to the Toronto Transit Commission
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Amended
- Wards:
- All
City Council Decision
City Council on October 8 and 9, 2025, adopted the following:
1. City Council authorize the Executive Director, Social Development to negotiate, enter into, and amend any service and funding agreements with the Gerstein Crisis Centre for the provision of the Toronto Community Crisis Service for the Toronto Transit Commission Pilot for up to $540,000 (gross and net) in 2025 and up to $1,803,000 (gross and net) in 2026 with a term ending on December 31, 2026 on the terms and conditions satisfactory to the Executive Director, Social Development, in consultation with the Executive Director, Financial Planning, and in a form acceptable to the City Solicitor, subject to all related expenditures being funded within the operating budget for Social Development.
2. City Council authorize the Executive Director, Social Development to negotiate, enter into, and amend single-and multi-year agreements to support program components related to the Toronto Community Crisis Service-Toronto Transit Commission Pilot (e.g., training, evaluation, outreach campaigns) within the budget allocation for the program, and on such manner, content, terms and conditions as deemed necessary by the Executive Director, Social Development, and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor.
3. City Council request the Toronto Police Service board to report on the creation of a Safe Toronto Transit Commission Strategy where police officers are deployed at Toronto Transit Commission stations in order to enhance safety for everyone.
4. City Council direct that the activities of the Toronto Community Crisis Response program of the Toronto Transit Commission will be published on the City’s data portal: Community Safety and Wellbeing on Transit.
5. City Council request the Toronto Transit Commission to ensure sufficient funds to support the necessary and planned addition of new Toronto Transit Commission Special Constables to ensure adequate coverage and response capability across the transit system, while maintaining existing investments in community crisis services, as part of the 2026 budget process.
6. City Council direct the City Manager to work with the Toronto Police Service and report directly to the November 28, 2025, meeting of the Economic and Community Development Committee with information on:
a. total number of emergency response calls related to Toronto Transit Corporation stations and vehicles in 2025;
b. the percentage for which only the Toronto Community Crisis Service could have been dispatched to resolve without additional resources; and
c. the percentage for which special constables or police were required.
Background Information (City Council)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2025/cc/bgrd/backgroundfile-259046.pdf
Attachment 1 - Report from the Executive Director, Social Development on Enhancing Mental Health Crisis Response on the Toronto Transit Commission
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2025/cc/bgrd/backgroundfile-258946.pdf
Communications (City Council)
(October 6, 2025) Letter from Amy Harrell, Executive Director, Toronto Financial District BIA (CC.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2025/cc/comm/communicationfile-196560.pdf
(October 8, 2025) E-mail from Nicole Corrado (CC.New)
Motions (City Council)
That City Council amend Recommendation 1 by:
a. adding the words "in consultation with the Executive Director, Financial Planning," after the words "Social Development";
b. adding the words "subject to all related expenditures being funded within the operating budget for Social Development" after the words "City Solicitor";
so that it now reads as follows:
1. City Council authorize the Executive Director, Social Development to negotiate, enter into, and amend any service and funding agreements with the Gerstein Crisis Centre for the provision of the Toronto Community Crisis Service for the Toronto Transit Commission Pilot for up to $540,000 (gross and net) in 2025 and up to $1,803,000 (gross and net) in 2026 with a term ending on December 31, 2026 on the terms and conditions satisfactory to the Executive Director, Social Development, in consultation with the Executive Director, Financial Planning, and in a form acceptable to the City Solicitor, subject to all related expenditures being funded within the operating budget for Social Development.
That:
1. City Council request the Toronto Police Service board to report on the creation of a Safe Toronto Transit Commission Strategy where police officers are deployed at Toronto Transit Commission stations in order to enhance safety for everyone.
Vote (Amend Item (Additional)) Oct-09-2025 2:35 PM
| Result: Carried | Majority Required - CC33.1 - Holyday - motion 2a |
|---|---|
| Total members that voted Yes: 16 | Members that voted Yes are Paul Ainslie, Brad Bradford, Jon Burnside, Lily Cheng, Rachel Chernos Lin, Olivia Chow, Vincent Crisanti, Stephen Holyday, Parthi Kandavel, Josh Matlow, Jamaal Myers, Frances Nunziata (Chair), James Pasternak, Anthony Perruzza, Neethan Shan, Michael Thompson |
| Total members that voted No: 7 | Members that voted No are Alejandra Bravo, Paula Fletcher, Ausma Malik, Chris Moise, Amber Morley, Gord Perks, Dianne Saxe |
| Total members that were Absent: 3 | Members that were absent are Shelley Carroll, Mike Colle, Nick Mantas |
That:
1. City Council direct that the activities of the Toronto Community Crisis Response program of the Toronto Transit Commission will be published on the City’s data portal: Community Safety and Wellbeing on Transit.
That:
1. City Council request the Toronto Transit Commission to reallocate funds to support the hiring of additional Toronto Transit Commission Special Constables, ensuring adequate coverage and response capability across the transit system, while maintaining existing investments in community crisis services, as part of the 2026 budget process.
Vote (Amend Item (Additional)) Oct-09-2025 2:37 PM
| Result: Lost | Majority Required - CC33.1 - Bradford - motion 3a |
|---|---|
| Total members that voted Yes: 9 | Members that voted Yes are Brad Bradford, Lily Cheng, Vincent Crisanti, Stephen Holyday, Parthi Kandavel, Frances Nunziata (Chair), James Pasternak, Anthony Perruzza, Michael Thompson |
| Total members that voted No: 15 | Members that voted No are Paul Ainslie, Alejandra Bravo, Jon Burnside, Shelley Carroll, Rachel Chernos Lin, Olivia Chow, Paula Fletcher, Ausma Malik, Josh Matlow, Chris Moise, Amber Morley, Jamaal Myers, Gord Perks, Dianne Saxe, Neethan Shan |
| Total members that were Absent: 2 | Members that were absent are Mike Colle, Nick Mantas |
That:
1. City Council direct the City Manager to work with the Toronto Police Service and report directly to the November 12, 13, and 14, 2025, meeting of City Council with information on:
a. total number of emergency response calls related to Toronto Transit Corporation stations and vehicles in 2025;
b. the percentage for which only the Toronto Community Crisis Service could have been dispatched to resolve without additional resources; and
c. the percentage for which special constables or police were required.
Amended by motion 4b by Councillor Josh Matlow.
Vote (Amend Item (Additional)) Oct-09-2025 2:39 PM
| Result: Carried | Majority Required - CC33.1 - Bradford - motion 3b as amended |
|---|---|
| Total members that voted Yes: 20 | Members that voted Yes are Paul Ainslie, Brad Bradford, Jon Burnside, Shelley Carroll, Lily Cheng, Rachel Chernos Lin, Olivia Chow, Vincent Crisanti, Paula Fletcher, Stephen Holyday, Parthi Kandavel, Ausma Malik, Chris Moise, Amber Morley, Jamaal Myers, Frances Nunziata (Chair), James Pasternak, Anthony Perruzza, Dianne Saxe, Neethan Shan |
| Total members that voted No: 4 | Members that voted No are Alejandra Bravo, Josh Matlow, Gord Perks, Michael Thompson |
| Total members that were Absent: 2 | Members that were absent are Mike Colle, Nick Mantas |
Vote (Amend Item (Additional)) Oct-09-2025 2:41 PM
| Result: Carried | Majority Required - CC33.1 - Bradford - motion 3b as amended - Re-vote |
|---|---|
| Total members that voted Yes: 21 | Members that voted Yes are Paul Ainslie, Brad Bradford, Jon Burnside, Shelley Carroll, Lily Cheng, Rachel Chernos Lin, Olivia Chow, Vincent Crisanti, Paula Fletcher, Stephen Holyday, Parthi Kandavel, Ausma Malik, Josh Matlow, Chris Moise, Amber Morley, Jamaal Myers, Frances Nunziata (Chair), James Pasternak, Anthony Perruzza, Dianne Saxe, Neethan Shan |
| Total members that voted No: 3 | Members that voted No are Alejandra Bravo, Gord Perks, Michael Thompson |
| Total members that were Absent: 2 | Members that were absent are Mike Colle, Nick Mantas |
That:
1. City Council request the Toronto Transit Commission to ensure sufficient funds to support the necessary and planned addition of new Toronto Transit Commission Special Constables to ensure adequate coverage and response capability across the transit system, while maintaining existing investments in community crisis services, as part of the 2026 budget process.
Vote (Amend Item (Additional)) Oct-09-2025 2:42 PM
| Result: Carried | Majority Required - CC33.1 - Matlow - motion 4a |
|---|---|
| Total members that voted Yes: 23 | Members that voted Yes are Paul Ainslie, Brad Bradford, Alejandra Bravo, Jon Burnside, Shelley Carroll, Lily Cheng, Rachel Chernos Lin, Olivia Chow, Vincent Crisanti, Paula Fletcher, Stephen Holyday, Parthi Kandavel, Ausma Malik, Josh Matlow, Chris Moise, Amber Morley, Jamaal Myers, Frances Nunziata (Chair), James Pasternak, Anthony Perruzza, Dianne Saxe, Neethan Shan, Michael Thompson |
| Total members that voted No: 1 | Members that voted No are Gord Perks |
| Total members that were Absent: 2 | Members that were absent are Mike Colle, Nick Mantas |
That City Council amend motion 3.b. by Councillor Bradford by changing “November 12, 13, and 14, 2025 meeting of City Council” with “November 28, 2025 meeting of Economic and Community Development Committee”, so that it now reads as follows:
1. City Council direct the City Manager to work with the Toronto Police Service and report directly to the “November 12, 13, and 14, 2025 meeting of City Council ”November 28, 2025 meeting of Economic and Community Development Committee with information on:
a. total number of emergency response calls related to Toronto Transit Corporation stations and vehicles in 2025;
b. the percentage for which only the Toronto Community Crisis Service could have been dispatched to resolve without additional resources; and
c. the percentage for which special constables or police were required.
Vote (Amend Motion) Oct-09-2025 2:38 PM
| Result: Carried | Majority Required - CC33.1 - Matlow - motion 4b |
|---|---|
| Total members that voted Yes: 19 | Members that voted Yes are Paul Ainslie, Jon Burnside, Shelley Carroll, Lily Cheng, Rachel Chernos Lin, Olivia Chow, Vincent Crisanti, Paula Fletcher, Parthi Kandavel, Ausma Malik, Josh Matlow, Chris Moise, Amber Morley, Jamaal Myers, Frances Nunziata (Chair), James Pasternak, Anthony Perruzza, Dianne Saxe, Neethan Shan |
| Total members that voted No: 5 | Members that voted No are Brad Bradford, Alejandra Bravo, Stephen Holyday, Gord Perks, Michael Thompson |
| Total members that were Absent: 2 | Members that were absent are Mike Colle, Nick Mantas |
Vote (Adopt Item as Amended) Oct-09-2025 2:43 PM
| Result: Carried | Majority Required - CC33.1 - Adopt the item as amended |
|---|---|
| Total members that voted Yes: 23 | Members that voted Yes are Paul Ainslie, Brad Bradford, Alejandra Bravo, Jon Burnside, Shelley Carroll, Lily Cheng, Rachel Chernos Lin, Olivia Chow, Vincent Crisanti, Paula Fletcher, Parthi Kandavel, Ausma Malik, Josh Matlow, Chris Moise, Amber Morley, Jamaal Myers, Frances Nunziata (Chair), James Pasternak, Gord Perks, Anthony Perruzza, Dianne Saxe, Neethan Shan, Michael Thompson |
| Total members that voted No: 1 | Members that voted No are Stephen Holyday |
| Total members that were Absent: 2 | Members that were absent are Mike Colle, Nick Mantas |
Following her questions of Councillor Bradford to clarify his motions, Councillor Bravo, rising on a Point of Privilege, stated that her questions were not misaligned with the other Councillors who asked similar questions and if they are perceived as attacks, she thinks that has more to do with the person receiving it. Councillor Bravo further stated that she doesn’t think it’s very collegial to say that she has been very bad at a particular approach, as it is not only her right to speak in Council, but also her duty.
Councillor Perks, rising on a Point of Privilege stated that he is very concerned about the double standard in the Chamber, where some Members are called to order during their questions by the Chair, and other Members are not. Councillor Perks further stated that he doesn’t see why Councillor Bravo asking for statistical information that informed Councillor Bradford’s motion is different than Councillor Holyday asking for the same statistical information.