Item - 2025.EX28.27

The Executive Committee recommends that:

1. City Council receive the Ontario’s Big City Mayors Caucus (OBCM) meeting update to Council - Thunder Bay, October 17, 2025 outlined in the letter (November 20, 2025) from Councillor Paul Ainslie for information. 

I am writing to inform you that I attended the Ontario’s Big City Mayors (OBCM) Caucus meeting in Thunder Bay on October 17, 2025, on behalf of Mayor Olivia Chow. This gathering brought together mayors and representatives from Ontario’s largest municipalities to discuss shared priorities and advocate for solutions to pressing urban challenges.

Key topics addressed included:

-Public Safety and Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE): The caucus expressed concern regarding the province’s proposed legislation to ban ASE programs. OBCM emphasized the importance of ASE in improving road safety and urged the province to adopt a balanced approach—prioritizing school zones, limiting operational hours to align with community use, and setting reasonable speed thresholds before tickets are issued.

-Housing Affordability and Infrastructure: Motions were passed calling for GST and PST exemptions for homebuyers and urging the federal government to prioritize energy delivery, transportation, and housing as part of national building projects. These measures aim to make housing more affordable and accelerate the development of complete communities.

-Homelessness Response: The caucus renewed its advocacy through the Solve the Crisis campaign and requested that the province prepare a comprehensive 2025/2026 winter homelessness response plan.
 

The meeting also included discussions with federal and provincial representatives, including the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Jobs and Families MP for Thunder Bay-Superior North, and the Honourable Kevin Holland, Associate Minister of Forestry and Forest Products, MPP for Thunder Bay-Atikokan. Thunder Bay Police Services Chief Darcy Fleury, also spoke on measures to deal with youth violence and homelessness. Following the session, attendees toured the City of Thunder Bay and Kakabeka Falls.

Ontario’s Big City Mayors collectively represent nearly 70% of Ontario’s population and play a critical role in advancing policies that support safer, more affordable, and more livable communities. Our participation ensures Toronto’s voice remains strong in these conversations.