Item - 2025.IE22.2
Tracking Status
- City Council adopted this item on June 25 and 26, 2025 with amendments.
- This item was considered by Infrastructure and Environment Committee on June 11, 2025 and was adopted with amendments. It will be considered by City Council on June 25 and 26, 2025.
IE22.2 - A Strategic Parking Framework for the City of Toronto
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Amended
- Wards:
- All
City Council Decision
City Council on June 25 and 26, 2025, adopted the following:
1. City Council approve the Strategic Parking Framework in Attachment 1 to the report (May 28, 2025) from the General Manager, Transportation Services, as amended by Parts 2 and 3 below.
2. City Council delete Policy Action - F1.2, to "Consider delegation of certain decision making authorities to PAC" from the Strategic Parking Framework in Attachment 1 to the report (May 28, 2025) from the General Manager, Transportation Services.
3. City Council delete Policy Action C2.1, to "Introduce rates to all City-owned off-street parking lots that currently provide free public parking, including parks, community centres, libraries, and arenas," from the Strategic Parking Framework in Attachment 1 to the report (May 28, 2025) from the General Manager, Transportation Services.
4. City Council direct the General Manager, Transportation Services, in consultation with the President, Toronto Parking Authority, relevant Business Improvement Areas and other local stakeholders, to develop a pilot project on improved parking signage and report back to the Infrastructure and Environment Committee by the fourth quarter of 2025 with design options and recommendations to implement the pilot project.
5. City Council request the General Manager, Transportation Services to work with the Toronto Police Service and the Toronto Parking Authority to develop additional options for temporary visitor parking permits in areas that already allow permit parking, including proof of payment options which do not require printing, and report by fourth quarter of 2025 on this work.
6. City Council request the General Manager, Transportation Services, in collaboration with the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning and the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, to work with Toronto Parking Authority to determine how to create City parking capacity in new areas of density to support economic development and visitors and, in consultation with local councillors, identify areas where it is needed with a report back to the Infrastructure and Environment Committee by the third quarter of 2026.
7. City Council request the General Manager, Transportation Services to:
a. implement additional accessible parking spaces by:
i. integrating accessible parking considerations into all analyses and decision-making related to the provision, removal, or reconfiguration of on-street parking spaces; and
ii. establishing guidelines to create a standardized minimum threshold - either a fixed number or percentage - of accessible parking spaces to be provided within any curbside parking zone;
b. present the guidelines to the Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee at its December 11, 2025 meeting.
8. City Council request the Toronto Police Service Board to consider marked improvements to enforcement of parking, stopping and standing by-law, especially those that contribute to Vision Zero and to consider providing that information to City Council through a report to Infrastructure and Environment Committee by the first quarter of 2026.
9. City Council request the Toronto Police Service Board to establish a consistent policy that provides a grace period on religious holidays for vehicles parking near relevant religious institutions during and around religious services.
10. City Council request the Toronto Parking Authority board to request the President, Toronto Parking Authority, in consultation with the Director, Equity and Human Rights, to report in the first quarter of 2026 on the feasibility of extending free parking at other times of religious significance in addition to Sunday mornings.
11. City Council request the Parking Advisory Committee (PAC), which is composed of divisions and agencies who manage parking portfolios, to work with local Business Improvement Areas and/or local councillors to develop solutions to address parking needs and concerns.
Background Information (Committee)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2025/ie/bgrd/backgroundfile-255806.pdf
Background Information (City Council)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2025/cc/bgrd/backgroundfile-256799.pdf
Communications (Committee)
(June 8, 2025) E-mail from Ionya Burton (IE.Supp)
(June 9, 2025) E-mail from Owen N Robinson (IE.Supp)
(June 9, 2025) E-mail from Margaret G (IE.Supp)
(June 9, 2025) E-mail from Julie Danielson (IE.Supp)
(June 9, 2025) E-mail from Armin Ale (IE.Supp)
(June 9, 2025) E-mail from Catherine Oliver (IE.Supp)
(June 9, 2025) E-mail from John Paul S (IE.Supp)
(June 10, 2025) E-mail from Kyle Laskowski (IE.Supp)
(June 10, 2025) Letter from Ian Klesmer, Director of Clean Transportation, The Atmospheric Fund (IE.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2025/ie/comm/communicationfile-192444.pdf
(June 10, 2025) E-mail from Thaddeus W. Sherlock (IE.Supp)
(June 11, 2025) E-mail from Nicole Corrado (IE.Supp)
Motions (City Council)
That:
1. City Council direct the General Manager, Transportation Services, in consultation with the President, Toronto Parking Authority, relevant Business Improvement Areas and other local stakeholders, to develop a pilot project on improved parking signage and report back to the Infrastructure and Environment Committee by the fourth quarter of 2025 with design options and recommendations to implement the pilot project.
2. City Council request the General Manager, Transportation Services to work with the Toronto Police Service and the Toronto Parking Authority to develop additional options for temporary visitor parking permits in areas that already allow permit parking, including proof of payment options which do not require printing, and report by fourth quarter of 2025 on this work.
That:
1. City Council request the General Manager, Transportation Services, in collaboration with the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning and the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, to work with Toronto Parking Authority to determine how to create city parking capacity in new areas of density to support economic development and visitors and, in consultation with local councillors, identify areas where it is needed with a report back to the Infrastructure and Environment Committee by the third quarter of 2026.
That:
1. City Council direct the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning and the Executive Director, Development Review to review and coordinate the City’s parking provision standards for new development to ensure alignment with area-based needs and reflective of supply and demand data, and the City’s parking strategy.
Vote (Amend Item (Additional)) Jun-26-2025 6:42 PM
| Result: Lost | Majority Required - IE22.2 - Holyday - motion 3a |
|---|---|
| Total members that voted Yes: 7 | Members that voted Yes are Lily Cheng, Vincent Crisanti, Stephen Holyday, Ausma Malik, Amber Morley, Frances Nunziata (Chair), James Pasternak |
| Total members that voted No: 9 | Members that voted No are Alejandra Bravo, Jon Burnside, Shelley Carroll, Olivia Chow, Paula Fletcher, Josh Matlow, Jamaal Myers, Gord Perks, Michael Thompson |
| Total members that were Absent: 9 | Members that were absent are Paul Ainslie, Brad Bradford, Rachel Chernos Lin, Mike Colle, Parthi Kandavel, Nick Mantas, Chris Moise, Anthony Perruzza, Dianne Saxe |
That:
1. City Council affirm that the absence or provision of on-street parking is a defining characteristic of individual neighbourhoods and a factor in the design of streets and their maintenance.
Vote (Amend Item (Additional)) Jun-26-2025 6:43 PM
| Result: Lost | Majority Required - IE22.2 - Holyday - motion 3b |
|---|---|
| Total members that voted Yes: 9 | Members that voted Yes are Paul Ainslie, Jon Burnside, Lily Cheng, Rachel Chernos Lin, Vincent Crisanti, Stephen Holyday, Nick Mantas, Jamaal Myers, James Pasternak |
| Total members that voted No: 11 | Members that voted No are Alejandra Bravo, Shelley Carroll, Olivia Chow, Paula Fletcher, Ausma Malik, Josh Matlow, Chris Moise, Amber Morley, Frances Nunziata (Chair), Gord Perks, Michael Thompson |
| Total members that were Absent: 5 | Members that were absent are Brad Bradford, Mike Colle, Parthi Kandavel, Anthony Perruzza, Dianne Saxe |
That:
1. City Council direct that the parking strategy will be used to reduce barriers to access public amenities, including civic centres, libraries, recreation and community centres, arenas, parks and arts and culture facilities.
That:
1. City Council affirm that the availability of parking is of critical importance to businesses, and to residents, affecting employment opportunities, and quality of life to all, including seniors and families.
Vote (Amend Item (Additional)) Jun-26-2025 6:48 PM
| Result: Lost | Majority Required - IE22.2 - Holyday - motion 3d |
|---|---|
| Total members that voted Yes: 9 | Members that voted Yes are Paul Ainslie, Lily Cheng, Vincent Crisanti, Stephen Holyday, Jamaal Myers, Frances Nunziata (Chair), James Pasternak, Anthony Perruzza, Michael Thompson |
| Total members that voted No: 12 | Members that voted No are Alejandra Bravo, Jon Burnside, Shelley Carroll, Rachel Chernos Lin, Olivia Chow, Paula Fletcher, Ausma Malik, Nick Mantas, Josh Matlow, Chris Moise, Amber Morley, Gord Perks |
| Total members that were Absent: 4 | Members that were absent are Brad Bradford, Mike Colle, Parthi Kandavel, Dianne Saxe |
That:
1. City Council recognize that the availability of parking is linked to the cost of living and the cost of doing business, and to productivity.
Vote (Amend Item (Additional)) Jun-26-2025 6:49 PM
| Result: Lost | Majority Required - IE22.2 - Holyday - motion 3e |
|---|---|
| Total members that voted Yes: 9 | Members that voted Yes are Paul Ainslie, Lily Cheng, Vincent Crisanti, Stephen Holyday, Nick Mantas, Jamaal Myers, Frances Nunziata (Chair), James Pasternak, Anthony Perruzza |
| Total members that voted No: 12 | Members that voted No are Alejandra Bravo, Jon Burnside, Shelley Carroll, Rachel Chernos Lin, Olivia Chow, Paula Fletcher, Ausma Malik, Josh Matlow, Chris Moise, Amber Morley, Gord Perks, Michael Thompson |
| Total members that were Absent: 4 | Members that were absent are Brad Bradford, Mike Colle, Parthi Kandavel, Dianne Saxe |
That:
1. City Council delete Policy Action C2.1 from the Strategic Parking Framework in Attachment 1 to the report (May 28, 2025) from the General Manager, Transportation Services.
Policy Action to be deleted:
Introduce rates to all City-owned off-street parking lots that currently provide free public parking, including parks, community centres, libraries, and arenas.
That:
1. City Council request the Toronto Police Service Board to establish a consistent policy that provides a grace period on religious holidays for vehicles parking near relevant religious institutions during and around religious services.
2. City Council request the Toronto Parking Authority board to request the President, Toronto Parking Authority, in consultation with the the Director, Equity and Human Rights, to report in the first quarter of 2026 on the feasibility of extending free parking at other times of religious significance in addition to Sunday mornings.
That City Council adopt the following recommendation in the transmittal (June 23, 2025) from the Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee [IE22.2a]:
1. City Council request the General Manager, Transportation Services to:
a. implement additional accessible parking spaces by:
i. integrating accessible parking considerations into all analyses and decision-making related to the provision, removal, or reconfiguration of on-street parking spaces; and
ii. establishing guidelines to create a standardized minimum threshold - either a fixed number or percentage—of accessible parking spaces to be provided within any curbside parking zone.
b. present the guidelines to the Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee at its December 11, 2025 meeting.
Vote (Adopt Item as Amended) Jun-26-2025 6:51 PM
| Result: Carried | Majority Required - IE22.2 - Adopt the item as amended |
|---|---|
| Total members that voted Yes: 19 | Members that voted Yes are Paul Ainslie, Alejandra Bravo, Jon Burnside, Shelley Carroll, Lily Cheng, Rachel Chernos Lin, Olivia Chow, Vincent Crisanti, Paula Fletcher, Ausma Malik, Nick Mantas, Josh Matlow, Chris Moise, Amber Morley, Jamaal Myers, Frances Nunziata (Chair), James Pasternak, Gord Perks, Michael Thompson |
| Total members that voted No: 2 | Members that voted No are Stephen Holyday, Anthony Perruzza |
| Total members that were Absent: 4 | Members that were absent are Brad Bradford, Mike Colle, Parthi Kandavel, Dianne Saxe |
Councillor Holyday, rising on a Point of Order, stated that he would challenge the ruling of the Chair on the basis that Councillor Fletcher’s motion 4a pointed to existing parking facilities that are free, and his motion refers to all facilities, and those are two different things.
Councillor Perks, rising on a Point of Order, stated that his reading of motion 3d by Councillor Holyday is that it contradicts various sections of the City’s Official Plan and, given that Council has not given public notice to consider an amendment to the Official Plan, he would ask the Speaker to rule the motion out of order.
Rulings (City Council)
Challenged by Councillor Stephen Holyday
Vote Jun-25-2025
| Result: Carried | Majority Required - IE22.2 - Uphold the Chair - Holyday challenge |
|---|---|
| Total members that voted Yes: 16 | Members that voted Yes are Paul Ainslie, Jon Burnside, Shelley Carroll, Lily Cheng, Rachel Chernos Lin, Olivia Chow, Paula Fletcher, Ausma Malik, Nick Mantas, Josh Matlow, Chris Moise, Amber Morley, Frances Nunziata (Chair), James Pasternak, Gord Perks, Michael Thompson |
| Total members that voted No: 5 | Members that voted No are Alejandra Bravo, Vincent Crisanti, Stephen Holyday, Jamaal Myers, Anthony Perruzza |
| Total members that were Absent: 4 | Members that were absent are Brad Bradford, Mike Colle, Parthi Kandavel, Dianne Saxe |
IE22.2 - A Strategic Parking Framework for the City of Toronto
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Amended
- Wards:
- All
Committee Recommendations
The Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommends that:
1. City Council approve the Strategic Parking Framework discussed in the report (May 28, 2025) from the General Manager, Transportation Services, and summarized in Attachment 1 to the report (May 28, 2025) from the General Manager, Transportation Services.
2. City Council delete Policy - Actions - F1.2 titled "Consider delegation of certain decision making authorities to PAC" from the Strategic Parking Framework in Attachment 1 to the report (May 28, 2025) from the General Manager, Transportation Services.
3. City Council request the Toronto Police Service Board to consider marked improvements to enforcement of parking, stopping and standing by-law, especially those that contribute to Vision Zero and to consider providing that information to City Council through a report to Infrastructure and Environment Committee by the first quarter of 2026.
4. City Council request the the Parking Advisory Committee (PAC), which is comprised of divisions and agencies who manage parking portfolios, work with local Business Improvement Areas and / or local councillors to develop solutions to address parking needs and concerns.
Origin
Summary
At its meeting of April 6 and 7, 2022, City Council approved the staff report titled, “Developing a Parking Strategy for Toronto” which recognized the need for a strategic approach to guide and support future parking related decisions at the City.
While many policies and regulations have been developed over time, there has not been an overall guiding direction on how to manage parking, its potential role in city-building and how all the various divisions and agencies should work together.
Transportation Services initiated the development of the city-wide Strategic Parking Framework in early 2023. The advancement of this Framework is a collective effort between several City partners that have mandates requiring innovation related to Toronto's parking systems and infrastructure. Managing parking effectively is an essential element to succeed in executing major city building objectives including achieving our net zero greenhouse gas emissions, land use planning and traffic congestion management goals. Parking also has a critical role to play in supporting people's needs, the City's vibrancy and commitment to the growth and commercial viability of key industries and businesses.
This report provides an overview and recommends a Strategic Parking Framework that consists of an interconnected set of policy directions and a program of actions to ensure that the City can effectively manage the complexity of the parking system now and into the future as Toronto grows, develops and evolves. The Framework identifies a series of ‘Big Moves’, associated policies and specific implementation initiatives required over the short, medium and long term to better align the value of the public right of way and city property with other critical city building goals.
In developing the Strategic Parking Framework, a study was undertaken which included a review of parking policies currently in place, best practice research from other jurisdictions, the governance of parking programs and numerous direct engagement sessions with many internal and external interest groups. These activities laid the foundation for the Framework which proposes six (6) ‘Big Moves’, twelve (12) policies and forty-four (44) associated actions.
Although the Strategic Parking Framework addresses many parking issues it does not cover elements associated with residential parking programs like permit parking, front yard parking and the use of accessible parking permits. Transportation Services recognizes that these issues are controversial within many city neighbourhoods, with longstanding practices and that is why a more comprehensive work program will be undertaken to review and advise on refinements to the residential parking programs through a separate report coming to Council in early 2027. With respect to accessible parking permits, work to address concerns relating to the enforcement and use of accessible parking permits will begin shortly, with a report coming to Council in late 2025.
Background Information
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2025/ie/bgrd/backgroundfile-255806.pdf
Communications
(June 8, 2025) E-mail from Ionya Burton (IE.Supp)
(June 9, 2025) E-mail from Owen N Robinson (IE.Supp)
(June 9, 2025) E-mail from Margaret G (IE.Supp)
(June 9, 2025) E-mail from Julie Danielson (IE.Supp)
(June 9, 2025) E-mail from Armin Ale (IE.Supp)
(June 9, 2025) E-mail from Catherine Oliver (IE.Supp)
(June 9, 2025) E-mail from John Paul S (IE.Supp)
(June 10, 2025) E-mail from Kyle Laskowski (IE.Supp)
(June 10, 2025) Letter from Ian Klesmer, Director of Clean Transportation, The Atmospheric Fund (IE.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2025/ie/comm/communicationfile-192444.pdf
(June 10, 2025) E-mail from Thaddeus W. Sherlock (IE.Supp)
(June 11, 2025) E-mail from Nicole Corrado (IE.Supp)
Motions
That the Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommends that:
1. City Council request the Toronto Police Service Board to consider marked improvements to enforcement of parking, stopping and standing by-law, especially those that contribute to Vision Zero and to consider providing that information to City Council through a report to Infrastructure and Environment Committee by the first quarter of 2026.
That the Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommends that:
1. City Council request the the Parking Advisory Committee (PAC), which is comprised of divisions and agencies who manage parking portfolios, work with local Business Improvement Areas and / or local councillors to develop solutions to address parking needs and concerns.
That Infrastructure and Environment Committee:
1. Delete Recommendation 2 in the report (May 28, 2025) from the General Manager, Transportation Services.
Recommendation to be deleted
2. City Council request the Board of Directors of Toronto Parking Authority to request the President, Toronto Parking Authority to work with Toronto Police Service, to undertake a feasibility review and report back in 2026 on a plan to transfer the management of certain on-street parking enforcement programs from the Toronto Police Service’s Parking Enforcement operations to the Toronto Parking Authority.
Vote (Amend Item) Jun-11-2025
| Result: Carried | Majority Required - Adopt Motion 3a by Councillor Fletcher |
|---|---|
| Total members that voted Yes: 4 | Members that voted Yes are Rachel Chernos Lin, Mike Colle, Paula Fletcher (Chair), Amber Morley |
| Total members that voted No: 1 | Members that voted No are Dianne Saxe |
| Total members that were Absent: 2 | Members that were absent are James Pasternak, Anthony Perruzza |
That Infrastructure and Environment Committee:
1. Delete part F1.2 titled "Consider delegation of certain decision making authorities to PAC" from the Strategic Parking Framework in Appendix 1, attached to the staff report.