Item - 2025.MM33.39

Mayor Olivia Chow, seconded by Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik, recommends that:

1. City Council appoint Councillor Neethan Shan to the Economic and Community Development Committee, effective immediately, for a term of office ending on November 14, 2026, and until a successor is appointed.

2. City Council appoint Councillor Neethan Shan to the Toronto Zoo Board of Management, effective immediately, for a term of office ending on November 14, 2026, and until a successor is appointed.

3. City Council appoint Councillor Paul Ainslie as Chair of the Toronto Zoo Board of Management, effective immediately, for a term of office ending on November 14, 2026, and until a successor is appointed.

Councillor Neethan Shan was elected to the office of Councillor for Ward 25, Scarborough—Rouge Park in a by-election held on September 29, 2025.

As Councillor Shan does not have an appointment to a Standing Committee, this motion recommends he be appointed to the Economic & Community Development Committee until the end of this term.

Furthermore, this Motion recommends that Councillor Shan be appointed to the Toronto Zoo Board of Management, filling the vacancy created by the election of the former Councillor for Scarborough—Rouge Park to the House of Commons.

In addition, this Motion recommends that Deputy Mayor Paul Ainslie be appointed as Chair of the Toronto Zoo Board of Management, a vacancy also created by the election of the former Councillor for Scarborough—Rouge Park to the House of Commons.

This matter is urgent as it allows the Member of Council to assume his duties as soon as possible, and ensures compliance with § 27-16.2. D(2) of Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 27. It also fills a vacancy in the office of Chair of the Toronto Zoo Board of Management in time for their next Board meeting, which falls before the next meeting of City Council.