Item - 2026.IA39.1

Councillor Chris Moise, Ward 13, Toronto Centre, has submitted the following Administrative Inquiry:

I am submitting this Administrative Inquiry under Municipal Code S27-7.11 for the March 25, 2026 meeting of City Council to request a public update on the delays and costs associated with the lease and redevelopment of 233 Carlton Street as the future drop-in site for the Adelaide Resource Centre for Women.

The City of Toronto entered into a lease agreement with 1622774 Ontario Ltd., the owner of 233 Carlton Street, in January 2020 - prior to my taking office. The principals of 1622774 Ontario Ltd. have well-documented ties to WE Charity, an organization that came under significant public scrutiny in the summer of 2020. The selected location was already controversial among local residents and businesses, and the association with WE Charity has further heightened public and community scrutiny of this project.

Since January 2020, the site has not opened or served a single client from the Adelaide Resource Centre for Women. This raises substantial questions about the site selection process, and whether the leasing and construction costs incurred to date are justified given the absence of any service delivery.

In the interest of transparency and public accountability, I am requesting responses to the following questions from the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management, and the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat, in consultation with any other divisions or agencies bearing responsibility for this matter:

1. What are the roles and responsibilities of all parties involved in the 223 Carlton Street project?

2. How were site selection and property‑related decisions made for 223 Carlton Street, and what were the alternatives?

a. Was purchasing the building outright an option?

b. Is the City able to purchase and/or expropriate the building?

c. Please provide a complete list of other locations that were being considered for this purpose.

d. Did 233 Carlton meet all of the City’s drop-in requirements, if not, which requirements were met and which were not met?

e. Did any of the other locations explored meet any of the City’s drop-in requirements, if so which ones?

3. What was the total original budget for the 223 Carlton Street project and what is the current total estimated budget as of March 2026, broken down by category?

4. Are there outside forces, such as a global pandemic or economic tariffs, that have contributed to the escalation of costs, and what has been the estimated impact on the 223 Carlton Street project?

5. When were City Staff first made aware that the budget for the 223 Carlton Street project was increasing and at what other times were staff made aware of the increasing project budget?

a. What was the total estimated budget in Q1 2021?

b. What was the total estimated budget in Q1 2023?

c. What was the total estimated budget in Q1 2025?

6. How and when were project updates - such as delays, cost increases, and construction complications - communicated to City Council and the community?

7. What considerations should be made in future projects of similar type to ensure best use of City funds and clear and timely communication to City Council and the public?

8. When will the relocated women’s resource centre drop-in open? Is partial occupancy possible at an earlier date?