Minutes Confirmed on July 10, 2025

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommends that:  

1. City Council direct the General Manager, Transportation Services to report back to Infrastructure and Environment Committee no later than the Fourth Quarter of 2026 on the findings from Magna's pilot, and lessons learned for the City regarding operation of automated vehicles in Toronto and specifically their use for delivery of goods. 

2. City Council direct the City Manager to request the advice of the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada on whether it is acceptable and consistent with federal privacy legislation for a for-profit corporation to record the faces of individuals on a public street, without their knowledge or consent, and to send those images to the United States for indefinite storage, analysis and manipulation for its own benefit and report back on the results of this request at the September 26, 2025 meeting of Infrastructure and Environment Committee.

3. City Council direct the City Manager to request the advice of the Ontario Information and Privacy Commissioner on whether it is acceptable and consistent with Ontario for a for-profit corporation to record the faces of individuals on a public street, without their knowledge or consent, and to send those images to the United States for indefinite storage, analysis and manipulation for its own benefit and report back on the results of this request at the September 26, 2025 meeting of Infrastructure and Environment Committee.

4. City Council direct the City Manager to write to the Premier of Ontario and the Minister of Transportation of Ontario to object to the privacy, safety and congestion risks created by the secret permit their government has granted allowing autonomous vehicles to operate on the streets of Toronto without the consent of the city and without appropriate privacy, safety and congestion precautions and report back on the results of this request at the September 26, 2025 meeting of Infrastructure and Environment Committee.

5. City Council direct that the confidential information contained in Confidential Attachments 1, 2, 3 and 4 to the supplementary report (May 28, 2025) from the General Manager, Transportation Services, remain confidential in their entirety, as they contain information provided in Confidence by the Province of Ontario.

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee recessed its public session to meet in closed session to consider this Item as it pertains to information explicitly supplied in confidence to the City of Toronto Transportation Services Division by the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario.

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee:

1. Requested the City Manager to report to the September 26, 2025 meeting of the Infrastructure and Environment Committee with answers to the following questions with respect to Automated Vehicle Pilot Deployment in Toronto Under the Highway Traffic Act:

a. What type of data is being collected;

b. Who has access to this data;

c. Where is this data being stored;

d. Can or will this data cross the border into the United States;

e. Can Magna entities within the United States view the data;

f. Would Magna entities be required to provide data to United States or Canadian law enforcement if requested;

g. Will facial recognition data be shared with law enforcement;

h. Can future agreements change the nature of how the data is collected, stored, transmitted, and used;

i. Are there any mechanisms for individuals, including those who cannot provide consent, such as children, to opt-out or request that their records be deleted;

j. Are there ways to ensure that data can be destroyed if no consent was given;

k. Can the terms and conditions of data management be changed, and if so, by whom; and,

l. Does the City’s Digital Infrastructure Strategic Framework govern the collection and use of this data and if not, what can the City do when third parties want to harvest data in the public realm.

2. Directed that the General Manager, Transportation Services, in consultation with the City Solicitor, to report directly to the June 25, 26 and 27, 2025 meeting of City Council with information on how a Toronto resident could make a complaint to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada with respect to this matter.

The Ministry of Transportation Ontario has notified Magna International Inc. that their application into Ontario’s Automated Vehicle Pilot Program has been approved, allowing Magna to conduct testing of automated last-mile delivery vehicles on Toronto's streets. This pilot is governed by Ontario Regulation 306/15 under the Highway Traffic Act. The City of Toronto has no regulatory authority over this pilot, however Ministry of Transportation Ontario invited City staff to review Magna's application materials and discuss details with their team. At Ministry of Transportation Ontario's request, City staff submitted comments to help inform Ministry of Transportation Ontario’s decision-making regarding Magna's pilot license application. Staff comments did not offer an opinion on the capability of this vehicle's automated navigation but focused on operational-side measures to enhance safety and ensure the City’s opportunity to learn from the pilot.

Magna's pilot will deploy driverless, three-wheeled automated vehicles to deliver small packages in an area including all of Ward 9 and portions of each of Wards 4, 5, 11 and 12. Each vehicle will have constant human oversight from a 'chase vehicle' with a supervisor capable of immediate intervention, as well as a remote human operator who can assume control during complex scenarios. Important safety measures include maximum speed of 32 kilometres per hour, travelling only on roads with a posted limit of 40 kilometres per hour or less, no use of left turns, and adherence to internationally recognized cybersecurity and privacy standards. Magna's pilot will begin in the second quarter of 2025 with a small number of vehicles operating on the city’s streets; further Ministry of Transportation Ontario approval will be required prior to allowing more vehicles. Magna envisions up to 20 vehicles during this pilot.

Automated vehicle deployments for ridesharing, taxi services, deliveries, and long-haul trucking have steadily increased, predominantly in United States' states such as California, Arizona, Florida and other locations that experience less snow and rain than Ontario. This Magna pilot represents an opportunity for the Province, the operator and the City to gain insights into automated vehicle technology and operations within Toronto's unique urban environment.

Magna International Inc. and its affiliate New Mobility Canada Delivery Systems Inc. have received approval from the Ministry of Transportation, Ontario, to deploy two automated low-speed vehicles in a pre-defined area of Toronto, in accordance with O.Reg 306/15, Pilot Project - Automated Vehicles. The City of Toronto has no regulatory authority over this pilot, however Ministry of Transportation of Ontario invited City staff to review Magna’s application materials and discuss details with their team.  At Ministry of Transportation of Ontario’s request, City staff submitted comments to help inform Ministry of Transportation of Ontario’s decision-making regarding Magna’s pilot license application.  Further details are provided in 2025.IE21.7.

At the May 7, 2025 Infrastructure and Environment Committee meeting, Infrastructure and Environment Committee members requested further information about the conditions of this approval and related communications between City staff and the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario. The Ministry of Transportation of Ontario has requested that this correspondence be treated as confidential. The correspondence is included as four confidential attachments to this report.

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.

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.

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee:

1. Deferred Item IE22.3 - Revised Free-Floating Car-Share Program, and directed the General Manager, Transportation Service, to report to the September 26, 2025 Infrastructure and Environment Committee meeting on the findings of the consultations including any possible solutions for identified high-demand areas that have taken place as part of the forthcoming supplementary report on the Revised Free-Floating Car-Share policy.

City Council on June 26 and 27, 2024, referred Item IE13.4 to the Infrastructure and Environment Committee for further consideration with the Parking Strategy in the first quarter of 2025, and requested the General Manager, Transportation Services, in consultation with other appropriate City Divisions, to report on the following:

a. the impact of allowing an expanded free-floating car-share program outside of permit parking areas / streets in the development of the Parking Strategy;

b. the impact of allowing an expanded free-floating car-share program outside of permit parking areas / streets on winter maintenance operations;

c. the possibility to continue to enforce parking regulations when car-share vehicles are in use;

d. the options for free-floating car-share vehicles dropping off and picking up off-street parking arrangements, rather than solely in public locations designated for permit parking under Municipal Code Chapter 925; and 

e. the development of a communications strategy on the expansion of the free-floating car-share program outside of permit parking area / streets.

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommends that:

1. City Council adopt the following policies as detailed in Attachment 2 to the report (May 29, 2025) from the General Manager, Transportation Services:

a. Pedestrian Crossing Protection Device Justification Policy; and

b. Traffic Control Signal Justification Policy.

2. City Council authorize the installation of a traffic control signal at the following locations with existing pedestrian crossovers:

a. Dundas Street East and Bond Street;

b. Dundas Street East and George Street;

c. Dundas Street East and Pembroke Street;

d. King Street East and Ontario Street;

e. King Street East and Sackville Street;

f. Queen Street East and Ontario Street;

g. Bayview Avenue and Parkhurst Boulevard / Soudan Avenue;

h. Beecroft Road and a point 165 metres south of Park Home Avenue;

i. Warden Avenue a point approximately 396 metres north of Firvalley Court;

j. Weston Road and Oxford Drive;

k. Weston Road and Clouston Avenue;

l. York Mills Road and Birchwood Avenue;

m. Parliament Street and Oak Street; and

n. Sherbourne Street and Earl Street.

3. Subject to approval of Recommendation 2 above, City Council authorize removal of the existing pedestrian crossovers at the listed locations in conjunction with the installation of traffic control signals.

4. City Council authorize the installation of a traffic control signal at the intersection of Bayview Avenue and Sutherland Drive.

5. City Council approve the changes to the City of Toronto Road Classification Criteria as detailed in Attachment 4 to the report (May 29, 2025) from the General Manager, Transportation Services.

6. City Council rescind the Community Safety Zone designations and / or designate the Community Safety Zones and authorize the amendments to Schedule XXXIII to City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 950, Traffic and Parking, generally as set out in Attachment 5 to the report (May 29, 2025) from the General Manager, Transportation Services.

7. City Council reduce the speed limit from 50 kilometres per hour to 40 kilometres per hour on Forest Manor Road between Parkway Forest Drive (south intersection) and Parkway Forest Drive (north intersection).

8. City Council designate a 40 kilometres per hour speed limit on Avenue Road between Bloor Street West and Lonsdale Road.

9. City Council authorize the General Manager, Transportation Services, to re-negotiate, enter into, and execute agreements, as may be required, with Toronto District School Board and Toronto Catholic District School Board, to receive funding in the amount of $320,000CAD annually for three years, from the Transportation Services operating budget, to continue the expansion of the Active and Safe Routes to School program, on such terms and conditions satisfactory to the General Manager, Transportation Services and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor.

10. City Council authorize the General Manager, Transportation Services, to re-negotiate, enter into, and execute agreements, as may be required, with Toronto District School Board (TDSB) and Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) to amend the December 17, 2021 agreement titled FUNDING AGREEMENT FOR ACTIVE AND SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL PROGRAM in order to ensure unspent funds can be used to carry forward to future years, on such terms and conditions satisfactory to the General Manager, Transportation Services and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor.

11. City Council authorize the City Solicitor to introduce the necessary bills to give effect to City Council's decision and City Council authorize the City Solicitor to make any necessary clarifications, refinements, minor modifications, technical amendments, or by-law amendments as may be identified by the City Solicitor or the General Manager, Transportation Services in order to give effect to Parts 1 through 10, above.

12. City Council request the General Manager Transportation Services to expand the ongoing Technology Innovation Challenge for automated enforcement of by-law infractions to include automated enforcement of prohibited turn movements as part of the feasibility assessment.

13. City Council direct the General Manager, Transportation Services to present to the four Community Councils on the Crosswalk Marking Policy and the All-Way Stop Sign Control Justification Policy, and direct the General Manager, Transportation Services to report back to the Infrastructure and Environment Committee on any updates to the polices as a result of those consultations with Community Councils.

Since the Vision Zero Road Safety Plan was first adopted in 2016, the City has made great strides in implementing the core tenant of Vision Zero: the design and operation of the road system should be approached through a Safe System lens to ensure that the inevitable mistakes we all make as human beings do not result in the loss or significant alteration of anyone’s life due to potentially preventable collisions. The Vision Zero Road Safety Plan was developed through data-driven decision making and has incrementally grown over the past nine years to provide extensive, proactive, systemic, and directed initiatives targeted to ensure the City is making progress toward its commitment to Vision Zero.

The Vision Zero Road Safety Plan identifies pedestrians as vulnerable road users, exposed to a greater risk of injury in a collision and therefore in greater need of protection against such collisions. This report recommends updates to four policies that improve pedestrian safety:

-  Pedestrian Crossing Protection Device Justification Policy;

-  Traffic Control Signal Justification Policy;

-  All-Way Stop Sign Control Justification Policy; and

-  Crosswalk Marking Policy.

This report provides a status update on the creation of new guidelines intended to improve pedestrian crossing protection and recommends thirteen new traffic control signals to provide improved pedestrian crossing protection, one of which will be constructed as part of adjacent development. An overview of trends in pedestrian serious injuries and fatalities is also included in this report.

In addition, this report seeks approval from City Council on the following:

-  Minor update to the City's Road Classification Criteria;

-  Eight (8) new Community Safety Zones and updated boundaries to thirty-three (33) existing Community Safety Zones to improve safety through reduced vehicle speeds and enforced through the installation of Automated Speed Enforcement Cameras;

-  Reducing the speed limit on two roadways - Forest Manor Road and Avenue Road - to ensure consistent application of speed limits across the City of Toronto; and

-  Renewing funding to support the Active and Safe Routes to School program run by the Toronto District School Board and Toronto Catholic District School Board.

Since 2016, the Vision Zero annual budget and spend rate has increased incrementally, reflecting the demand for improved road safety and the capacity to deliver these improvements. The 2025 Council-adopted budget of $99.1 million - $31.7 million in capital and $67.4 million in operating - is the largest annual budget for the Vision Zero Road Safety Plan since inception and further demonstrates the commitment of City Council to Vision Zero and Transportation Services’ ability to deliver the varied aspects of the work.

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommends that:

1. City Council request the General Manager, Parks and Recreation, as well as other relevant Division Heads, in consultation with the City Solicitor, to:

a. update the template terms and conditions of future Parks and Recreation third-party agreements, supplier contracts, and permits which allow for vehicle access in parks, to reflect the Consolidated and Updated Guidance found in Attachment 1 to this report; and

b. develop and implement a public education campaign about the authorized use of vehicles in parks, precautions taken to protect people and park assets, and how to report a problem.

2. City Council request the General Manager, Parks and Recreation, working with the General Manager, Fleet Services, and the Executive Director, Customer Service Experience, to identify opportunities for enhanced reporting of damage caused by vehicles in parks, as part of future work on the Parks / 311 Integration.

3. City Council request the General Manager, Fleet Services, in consultation with the General Manager, Parks and Recreation to:

a. develop, by the end of the third quarter 2025, an enhanced supplementary training module on vehicle operation in parks to reflect the Consolidated and Updated Guidance found in Attachment 1 to the report (May 28, 2025) from the General Manager, Parks and Recreation and the General Manager, Fleet Services;

b. integrate the enhanced module on vehicle operations in parks into standard vehicle training and testing required of all new and incoming City fleet operators, beginning in the fourth quarter 2025;

c. deliver staff education campaign focused on vehicles in parks beginning in the fourth quarter 2025; and

d. require all current City fleet operators to complete the enhanced supplementary training module on vehicle operation in parks by first quarter 2026.

4. City Council direct the General Manager, Fleet Services Division, and the General Manager, Parks and Recreation, to report to Infrastructure and Environment Committee in the fourth quarter 2025 on implementation progress.

5. City Council direct the General Manager, Parks and Recreation, to report to the September 26, 2025 meeting of the Infrastructure and Environment Committee on:

a. the number of solid waste trucks picking up in Parks, and areas where these trucks leave the road and are on the grass; and

b. estimated costs of time and materials from the Parks and Recreation budget to repair these.

Under Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 608, Parks, vehicles are not allowed in a park except on roadways or parking areas unless authorized. Such authorization is limited to trained drivers of emergency vehicles and vehicles delivering City or agency services, as well as third parties with written permission from the City (e.g., permits, license agreements, Park Access Agreements, construction agreements, and contracts).

In response to City Council direction (2024.IE15.7), this report reviews the City's policies, procedures, and training related to the authorized use of motor vehicles outside of formal road systems in City parks with a focus on the following:

a. limiting vehicle use;

b. safe driving;

c. use of guides on foot to accompany vehicles;

d. access for emergency vehicles;

e. turf and tree protection; and

f. reducing emissions.

This report also provides a progress update on the use of alternative vehicle types for park operations and the forthcoming Parks Electrification Pilot Project.

All the materials reviewed address safety and provide basic instruction to limit unnecessary vehicle use in parks. The Fleet Safety Policy and Procedures, which apply to all City fleet operators, not including emergency services, and focuses on safe operating practices. Parks and Recreation, and Urban Forestry procedures and training reinforce these safe operating practices and in addition, provide focused guidance on the protection of turf, trees, and natural areas when operating a vehicle in a park. Up until now, this focus on protecting natural assets in parks has not been required of all City fleet operators. Toronto Police, Toronto Fire, and Toronto Paramedic Services have their own regulations, procedures, and training for vehicle operation.

Staff have drawn upon these various documents to develop updated, consolidated guidance that will apply to all authorized motor vehicle use in parks. The intention of this consolidated and updated guidance document is to ensure that everyone who is driving a vehicle in a park for an authorized purpose be subject to consistent, rigorous standards, with emphasis on safety and the protection of natural assets in parks.

This guidance will be used to update all of the policies, procedures, and training materials reviewed and will be provided to emergency services and City agencies. Future agreements with third parties will also be updated to align with the updated guidance. Additionally, going forward, informed by Parks and Recreation / Urban Forestry training materials, all City fleet operators will receive instruction in specific considerations for driving in parks.

City fleet operators who do not follow procedures may face a range of enforcement measures, as well as retraining, depending on the severity of the incidence. Issues related to third-party vehicle operation in parks are monitored and enforced in multiple ways. This would include follow up to ensure compliance through education, additional requirements for future use, and / or seeking damages.

Staff will report on implementation progress in the fourth quarter 2025.

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommends that:  

1. City Council authorize the closure of the F.G. Gardiner Expressway, eastbound lanes only, from the Humber River to the Don Valley Parkway, including all ramps, and the Don Valley Parkway, northbound lanes only, from the F.G. Gardiner Expressway to Eglinton Avenue East, including all ramps, on Sunday, July 26, 2026 from 2:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., for the 2026 Toronto Triathlon Festival event.

2. City Council prohibit other road closures due to events or film permits on arterial roads bounded by Highway 401, Warden Avenue, Lake Ontario, Humber River, Queen Street / The Queensway, and Yonge Street, on Sunday, July 26, 2026 as they will be required to accommodate overflow traffic from the expressway closures resulting from the 2026 Toronto Triathlon Festival event.

3. City Council require the organizer to pay, within 90 days of the City issuing an invoice, any costs incurred to the City to secure the work zones along the F.G. Gardiner Expressway during the F.G. Gardiner Expressway rehabilitation work.

The purpose of this report is to seek City Council's authority to close portions of the eastbound lanes on the F.G. Gardiner Expressway and northbound lanes on the Don Valley Parkway for the Toronto Triathlon Festival event on Sunday July 26, 2026. The proposed route of the 2026 Toronto Triathlon Festival event will remain the same as 2025.

In previous years, Transportation Services has recommended approval of these closures for this annual event for a three-year period. At this time, Transportation Services is recommending approval for a one-year period (2026), considering the ongoing provincially led due diligence review related to the upload of the F.G. Gardiner Expressway and Don Valley Parkway to the Province.

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommends that:

1. City Council authorize the closure of the F.G. Gardiner Expressway, from the Humber River to the Don Valley Parkway, including all ramps, and the Don Valley Parkway, from the F.G. Gardiner Expressway to York Mills Road, including all ramps, on Sunday May 31, 2026 from 2:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., for the Bike for Brain Health event.

2. City Council prohibit other road closures due to events or film permits on arterial roads bounded by Highway 401, Warden Avenue, Lake Ontario, Humber River, Queen Street / The Queensway, and Yonge Street, on Sunday May 31, 2026 as they will be required to accommodate overflow traffic from the expressway closures resulting from the Bike for Brain Health event.

3. City Council request the Toronto Transit Commission to not schedule any subway closures during the period the Bike for Brain Health event is held.

4. City Council require the organizer to pay, within 90 days of the City issuing an invoice, any costs incurred to the City to secure the work zones along the F.G. Gardiner Expressway during the F.G. Gardiner Expressway rehabilitation work.

The purpose of this report is to request City Council approval to close the F.G. Gardiner

Expressway and Don Valley Parkway on Sunday May 31, 2026 for the purpose of the Bike for Brain Health event in support of the Baycrest Foundation.

Traditionally, the event begins and ends at Exhibition Place, but due to preparations for FIFA World Cup in June 2026, the start and finish will be relocated to the Aga Khan Museum. 

In previous years, Transportation Services has recommended approval of these closures for this annual event for a three-year period. At this time, Transportation Services is recommending approval for a one-year period (2026), considering the ongoing provincially led due diligence review related to the upload of the F.G. Gardiner Expressway and Don Valley Parkway to the Province.

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee:

1. Receive the report (May 28, 2025) from the Executive Director, Environment, Climate and Forestry, for information.

This report provides a summary of the tree by-law appeal volumes, outcomes and rationale considered by Environment, Climate and Forestry following the delegation of final decision-making on all tree removal permit application appeals to Community Council under Municipal Code, Chapter 27, Council Procedures, Chapter 813 Trees and Chapter 658 Ravine and Natural Feature Protection. It also includes the total number and outcomes of tree removal permits considered between January 2024 and December 2024.

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommends that:

1. City Council receive the report (May 28, 2025) from the Executive Director, Environment, Climate and Forestry, for information.

This report provides an update on the City's progress to the end of 2024 on implementing the TransformTO Net Zero Strategy and Short-term Implementation Plan (STIP, 2022-25). Development of the Net Zero Strategy, Short-term Implementation Plan and annual updates are a City Corporate-wide effort coordinated by Environment, Climate and Forestry.

In 2021, City Council adopted the Net Zero Strategy and the ambitious climate target of net zero greenhouse gas emissions community-wide in Toronto by 2040 and asked for annual progress reports that track implementation towards achieving the net zero target.

The City of Toronto has direct control over approximately five percent of greenhouse gas emissions community-wide in Toronto and has demonstrated strong leadership in its corporate investments and operations. Addressing the remaining 95 percent of emissions will require collaborative approaches from the City, other orders of government, the private sector and individuals.

Four critical steps were identified as necessary to reach net zero (2024.IE12.3):

Step 1 - Demonstrate carbon accountability locally and globally by establishing a carbon budget: Work on this step in 2024 culminated with Toronto's first Carbon Budget in 2025. The 2025 Carbon Budget prioritized 31 new or enhanced climate projects in the City's 2025 financial budget which are projected to reduce emissions by 65,858 tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent in 2025, increasing to 244,615 tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent per year once fully implemented.

Step 2 - Accelerate rapid and significant reduction in fossil (natural) gas use in buildings: To improve affordability for homeowners, the Home Energy Loan Program supported more than 250 energy-efficient renovation projects in 2024. Several programs reduce natural gas use in commercial buildings: the Deep Retrofit Challenge, Navigation and Support Services, Green Will Initiative and the Energy Retrofit Loan. For new buildings, to date the City has certified 110 projects as meeting Tier 2 of the Toronto Green Standard, targeting higher performance and lower emissions.

Step 3 - Increase access to low carbon transportation options, including walking, biking, public transit and electric vehicles: New critical infrastructure in 2024 included 4.5 kilometres of new sidewalks and approximately 26.7 kilometres of bikeways, with an additional 25 kilometres of bikeway installations and upgrades under construction as of December 2024. To reduce emissions and improve local air quality, the Toronto Transit Commission increased its fleet of hybrid electric buses by 336 buses and added 16 battery-electric buses (e-Buses). Partnerships to expand the public Electric Vehicle charging network for private vehicles are underway.

Step 4 - Increase local renewable energy to contribute to a carbon-free grid: City and  partner projects to enable innovative energy technologies include wastewater heat recovery at Toronto Western Hospital and Exhibition Place, beneficial use of biogas and landfill gas and the first geo-exchange field installation at the Etobicoke Civic Centre Precinct. A partnership with Waterfront Toronto studied deep geothermal systems to provide zero-carbon heating for Port Lands developments, and solar energy partnerships with Toronto Hydro advanced Toronto's energy independence objectives.

In addition to the critical steps, detailed progress updates on individual implementation actions found in the Short-term Implementation Plan (2022-25), all of which provide practical actions towards achieving the four critical steps, can be found in Attachment 1.

Overall, by the end of 2024, the City continued to move forward in achieving City Council's climate goals. In some areas, the City of Toronto continues to demonstrate leadership among world municipalities, while in other areas the City moves forward but faces significant policy and implementation challenges. Key emission sources, such as fossil (natural) gas in buildings for space and water heating, and gasoline and diesel fuel use in vehicles, continue to require an expansion of approaches to reduce emissions and meet our targets.

The next Net Zero Strategy Action Plan, outlining the actions the City will take over 2026-30 as the second set of actions that move toward City Council's climate goals for Toronto, will be brought forward for City Council consideration in the fourth quarter 2025. This second set of actions will be closely aligned with the upcoming report on Building Emissions Performance Standards, which will present an implementation pathway for Building Emissions Performance Standards and supporting programs. The pathway chosen through Building Emissions Performance Standards will have the most material effect on the pace at which Toronto can move toward its climate goals.

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee:

1. Received the report (May 28, 2025) from the General Manager, Toronto Water, for information.

This report summarizes Toronto Water's administrative compliance and enforcement responsibilities and activities for 2024 under the City of Toronto's Municipal Code Chapter 681 (Sewers By-law) and Municipal Code Chapter 851 (Water Supply By-law). These by-laws are in place to ensure that the City’s distribution and collection systems are used responsibly, safeguard municipal infrastructure, protect the environment, and maintain compliance with regulatory requirements. 

Through ongoing, proactive monitoring and enforcement of the City's Water and Sewers By-laws, Toronto Water staff identify violations, collaborate with industrial customers and residents to address potential compliance issues, prevent contamination of drinking water, and support key objectives such as improved nearshore water quality and pollution prevention. These efforts have contributed to cleaner beaches, measurable reductions in pollutants, progress toward delisting Areas of Concern, and reduced regulatory risks.

In 2024, Toronto Water:

- Undertook over 2,300 compliance and enforcement activities, including the investigation of 698 pollution complaints

- Completed more than 3,100 sampling events, resulting in over 19,000 laboratory analyses

- Issued 329 Notices of Violation (327 under the Sewers By-law and 2 under the Water Supply By-law), involving 264 businesses

- Identified 9 new cross-connections and verified the resolution of 8 existing cross-connections, improving water quality at affected outfalls

- Supported legal action against 12 companies, leading to 19 convictions and $356,000 in fines

- Expanded the number of Industrial Waste Surcharge Agreements and Sanitary Discharge Agreements, recovering $19.3 million to offset the impacts of high-strength discharges on infrastructure and treatment processes

In response to feedback received at the Infrastructure and Environment Committee last year, the 2024 report aims to provide more meaningful insight into Toronto Water’s monitoring and enforcement program outcomes.

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommend that:

1. City Council request the General Manager, Transportation Services to conduct an analysis of alternative routes and detours with identification of accessible pick-up / drop-off areas in within 30 metres of the pedestrian zones to support people with disabilities who may require vehicular access, as part of the Pedestrian Streets Policy and Guidelines Development.

At its meeting on May 9, 2025, the Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee considered Item DI11.1 and made a recommendation to City Council.

Summary from the Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee:

Ryan O’Connor, Senior Project Manager, Strategic Policy and Initiatives, Transportation Services will give a presentation on Pedestrian Streets Policy And Guidelines Development -Accessibility Feedback.

Transportation Services is developing a new policy to guide the Division’s approach to responding to opportunities to pedestrianize existing streets. This initiative will establish tools and direction for staff to determine the feasibility of pedestrianizing a particular street on a seasonal or permanent basis, as well as guidelines to ensure that the design, use, and ongoing maintenance of these pedestrian spaces align with existing City objectives and standards. This presentation will update Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee members on the progress made so far and provide an opportunity to offer input before the policy is finalized in late 2025.

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee:

1. Referred this request to the City Manager for inclusion in the review of the City Winter Maintenance Operations Review.

At its meeting on May 9, 2025, the Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee considered Item DI11.4 and made a recommendation to the Infrastructure and Environment Committee.

Summary from the Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee:

The City of Toronto’s inadequate and excruciatingly slow snow removal process following February's major snowfall had a disproportionate impact on people with disabilities and left our streets and sidewalks impassable for far too long.

For people with disabilities, this failure is not just an inconvenience - it is a barrier to mobility, independence, and safety. When sidewalks remain covered in snow and ice for days, wheelchair users, seniors with mobility challenges, and those who rely on assistive devices are effectively trapped in their homes. This issue extends beyond simple delays; it represents a serious failure to provide equitable access to public spaces.

Toronto has made commitments to accessibility and inclusivity, yet every winter, the city’s inability to clear snow promptly forces many residents into isolation. It is unacceptable that in a major metropolitan city, basic accessibility needs are continuously overlooked. A more efficient, proactive, and accountable snow removal strategy that prioritizes accessibility for all residents is needed. This includes ensuring sidewalks and curb cuts are cleared promptly, holding contractors to higher performance standards, and increasing oversight on snow removal operations.

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommends that:

1. City Council direct the Confidential Attachment 2 to the report (February 14, 2025) from the President, Toronto Parking Authority remain confidential in its entirety, as it pertains to the security of property belonging to the City of Toronto. 

At its meeting on May 15, 2025, the Board of Directors of the Toronto Parking Authority considered Item PA14.11 and made recommendations to City Council.

Summary from the report (February 14, 2025) from the President, Toronto Parking Authority:

The purpose of this report is to respond to City Council’s request (IE17.5) for Toronto Parking Authority to review and consider a universal security protocol for their garages and parking lots and to provide a summary of the current security approach and assessment framework used to allocate security resources at Toronto Parking Authority facilities. This report also highlights findings from a community safety audit conducted at Car Park 150 (40 Larch Street), which the Council also requested through its adoption of IE17.5 at its meeting on November 13, 2024.

The Toronto Parking Authority is dedicated to delivering clean, safe, and efficient parking facilities that meet the needs of the customers and the communities it serves. Direct management and oversight of Toronto Parking Authority’s security program is the responsibility of the Corporate Security Section of Corporate Real Estate Management. A Service Level Agreement, executed on May 28, 2021, defines the service levels provided by Corporate Security‘s management of Toronto Parking Authority’s security program.

To maintain the highest standards of safety and security, Corporate Security and Toronto Parking Authority employ a risk-based, multi-layered security approach. This strategy addresses vulnerabilities through complementary measures, including physical security equipment, technology, data-driven analytics, trained personnel, and effective communication. By tailoring security measures to the specific risks of each facility, resources are more efficiently allocated, and threats effectively mitigated, creating a safer environment for Toronto Parking Authority customers and employees.

To further enhance safety, Corporate Security and Toronto Parking Authority collaborate with key partners to take a proactive approach to security. This includes working with the Toronto Police Service to increase police presence during high-risk periods and deploying community safety officers who address antisocial behaviour with a human-centred approach and engaging with community organizations to strengthen overall security efforts.

Since 2021, Toronto Parking Authority has increased its annual security services budget by $2.9 million (a 290 percent increase), bringing the total to $3.9 million. Additionally, Toronto Parking Authority has allocated $4.1 million for CCTV installations across seven garages and $2.7 million for enhanced vehicle and pedestrian access control systems.

Looking ahead, the Toronto Parking Authority plans to invest an additional $25.7 million over the next five years to expand access control measures. emergency communication systems and CCTV coverage, reinforcing its commitment to safety and public trust. These investments are directly aligned with the evolving post-pandemic landscape, addressing the rise in antisocial behaviour and security challenges impacting our communities.

Toronto Parking Authority is committed to a risk-based, multi-layered approach as the most effective way to deliver security services. This proven strategy aligns with Corporate Security's best practices across city divisions and agencies, ensuring a consistent and proactive approach to safety. By tailoring security measures to each location’s unique needs, we maximize resource efficiency while providing comprehensive, targeted protection - striking the right balance between adaptability and effectiveness.

Infrastructure and Environment Committee:

1. Directed the General Manager, Transportation Services, to report back to Infrastructure and Environment Committee in the First Quarter of 2026 with recommendations to create a single harmonized set of rules on which vehicles are eligible for use in all Toronto bike lanes.

The Municipal Code currently has different rules for which vehicles can use Toronto bike lanes, depending on whether the lane is classified as a "cycle track" or not. In particular, some heavy motorized vehicles that can be moved without pedaling are permitted on painted bike lanes, but are prohibited on cycle tracks.

This distinction is extremely confusing to the public and virtually impossible to enforce. It contributes to the plague of mopeds and other motorized vehicles bombing down bike lanes, which endanger the safety of all other road users. The City should have consistent rules for which vehicles can be used in all bike lanes.

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommends that:

1. City Council request the Ontario Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, and the Attorney General of Ontario, to adopt limited occupier liability legislation that protects property owners, and managers and their contractors, including municipalities, from slip and fall lawsuits, provided that they have taken all reasonable steps to follow Provincial best-management practices for salt use in controlling snow and ice.
 

2. City Council request the Ontario Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, and the Attorney General of Ontario, to work urgently with key stakeholders including the Association of Municipalities of Ontario to develop legislation, including enforceable contractor training and a single set of Provincially-endorsed standard best management practices for snow and ice management.

3. City Council direct the Deputy City Manager, Infrastructure Services to continue to minimize the use of road salt as much as possible while maintaining safety on roads, parking lots and sidewalks.

When I was the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario, I wrote a report to the Ontario Legislature, Back to Basics: Clean Water. It documented the immense damage being done in Ontario by salt pollution of freshwater, especially rivers and streams. Excess salt poisons most freshwater ecosystems, and is having a serious adverse effect on Toronto’s rivers and streams.

Road salt is designated under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act as a toxic substance because of its serious irreversible, environmental and public health damage, as well as accelerated deterioration of public and private infrastructure.

Much of the excess salt comes from heavy use by private contractors which the provincial government has refused to regulate. Private owners and contractors frequently use grossly excessive amounts of salt in the hope of protecting themselves from occupier liability slip and fall lawsuits.

Toronto is doing the best we can to minimize over salting and salt pollution in our city, but we lack the policy and regulatory tools to reduce excess salt used by private contractors. The provincial government should adopt a single set of provincially endorsed best management practices, require salt-smart training of private contractors who applies salt as part of their business, and legislation that limits the liability of those who adhere to the provincially endorsed standards.

The Ontario Salt Pollution Coalition has therefore requested a resolution from our City calling for provincial action on salt pollution. So far, such resolutions have been passed by Muskoka, Georgina, Waterloo, Malahide, Sudbury, North Perth, and Whitchurch-Stouffville.

Announcements

The Chair acknowledged that the Infrastructure and Environment Committee was meeting on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. The Chair also acknowledged that Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 with the Mississaugas of the Credit.

Where the Members of the Infrastructure and Environment Committee listed in the attendance for this meeting participated remotely, they were counted for quorum as permitted by Section 189(4.2) of the City of Toronto Act, 2006, and City Council's Procedures.

Confidential Attachment - Minutes of Closed Session