Agenda

This meeting of the Infrastructure and Environment Committee will be conducted with members participating in person and remotely.  

Members of Council, City Officials, and members of the public who register to speak will be provided with the video conference details closer to the meeting date.

To provide comments or make a presentation to the Infrastructure and Environment Committee:

The public may submit written comments or register to speak to the Committee on any item on the agenda. The public may speak to the Committee in person or by video conference.

Written comments may be submitted by writing to iec@toronto.ca.

To speak to the Committee, please register by e-mail to iec@toronto.ca or by phone at 416-392-4666. Members of the public who register to speak will be provided with instructions on how to participate in the meeting. 

Special Assistance for Members of the Public: City staff can arrange for special assistance with some advance notice. If you need special assistance, please call 416-392-4666, TTY 416-338-0889 or e-mail iec@toronto.ca.

Closed Meeting Requirements: If the Infrastructure and Environment Committee wants to meet in closed session (privately), a member of the Committee must make a motion to do so and give the reason why the Committee has to meet privately (City of Toronto Act, 2006).

Notice to People Writing or Making Presentations to the Infrastructure and Environment Committee: The City of Toronto Act, 2006 and the City of Toronto Municipal Code authorize the City of Toronto to collect any personal information in your communication or presentation to City Council or its Committees and Boards. The City collects this information to enable it to make informed decisions on the relevant issue(s). If you are submitting letters, faxes, e-mails, presentations or other communications to the City, you should be aware that your name and the fact that you communicated with the City will become part of the public record and will appear on the City’s website. The City will also make your communication and any personal information in it - such as your postal address, telephone number or e-mail address - available to the public, unless you expressly request the City to remove it.

Many Committee, Board, and Advisory Body meetings are broadcast live over the internet for the public to view. If you speak at the meeting you will appear in the video broadcast. Video broadcasts are archived and continue to be publicly available.

If you want to learn more about why and how the City collects your information, write to the City Clerk's Office, City Hall, 100 Queen Street West, Toronto ON M5H 2N2 or call 416-392-4666. 

toronto.ca/council

This agenda and any supplementary materials submitted to the City Clerk can be found online at www.toronto.ca/council. Visit the website for access to all agendas, reports, decisions and minutes of City Council and its Committees and Boards.

  ____________

Declarations of Interest under the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act

Confirmation of Minutes - September 26, 2025

Speakers/Presentations - The speakers list will be posted online at 8:30 a.m. on October 29, 2025.

Communications/Reports

The Executive Director, Environment, Climate and Forestry and the General Manager, Solid Waste Management Services recommend that:

1. City Council direct the Executive Director, Environment, Climate and Forestry, with the support from the applicable City Divisions, to implement the Circular Economy Road Map and 3-Year Circular Economy Road Map Implementation Plan, as presented in Attachment 1 and 2, respectively, to the report dated October 15, 2025 from the Executive Director, Environment, Climate and Forestry and the General Manager, Solid Waste Management Services.

2. City Council authorize the Executive Director, Environment, Climate and Forestry, or their designate, until December 31, 2036, to negotiate, enter into, and execute non-procurement agreements, as may be required, to support the implementation of the Circular Economy Road Map and the 3-Year Circular Economy Road Map Implementation Plan, as presented in Attachments 1 and 2, respectively, to the report dated October 15, 2025 from the Executive Director, Environment, Climate and Forestry and the General Manager, Solid Waste Management Services, with the non-profit, private, and public sectors to:

a. Collaborate on research, projects, forums, or initiatives;

b. Provide in-kind and / or financial support from the approved Environment, Climate and Forestry budget and that is within the Executive Director, Environment, Climate and Forestry financial authority;

c. Data sharing; and / or;

d. Accept funding and / or in-kind support,

with each non-procurement agreement being on such terms and conditions acceptable to the Executive Director, Environment, Climate and Forestry, and each being in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor.

3. City Council direct the Executive Director, Environment, Climate and Forestry, in consultation with the General Manager, Solid Waste Management Services, to report back in 2029 on implementation of the Circular Economy Road Map and provide an updated implementation plan for the years 2029 to 2031.

4. City Council authorize the implementation of a second intake period for Phase One of the Circular Food Innovators Fund, for which the initial intake period was adopted by Council as a part of 2023.IE9.3 (November 15, 2023), by Environment, Climate and Forestry, substantially in accordance with the Updated Framework for Phase One of the City of Toronto's Circular Food Innovators Fund in Attachment 4 to the report dated October 15, 2025 from the Executive Director, Environment, Climate and Forestry and the General Manager, Solid Waste Management Services.

5. City Council authorize the Executive Director, Environment, Climate and Forestry, or designate, until December 31, 2026, to execute and enter into agreements with successful recipients to receive funds, distributed under a second intake period for Phase One of the Circular Food Innovators Fund outlined in Attachment 4 to the report dated October 15, 2025 from the Executive Director, Environment, Climate and Forestry and the General Manager, Solid Waste Management Services, each with terms and conditions acceptable to the Executive Director, Environment, Climate and Forestry, or designate, and each in a form acceptable to the City Solicitor.

As the largest city in Canada, the people and businesses of Toronto are significant consumers of materials and goods, a majority of which end up in landfills that are quickly approaching capacity. A circular economy refers to a society-wide approach to production and consumption that aims to eliminate landfill waste and maximize resources by recovering as much as possible from used products. Transitioning to a circular economy not only supports sustainability, but also sparks innovation, creates jobs, addresses climate change and reduces costs related to waste management.

The City has been working on its circular economy transition since Council set an aspirational goal in 2016 to work towards zero waste and to make Toronto the first municipality in the province of Ontario with a circular economy. Building on this work, the City has developed its first "Circular Economy Road Map" (the Road Map) (Attachment 1).  

The Road Map was shaped by valuable input from residents, Indigenous people, industry and peer cities around the world, including London (UK), Glasgow, Rotterdam and members of the Canadian Circular Cities and Regions Initiative. It sets out a vision for Toronto’s circular economy transition over the next 10 years through five Strategic Directions and 15 Actions to support waste reduction and sustainable consumption in Toronto, with a focus on addressing wider consumption behaviours that generate waste. Through the Road Map, the City will deliver incentives, supports and programs for residents and businesses that make circular solutions easy and accessible. It will also lead by example by embedding circular practices into its own operations, while also identifying and addressing barriers to create an enabling environment for businesses and community to pursue their own circular innovations.

The Road Map will be implemented by multiple City Divisions using a whole-of-city approach (see Attachment 2 for the City's 3-Year Circular Economy Road Map Implementation Plan). City staff have identified key initiatives to prioritize beginning in 2026, which include communicating the benefits of circularity, establishing forums to hear from circular businesses, identify barriers and co-develop solutions and determining whether existing resources and programs, such as the Green Market Acceleration Program, could be used to support circularity. Additionally, the City will assess the feasibility of a reuse hub to stimulate a secondary market for construction materials and is seeking Council authority to implement a second intake period of the Circular Food Innovators Fund, a grant program that supports businesses in implementing reuse systems that eliminate single-use and takeaway items.  

Implementing the Road Map is expected to further strengthen Toronto’s leadership profile and position the City among the global peer cities that are advancing the transition to a circular economy. Furthermore, the Road Map actions support the City in adapting to trade uncertainties and affordability concerns, with the circular economy offering a framework for enabling supply chains and businesses to become more resilient by decoupling operations from the extraction of natural resources, increasing material security and reducing exposure to price volatility.[1], [2] Beyond supply chain considerations, circular solutions offer a pathway to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that cannot be addressed by the renewable energy transition alone, including global greenhouse gases attributed to the production of materials, products, food and land management.[3] A transition to circular business models offers an opportunity for circular jobs and skills building,[4] innovation and new business partnerships and creates the pathways for residents to consume more sustainably and make the most out of the things they purchase through strategies like reuse and repair.

City staff will provide regular progress updates to City Council on the implementation of the Road Map. The first update will be delivered in 2029, following the initial three years of implementation (2026 - 2028).

[1] Rajaonson, Juste. (April, 2025). A stronger Canadian economy starts with a circular economy in cities and regions. Policy Options. https://policyoptions.irpp.org/2025/04/circular-economy/
[2] Jensen, Henrik Hvid. (February, 2024). How the circular economy secures manufacturing supply chains. World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/stories/2024/02/how-manufacturers-could-lead-the-way-in-building-the-circular-economy
[3] Canadian Climate Institute. (March, 2023). How circularity can contribute to emissions reductions in Canada. https://climateinstitute.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/how-circularity-can-contribute-emissions-reductions-canada.pdf
[4] Circular Economy, Solutions for Youth Employment, and International Labour Organization. (May, 2023). Decent work in the circular economy. https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/5d26d80e8836af2d12ed1269/6459fd6277ede78534464251_20230424%20-%20CJI%20-%20Decent%20work%20in%20the%20circular%20economy%20-%20210x297mm.pdf

The total funding requirement in 2026 to implement the Circular Economy Road Map is $2.4 million, which consists of $1.2 million in capital funding and approximately $1.2 million in operating funding. It also includes four (4) temporary positions in Environment, Climate and Forestry. The operating costs are expected to increase to $4.1 million in 2027, which includes two (2) new full time employees (FTEs) for Transportation Services and Parks and Recreation, and a further increase to $5.1 million in 2028. These operating funds will support program delivery, coordination and stakeholder engagement efforts.

Table 1: Funding Summary for the Circular Economy Road Map

Funding of $2.4 million for Year 1 (2026) implementation has been included in the 2026 Operating and Capital Budget submissions for Solid Waste Management Services, and funding for future years (2027 and beyond) will be included in the 2027 and future divisional Operating Budget submissions for Environment, Climate and Forestry, Transportation Services and Parks and Recreation for consideration through future budget processes.

This report also recommends issuing a new round of grants through the Circular Food Innovators Fund supported by $250,000 in 2026 through the adopted 2025 - 2034 Capital Budget and Plan for Solid Waste Management Services. One-time funding in 2026 of $25,000 towards Circular Food Innovators Fund has been included in the 2026 Operating Budget Submission for Economic Development and Culture.

The Circular Economy Road Map is a City-wide initiative involving multiple Divisions. Any incremental funding and resource requirements will be requested through future staff reports to Council, and / or in subsequent budget processes for consideration along with all other City priorities.

The Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer has reviewed this report and agrees with the information as presented in the Financial Impact Section.

The General Manager of Solid Waste Management Services recommends that:

1. City Council authorize the General Manager, Solid Waste Management Services, until June 30, 2031, to negotiate, enter into and execute new revenue generating service agreements and amend and extend any existing service agreements with various Producer Responsibility Organizations (including as non-competitive procurements pursuant to Article 195-7.1 of the Code) for the purpose of the City providing waste management and related services for waste recovery materials (non-Blue Box Materials) regulated under the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act, 2016, as amended, such as hazardous and special products, electrical and electronic equipment, batteries, tires, and any new waste recovery material introduced through regulation, with the total term of each new service agreement and each extension of an existing service agreement not exceed five (5) years, on terms and conditions acceptable to the General Manager, Solid Waste Management Services, and each in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor.

2. City Council authorize the General Manager, Solid Waste Management Services (or designate), to negotiate, enter into and execute amending agreements with Rehrig Pacific Company to:

a. Extend the recycling and garbage bin contract (47021231) term from July 1, 2026, for an additional four (4) years and five (5) months to November 30, 2030 with no increase in the contract value.

b. Extend the green bin contract (47019524) term for an additional three (3) years, from December 1, 2027, to November 30, 2030 with no increase in the contract value.

3. City Council request the General Manager, Solid Waste Management Services' to continue to provide Blue Box Material collections to non-eligible City customers who are customers as of December 31, 2025 but not provide Blue Box Materials collection to new commercial customers or new multi-residential customers that join City collection services after January 1, 2026.

4. City Council direct the General Manager, Solid Waste Management Services to report back to the Infrastructure and Environment Committee, no later than the first quarter of 2027, on the results of the review and analysis of whether to continue to provide recycling collection and management services to non-eligible sources that are not captured in Ontario Regulation 391/21: Blue Box.

5. City Council amend Chapter 841 of the Code to align the provisions pertaining to the collection of recycled materials with Ontario Regulation 391/21:  Blue Box, as further described in Schedule 1 to this report.

6. City Council amend Chapter 844 of the Code to align the provisions pertaining to the collection of recycled materials with Ontario Regulation 391/21: Blue Box, as further described in Schedule 1 to this report.

7. City Council amend Chapter 846 of the Code to align the provisions pertaining to the receipt of recycled materials with Ontario Regulation 391/21: Blue Box, as further described in Schedule 2 to this report.

The purpose of this report is to provide City Council with an update on Solid Waste Management Services' plans for the Post-Transition Phase (January 1, 2026 and beyond) of the Blue Box Program's transition to  (Extended Producer Responsibility, including: the impact of the final Blue Box Regulation amendments, joint collection schedule agreement with Circular Materials, post-transition operations, procurement and contract management, required by-law amendments, and advocacy.

This report also seeks authority to re‑negotiate and extend existing agreements with Rehrig Pacific Company for agreement 47021231, Supply, Delivery and Maintenance of Recycling and Garbage Bins, and agreement 47019524, Design, Manufacture, Supply, Distribution and Maintenance of the Next Generation Green Bin (organics) for the City of Toronto’s Solid Waste Management Services Division.

Joint Collection Schedule

With the execution of the joint collection schedule agreement with Circular Materials, Solid Waste Management Services will receive compensation for the inclusion of a recycling icon in the waste collection schedule. Circular Materials' funding formula for the consolidated collection schedules is $0.22 per household for development, design, and printing, with an additional $0.13 per household for mailing, for a total of $0.35 per household. For 2026, Circular Materials will compensate the Division for 462,000 households plus an additional 5,000 pieces for ad hoc requests from residents, for a grand total of 467,000 schedules. Based on the per household compensation, the Division can expect to receive $163,450 in 2026. This funding will be used to offset the design, print and distribution of the collection schedule. If a joint collection schedule is pursued in future years, the same funding formula would apply.

Collection Bin Contract with Rehrig Pacific Company - Extension

The total cost of the extension of the contracts with Rehrig Pacific Company will vary based on the length of each proposed term extension and annual Consumer Price Index adjustments applied to the current baseline rates, refer to Table 1 below for details. Funding for the extension period will be included in 2026 and future Solid Waste Management Services budget submissions.

The removal of the 524,000 recycling bins for eligible sources effective January 1, 2026 will result in bin maintenance savings of approximately $1.8 million annually.  Additionally, as part of the Extended Producer Responsibility transition, overall bin inventory and storage needs are expected to decline, due to the sale of City owned curbside residential recycling bins. In response, Solid Waste Management Services is anticipating a reduction in warehouse space requirements with Rehrig Pacific Company, resulting in a monthly savings of approximately $20,000. These total savings of approximately $2 million annually are reflected in the cost projections outlined below. All other current costs for both contracts will remain the same subject to annual Consumer Price Index adjustments.

A large portion of the remaining contract value is due to the durability of the bins, which have exceeded their expected lifespan. Projections for the breaking of a bin ("breakage") are inherently difficult to make, so additional funds were built into the original contracts to account for potential increases in breakage rates.

Based on the savings realized from the durability of the bins and from the reduction of recycling bins resulting from the Extended Producer Responsibility transition, the current bin contract values, $13.6 million for the garbage and recycling contract, and $3.6 million for the organic contract, do not need to be increased to support these proposed contract term extensions. These estimates encompass both capital and operational costs, account for yearly Consumer Price Index increases, and exclude taxes.

The table below outlines the estimated costs for each bin contract. Incorporating projected Consumer Price Index adjustments based on economic factor tables from the Financial Planning Division. The projections also account for current and anticipated rates of bin breakage and replacement needs.

Table 1: Estimated Contract Extension Costs (Consumer Price Index-Adjusted)

The Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer has reviewed this report and agrees with the financial impact information as presented in the Financial Impact section.

The City Solicitor recommends that:

1. City Council direct that the confidential information contained in Confidential Attachment 1 remain confidential in its entirety, as it contains advice which is subject to solicitor-client privilege.

This report summarizes preliminary advice from the City Solicitor to the Solid Waste Management Services Division regarding aspects of the City of Toronto's plan for the transition of the blue box program to extended producer responsibility.

There is no financial impact resulting from the adoption of this report.

The General Manager, Toronto Water recommends that:

1. Subject to the final Toronto Water 2026 Budget, City Council amend the Basement Flooding Protection Subsidy Program, effective May 1, 2026, such that:

a. The maximum amounts for back water valve and sump pump subsidies under the Basement Flooding Protection Subsidy Program be increased by 28 percent to reflect inflationary increases in equipment and installation costs since 2013.

b. A new subsidy for home plumbing assessment be established to provide up to $500 per property to eligible property owners for professional assessments conducted by a licensed plumber to identify basement flooding risks and mitigation opportunities. 

c. The backwater valve subsidy be modified to include eligibility for the installation of a second backwater valve per household.

d. A new subsidy be established to provide up to $300 per household for the installation of a battery backup system for pump sumps.

e. The maximum total, per property, subsidy available under the Basement Flooding Protection Subsidy Program be increased to $6,650.

f. The eligibility period for submitting applications be extended from one year to two years following completion of the installation of eligible basement flooding protection measures, to provide homeowners with additional time to meet program requirements and submit necessary documentation.

2. City Council direct the General Manager, Toronto Water, to continue to monitor the implementation of the Basement Flooding Protection Subsidy Program, and authorize the General Manager, Toronto Water, to revise or amend the type of basement flooding protection work (“Eligible Works”) qualifying for a subsidy and the subsidy limits applicable to such work, subject to the total subsidy limit of $12,000 per property, and to otherwise administer the Program, as the General Manager, Toronto Water may deem necessary, to improve the effectiveness of the Program.

The Basement Flooding Protection Subsidy Program is one of the City of Toronto’s key stormwater management programs to reduce basement flooding risks on private property. The Basement Flooding Protection Subsidy Program provides subsidies to eligible residential property owners to install flood protection measures that help isolate the home from the City's sewer system and reduce basement flooding risks on their properties from severe storms.

In July and August 2024, heavy rainfall events caused basement flooding in more than one thousand properties in Toronto. In response, City Council directed staff to review City programs, including the Basement Flooding Protection Subsidy Program, and undertake public consultation on potential new incentives to reduce stormwater runoff and basement flooding risks on private property.

Following public consultations held in fall 2024 and a report back to Council in February 2025, City Council adopted Item EX20.12 – Reducing Stormwater Runoff and Mitigating Basement Flooding, which included seven recommendations.

This report responds to Recommendation 1 of EX20.12, requesting the General Manager, Toronto Water, to report to the Infrastructure and Environment Committee on a plan to implement three new and expanded subsidies under the City’s Basement Flooding Protection Subsidy Program. A separate but related report from the Executive Director, Environment, Climate and Forestry, responds to Recommendation 2 of EX20.12, and was brought before the Committee on September 26, 2025. Recommendation 6 of IE20.7 outlined proposed implementation frameworks and resource requirements to develop and operate two new incentive pilot programs to collect and manage stormwater on private property in Toronto.

Based on Council's direction and consultation feedback, this report recommends the following Basement Flooding Protection Subsidy Program enhancements:

- Increasing the backwater valve and sump pump subsidy amounts to counter rising costs of basement flooding protection work;

- Establishing a new subsidy for a home plumbing assessment;

- Increasing the existing backwater valve subsidy to support the installation of up to two devices per property and allowing returning applicants to apply for a second backwater valve subsidy;

- Expanding the sump pump subsidy to include backup power, with a separate subsidy available for previously approved applicants to retrofit existing systems; and

- Extending the application eligibility period from one year to two years following completion of eligible work, providing homeowners with additional time to meet program requirements and submit documentation.

The recommended enhancements are intended to increase participation in the Basement Flooding Protection Subsidy Program and improve the effectiveness of the Basement Flooding Protection Subsidy Program in reducing basement flooding risks on private property. These enhancements will reduce barriers to participation in the Basement Flooding Protection Subsidy Program (e.g., costs for flood protection equipment and installation) and provide homeowners with additional information and guidance to support informed decisions about which Basement Flooding Protection Subsidy Program subsidies are most appropriate for their property.

Pending Council approval, staff would implement the Basement Flooding Protection Subsidy Program enhancements as part of the 2026 Toronto Water Budget in order to become effective on May 1, 2026.  Implementation would include developing and revising program processes and procedures, updating online applications and IT systems, conducting staff training, and developing communications and outreach materials to advise the public about the new and enhanced subsidies.

A new subsidy would be established that would support the cost of a home plumbing assessment by a licensed plumber. This new subsidy would help homeowners identify factors contributing to basement flooding and determine appropriate mitigation measures.

The existing backwater valve and sump pump subsidies would be modified to increase the current subsidies to reflect the current market value of these devices and expanded to include the support of the installation of a secondary backwater valve and the installation of a backup power battery on the existing sump pump.

The estimated annual cost, which includes developmental and operational costs along with existing and modified subsidy amounts, is $9.8 million annually, of which $4.8 million annually would be in addition to the current program costs. The 2025-2034 Toronto Water Capital Budget and Plan includes sufficient funding to support expanding the existing Basement Flooding Protection Subsidy Program.

Toronto Water will continue to monitor program performance annually. Adjustments to staffing levels, IT support, and communications expenditures will be made as required to align with actual uptake and reported through annual budget processes as applicable, in order to ensure that the program is delivered effectively and within approved budgets.

The Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer has reviewed this report and agrees with the financial impact information.

The General Manager, Toronto Water, recommends that:

1. City Council authorizes the General Manager, Toronto Water, in consultation with the Chief Procurement Officer, to initiate the strategic procurement planning process for the City's advanced metering infrastructure system which will include:

a. retaining an industry expert to develop a detailed implementation and procurement strategy, document requirements and specifications in support of the procurement process; assist in the evaluation of vendor submissions, and serve as contract administrator, system integrator, and program manager following award;

b. collaborating with key City stakeholders, to ensure alignment of needs and responsibilities; and

c. report back to Infrastructure and Environment Committee by the first quarter of 2027 with the strategic procurement and implementation plan, which will include comprehensive Terms of Reference and a detailed Request for Proposal that reflects the full range of technical, operational, and customer service requirements of the new Advanced Metering Infrastructure system, as well as funds necessary to support the implementation.

2. City Council direct the General Manager, Toronto Water, in consultation with the General Manager, Solid Waste Management Services, Director, Revenue Services, the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, and the Chief Technology Officer, to retain an industry expert to assist in:

a. gathering requirements, analyzing options and preparing a recommendation for a new rate-based budget billing system;

b. establishing a governance framework to ensure alignment of needs and responsibilities;

c. developing a detailed implementation and procurement strategy in alignment with the work underway as part of recommendation 1; and

d. reporting back to Infrastructure and Environment Committee by the second quarter of 2026 the resulting recommendation and implementation plan for a new rate-based budget billing system, as well as funds necessary to support the implementation.

In 2015, the City of Toronto modernized its operations with the completion of its Automated Meter Reading system, which enabled automated transmission of water consumption data to support water billing processes. While this system was considered state-of-the-art at the time, industry standards and technology have advanced significantly. The next generation of water metering, Advanced Metering Infrastructure, enables new features and functionality that extend well beyond basic meter reading to support broader strategic business outcomes.

In 2024, Toronto Water engaged an industry expert to assess options for the City's next generation of water metering. The assessment confirmed that the current system no longer meets the evolving customer experience expectations, engineering and operations requirements of Toronto Water, and recommended transitioning to Advanced Metering Infrastructure. The consultant further advised adopting a new approach to managing Advanced Metering Infrastructure assets that takes advantage of the flexibility offered by modular, “plug-and-play” solutions. Unlike the City’s current proprietary Automated Meter Reading system, which limits flexibility and constrains asset management decisions, modern Advanced Metering Infrastructure systems can be tailored to a utility’s needs and managed at the component level rather than a single integrated system.

Advanced Metering Infrastructure offers a range of advantages over the existing system, including real-time or near real-time water consumption data, improved leak detection, enhanced customer consumption management tools, better water demand forecasting, outage detection and alerting, and improved estimated billing logic. A critical enabler of this transition is the replacement of the City’s 26-year-old legacy billing system (WMACS) used for billing water and solid waste rate-based services. Although the need to replace WMACS has been previously identified, no implementation planning is currently underway.

This report outlines the benefits of transitioning to Advanced Metering Infrastructure, identifies the key actions required for successful implementation, and recommends the initiation of the strategic procurement and implementation planning for a new Advanced Metering Infrastructure system and billing system for rate-based services.

The recommendations in this report have financial implications for Toronto Water and Solid Waste Management Services.

Recommendation 1 proposes retaining an industry expert to lead the implementation and procurement strategy, support the procurement process, oversee contract administration, and act as program manager for Advanced Metering Infrastructure system design and implementation. The estimated cost of over 2026 - 2034 can be accommodated within Toronto Water’s 2025 - 2034 Capital Budget and Plan.

Recommendation 2 proposes retaining an industry expert to assess requirements, evaluate options, recommend a new rate-based budget billing system, and develop an implementation and procurement strategy aligned with Recommendation 1. The estimated cost over 2026 - 2030 can be accommodated within the approved 10-Year Capital Plans (2025-2034 Capital Budget and Plan) of Toronto Water and Solid Waste Management Services.

Significant financial implications will arise from implementing the Advanced Metering Infrastructure system and replacing the billing system. The magnitude and funding strategies for these future costs are being addressed through Toronto Water’s 2026 - 2035 Capital Budget and Plan Submission.

As outlined in the recommendations of this report, staff will also provide Council with refined sequencing and cost estimates through future reports to be included in future year budget process as required.

The Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer has reviewed this report and agrees with the financial impact information.

The Acting General Manager, Transportation Services, and the Chief Engineer and Executive Director, Engineering and Construction Services recommend that:

1. Infrastructure and Environment Committee request that the General Manager, Transportation Services, and the Chief Engineer and Executive Director, Engineering Construction Services continue to proceed with the following actions as set out in this report:

a. a competitive procurement process for the installation of the interim safety barrier Option 3B - Curved Fence for immediate implementation on the Leaside Bridge;

b. undertake further expert consultation for other interim measures such as updated signage, in consultation with Toronto Public Health; and

c. permanent barrier design and installation as part of the next major state-of-good-repair project for the bridge, currently programmed for 2037.

The Leaside Bridge, also known as the Millwood Overpass Bridge (Structure ID 105), has been identified as a high-risk location for suicide. Research indicates that implementing safety barriers and other supporting intervention measures on bridges can significantly reduce the risk of suicide deaths.

In April 2025, a report on the outcome of a study reviewing the feasibility of implementing a permanent barrier on the Leaside Bridge to mitigate suicide attempts was brought forward to Infrastructure and Environment Committee. In response to that report, City Council directed that Transportation Services and Engineering and Construction Services, in consultation with Toronto Public Health, investigate options to accelerate the installation of barriers, as well as other interim safety measures for the Leaside Bridge.

In response to the direction from City Council, this report identifies interim safety measures, timelines and costs, to address suicide prevention for the Leaside Bridge.  The report also provides an update on the permanent barrier design and structural work, including updated procurement and installation timelines and costs.

HELP IS AVAILABLE

If you or someone you know is at risk of suicide, seek help right away. Support is available from experienced professionals who are ready to listen and assist.

In an emergency: Call 911 if you are in immediate danger, experiencing a crisis, or need urgent medical assistance.

For suicide support: Call or text 9-8-8 for free, 24/7, and confidential support.

For other services: Call 211 to be connected to mental health and social services.

For more resources: Visit the City of Toronto’s Mental Health Resources page.

You are not alone - help is just a call, text, or click away

MEDIA GUIDELINES FOR REPORTING ON SUICIDE

A substantial body of research suggests that media reports about people who have died by suicide, as well as the topic of suicide in general, can influence vulnerable people and is associated with higher subsequent rates of suicide. Emerging evidence also suggests that reports about people overcoming suicidal crises may lower suicide rates.

The recommended interim barrier Option 3B - Curved Fence is estimated to cost approximately $2.4 million.

Funding is included in the Transportation Services 2025 - 2034 Capital Budget and Plan. The Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer has reviewed this report and agrees with the financial implications.

The Acting General Manager, Transportation Services recommends that:

1. City Council receive this report for information.

On September 25, 2025, Infrastructure and Environment Committee requested that Transportation Services report to their October 29, 2025 meeting with a status update on the progress to date to conduct a study of redesign options for the intersection of Eglinton Avenue West and the Allen Road expressway. This report includes:

- Background on the redesign of the intersection completed as part of the Eglinton Crosstown construction;

- Mitigation measures that have been evaluated, and those that have been implemented since the operation of the intersection was handed back to the City of Toronto;

- A summary of the ongoing work to address infiltration on neighbourhood streets in the area; and

- A scope and status update on the intersection redesign study.

The recommendation in this report does not involve any immediate financial impact. Any potential future financial implications will be included in the future year budget submission process.

The estimated cost for the feasibility study is $400,000. Funding is available in the 2025 Capital Budget and 2026-2034 Capital Plan for Transportation Services.

The Acting General Manager, Transportation Services, recommends that:

1. City Council approve the traffic and parking regulation amendments associated with the final built conditions of the Eglinton Avenue East, between Kennedy Road and Brentcliffe Road and authorize the associated amendment to City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 903, Parking for Persons with Disabilities, and Chapter 950, Traffic and Parking, as listed in Attachment A to the report (October 15, 2025) from the General Manager, Transportation Services.

2. City Council authorize the appropriate City officials 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 General Manager, Transportation Services, in order to give effect to Recommendation 1.

The Eglinton Crosstown Light Rail Transit project, delivered by Metrolinx, has reached an advanced stage of completion. Train testing and Revenue Service Demonstration are currently underway to verify system performance and operational readiness.

As the project advances towards operational readiness, City traffic and parking by-laws must be updated to reflect the permanent roadway conditions within the at-grade segment of Eglinton Avenue East, between Kennedy Road and Brentcliffe Road, in preparation for the opening of the Eglinton Crosstown Light Rail Transit.

This report seeks City Council authority to enact the necessary amendments to City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 903, Parking for Persons with Disabilities, and Chapter 950, Traffic and Parking, to align with the final built conditions of the at-grade segment of the Eglinton Crosstown Light Rail Transit corridor.

There is no financial impact to the City. Metrolinx and the Project Co., are responsible for all costs of installing the new signage, pavement markings, and associated traffic control devices along the Eglinton Avenue corridor within the Eglinton Crosstown Light Rail Transit project limits. The Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer has reviewed the report and agreed with the financial impact information.

The Acting General Manager, Transportation Services recommends that:  

1.  City Council receive this report for information.

Speed continues to be a leading cause of fatal and serious collisions in Ontario, contributing to approximately 21 percent of traffic-related fatalities. Automated Speed Enforcement is a key component of the City's Vision Zero Road Safety Plan and a proven tool for reducing speeding and improving safety, particularly in School and Community Safety Zones.

Toronto's Automated Speed Enforcement program launched in January 2020 with 50 mobile Automated Speed Enforcement cameras enforcing posted speed limits in Community Safety Zones across the City. As directed by City Council, the program was expanded to 75 cameras in 2023 and further expanded to 150 in early 2025.

Recently, City Council has made several requests to adapt the current operation of the Automated Speed Enforcement program including considering modifying the hours of operation, limiting the number of tickets a driver receives within a specific time period, and enhancing signage that alerts drivers to the presence of speed cameras. The purpose of this report is to provide an update on the changes that will be made to the Automated Speed Enforcement program, subject to legislation being in effect that permits municipalities in Ontario to operate Automated Speed Enforcement.

Implementing a limit on the number of Automated Speed Enforcement infractions an individual vehicle owner could receive from a single camera location prior to receiving their first infraction notice by mail will require a system update resulting in a one-time operating cost of $36,000.

Installation of additional and larger signs near Automated Speed Enforcement cameras is estimated to cost $60,000.

The enforcement of regulatory offences, including those for Red Light Camera and Automated Speed Enforcement, are not designed to be revenue generating tools for municipalities.  The fines and penalties associated with those offences are for the purpose of modifying behaviour which has been determined to be a risk to public safety.

Changes to prevent a driver from receiving a second ticket from a given Automated Speed Enforcement camera until at least seven days will result is in a lower number of Automated Speed Enforcement penalties that would have otherwise been issued annually which would have had associated fines of $495,000 (including the provincial victim fine surcharge). The estimated fine loss for the remainder of 2025 for change is $62,000.

Changes for only operating all Automated Speed Enforcement cameras during school usage hours of 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday to Friday, will result in a lower number of Automated Speed Enforcement penalties that would have otherwise been issued annually which would have had associated fines of $24.3 million (including the provincial victim fine surcharge). The estimated fine loss for the remainder of 2025 for this change is $2.3 million.

The Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer has reviewed this report and agrees with the financial impact information as presented in the Financial Impact Section.

The Executive Director, Court Services recommends that the Infrastructure and Environment Committee:

1. Direct the Executive Director, Court Services, to continue to ensure that the City's website provides complete information about the dispute resolution processes related to Automated Speed Enforcement tickets issued under the Provincial Offences Act and penalty orders under the City's Administrative Penalty System.

This report responds to City Council direction through IE24.4 for the Executive Director, Court Services, in consultation with relevant City agencies, to conduct a thorough review of the appeals process for disputing Automated Speed Enforcement tickets, to ensure the process is straightforward, fair, and simple to navigate. It also responds to subsequent direction for the Executive Director, Court Services to report back to the October 29, 2025 meeting of the Infrastructure and Environment Committee with the findings of the review and recommendations for improvement.

It is important to note that there is no distinct appeals process for Automated Speed Enforcement under either the Provincial Offences Act or the City’s Administrative Penalty System. The appeal processes available depends on the prevailing legislation that applies.

- For Automated Speed Enforcement tickets issued for offences occurring prior to January 20, 2025, the Provincial Offences Act applies and they proceed through the provincial courts.  

- For Automated Speed Enforcement violations issued for offences occurring on or after January 20, 2025, the Administrative Penalty System established by Ontario Regulation 355/22: Administrative Penalties for Contraventions Detected Using Camera Systems and Municipal Code Chapter 610, Administrative Penalties, governs that process.

The request for this report arose from one specific complaint about two Automated Speed Enforcement tickets issued under the Provincial Offences Act back in July 2024. These tickets were brought to the attention of Councillor Pasternak’s office eight months prior to the Member Motion. The constituent advised that they were having difficulty navigating the processes for disputing a ticket, as well as other processes such as payment and re-opening requests that are outlined on the Court Services website. The Executive Director investigated the matter, spoke to the constituent directly, and relayed the status of the file to the Councillor's office in September.  

The individual complaint that led to Councillor Pasternak's Member Motion was promptly addressed by the Executive Director immediately after Court Services was notified. The division is committed to addressing any inquiries or complaints and encourage Councillors to bring those complaints to the Executive Director in a timely manner.

City staff are developing a performance measurement framework for the Administrative Penalty System to measure program operations against service standards. Data on Automated Speed Enforcement matters will be provided through the annual Administrative Penalty System Activity Report and Administrative Penalty Tribunal Chair’s report in 2026.

This report was prepared in consultation with Legal Services and includes a description of the dispute resolution mechanisms available to the public for Automated Speed Enforcement tickets issued prior to January 20, 2025 and penalty orders issued on or after January 20, 2025. The dispute process under the City’s Administrative Penalty System was approved by Council on February 6, 2024, and is outlined on the City’s website.

There are no financial implications arising from the recommendations included in this report in the current budget year or in future years.

The Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer has reviewed this report and agrees with the information as presented in the Financial Impact Section.

The City Solicitor and the General Manager, Transportation Services recommend that:

1. City Council receive this report for information.

City Council on July 23 and 24, 2025, referred Item CC32.27 to the October 29, 2025, meeting of the Infrastructure and Environment Committee for consideration.

City Council on October 8 and 9, 2025, referred Administrative Inquiry IA33.1 from Councillor Dianne Saxe, Ward 11, University-Rosedale, regarding Harbord / Hoskin Reconstruction, and Answer IA33.1a from the Deputy City Manager, Infrastructure Services to the Infrastructure and Environment Committee for consideration.

Councillor Dianne Saxe recommends that:

1. The Infrastructure and Environment Committee request the General Manager, Transportation Services, to investigate and report back in the first quarter 2026 on the feasibility of adjusting signal timings to allow the Spadina streetcar to proceed through each intersection before left-turning vehicles do, in order to speed up the service.

The Spadina streetcar is seriously delayed, and made less reliable, by allowing left-turning vehicles to turn before the streetcar can proceed through every intersection. This can and should be fixed by a minor signal timing change.

Councillor Dianne Saxe recommend that:

1. City Council requests that, when Toronto’s Air Quality Health Index is at high to very high-risk levels (7-10), city operations, businesses and residents refrain whenever possible from operating highly polluting engines, such as two-stroke gas-powered leaf blowers and diesel engines manufactured before 2008.

Wildfires are worsening with climate breakdown. Wildfire smoke is a serious health hazard, which again this summer caused Toronto’s air quality to be one of the worst in the world. Residents were urged to stay indoors, schools cancelled outdoor activities, and hospitals braced for a surge in patents. Air quality reached Level 10 and above on the Air Quality Health Index - AQHI 7-10  the “Very High Risk" category - threatening the health of children, seniors, outdoor workers, and anyone with heart or lung conditions. 

When air pollutant levels are so high, it is dangerous to the health of Torontonians to worsen the pollution by operating highly polluting engines, such as two-stroke gas-powered leaf blowers and diesel engines manufactured before 2008. On smoky days, when pollution is already at crisis levels, the last thing our children need is even dirtier air.

Councillor Dianne Saxe recommends that:

1. The Infrastructure and Environment Committee request the General Manager, Transportation Services, in consultation with the General Manager, Toronto Water and the Executive Director, Environment, Climate and Forestry, to investigate and report on possible criteria for exemptions to the front yard parking prohibition in Ward 11, in cases where the affected area has been used for vehicle parking continuously since before the moratorium was instituted, and / or the proposed parking pad would reliably increase groundwater infiltration over its working life.

There is a moratorium on parking pads in Ward 11 because of their multiple adverse effects upon sidewalk safety, stormwater runoff, tree health, public parking supply, soft landscaping requirements etc. However, the Ward Councillor has received several requests for exceptions for special cases that are claimed not to worsen these problems, e.g. because the proposed pad has been used for vehicle parking continuously since before the moratorium was instituted, and / or because the affected area is already impermeable and groundwater infiltration is proposed to be increased through the use of permanently permeable pavement. It would be helpful to have clear principles to guide decisions on these special cases.