Three hundred issues, more lobbyists
City Hall Watcher #300: Celebrate a milestone at City Hall Watcher with LOBBYIST WATCH, featuring island airport lobbying, rental incentives, traffic tech and more. Plus: a Council preview
Welcome to the 300th issue of City Hall Watcher. Wait, the 300th? Like, 3-0-0? The three hundredth? The three hundredth!
This calls for a special introduction.
Thanks so much to Agnes Salek for the work on this cover. It follows special covers for #100, by Brett Lamb, and #200, by Jake Tobin Garrett. Agnes was an absolute delight to work with. I’ve always wanted to be rendered in watercolour.
Speaking of delight, I want to express my gratitude to all the readers who have kept this newsletter going for 300 issues. When I started in January 2019, I was not sure how this would go. Thanks to you, it’s gone incredibly well. Over 300 issues, I’ve made lots of charts, covered lots of lobbying, published a growing number of freelance pieces, become a dad, and appreciated the hell out of every moment.
We’re having a party, so this issue is being sent out free of charge to everyone on my email list. If you’d like to become a paying subscriber, now is a great time. The first 300 issues were pretty good, but I think the next 300 will be even better. Your subscription supports local indie journalism — and helps keep your local political representatives accountable.
Anyway, here’s LOBBYIST WATCH.
✨ Because of all the celebrations, this issue runs a bit longer. If it gets cut off in your email view, be sure to view the rest on the web.
— Matt Elliott
graphicmatt@gmail.com / CityHallWatcher.com
Read on the web / Archives / Subscribe
Lobbyist Watch for September 2024: airport abuzz, BILDing rental housing, and the mayor’s Shell company
Lobbyist Watch is City Hall Watcher’s monthly summary of activity on Toronto City Hall’s Lobbyist Registry. In September 2024, I reviewed 554 registered lobbyist communications and 87 new registrations.
Disclaimer: Toronto’s Lobbyist Registry requires lobbyists to register and record all communications they have with politicians and staff, but it does not require them to provide much detail about the extent of those communications. As a result, a meeting noted below could be a long conversation with some deal-making or a passing chat of no real consequence. The data presented below is current as of October 4, 2024.
Aviation conversations
Ahead of this week’s Council debate on adding Runway End Safety Areas, or RESAs, at the island airport — and, potentially, extending the lease for the airport by, oh, four decades or so — lobbyists Kim Wright and Sean Hill of Wright Strategies logged a sky-high 52 lobbying communications on behalf of clients Ports Toronto and Nieuport Aviation. Nieuport owns the terminal building on the island.
Wright met with Councillor Gord Perks on September 26. She also met with staffers from the offices of Councillor Shelley Carroll, Councillor Brad Bradford and Councillor Chris Moise, and Adam Chaleff, the mayor’s Special Advisor for Issues & Research.
Hill met with Councillor Parthi Kandavel on September 9 and Councillor Michael Thompson on September 23.
With a big decision on the Council agenda this week, I thought it might be useful to chart lobbying activity about the island airport from all of 2024. Here’s how that looks.
I count a mighty 404 communications logged this year, with the focus settling on Mayor Olivia Chow, Bradford, Carroll and Councillor Jennifer McKelvie. If there are motions on the floor this week to go beyond the staff recommendation and secure a long-term lease extension of the airport, those may be the votes to keep on the radar.
Talking traffic tech
As Council gets set to discuss an update to their traffic-fighting Congestion Management Plan, several technology companies have rushed in to pitch their technology that could aid in City Hall’s automated enforcement strategy and data collection efforts.
Verra Mobility, the company that recently acquired another traffic technology company, RedFlex, has hired StrategyCorp’s Brian Teefy, Sara Szot, Richard Ositashvili and Jordon Daniels to lobby about their road safety and traffic flow tech. Because of their ownership of Redflex, Verra already has a contract to provide the City with photo radar technology. Their other offerings include automated systems that can enforce rules against blocking the box and illegal use of bus lanes.
San Francisco-based Samsara has also registered to lobby about their tech. Regional Sales Director David Tucker headlines the in-house lobbyist file. Samsara offers software to help governments manage their fleet of vehicles, with monitoring tech that can detect dangerous driving by city employees.
Populus Technologies has joined the parade, too. They’re a San Francisco-based company registered to lobby about their “digital curb management” tech. It can provide real-time analytics on where people are parking and how city streets are used. CEO Regina Clewlow is on the file.
Meanwhile, “command control” vendor Bay Street has registered to demonstrate how their video walls and analytic summary screens might be useful in the City’s Traffic Management Centre. Joe Mueller, President, and Andrew Galvez, Sales Development Representative, are on the file.
Shell game
Mayor Olivia Chow met with Jerome Gaspari, Facilities East Manager for fossil fuel company Shell Canada, on September 26. Paul Scrivener of the Toronto Industry Network also attended.
They discussed zoning conformity in employment areas, port development, building emission standards, stormwater charges, and commercial parking levies.
Shell’s interest in a potential commercial parking levy is a new lobbying focus for the oil giant.
Andrew Allan, Chow’s Legislative Affairs & Implementation Liaison, also attended.
The not-so-gold Finch
Representing CRH Canada Group, builders of the Finch West LRT, lobbyist Mustapha Khamissa of Rubicon Strategy met with Councillor Josh Matlow on September 18. He also met with Transit Expansion Office Executive Director Derrick Toigo on September 27. He previously met with Councillor Jamaal Myers, the TTC Chair, in July.
The Finch West LRT has always been presented as the more presentable of the two major Metrolinx projects — the gallant to Eglinton’s goofus, if you will — but the news lately has suggested some pretty serious dysfunction along Finch, too.
BILD-ing a mystery
Reps from BILD, the development advocacy group, logged a series of notable meetings in late September to discuss “Purpose Built Rental and Condo Development Incentives.”
On September 23, BILD President & CEO Dave Wilkes and Senior Director of Policy & Advocacy Danielle Chin logged a meeting with City CFO Stephen Conforti, Deputy City Manager for Development & Growth Services Jag Sharma, Executive Director of the Housing Secretariat Abi Bond and Executive Director of Development Review Valesa Faria.
The next day, Wilkes logged a one-on-one meeting with Councillor Brad Bradford.
On September 27, Wilkes and Chin again met with Conforti and Sharma.
BILD recently launched a “Do Something” campaign urging governments to, well, do something about high housing costs.
Lobbying grab bag
Magna has opened a new lobbying file to push “a potential new mobility project in the Greater Toronto Area.” Executive Director of Government Affairs Misti Rice is heading up the in-house lobbying effort. No communications yet. Magna has been touting their recent investment in Yulu, an Indian company that “deploys shareable, low-speed, electric two-wheelers to facilitate accessible, sustainable urban mobility.” They’ve also invested in delivery robots.
CAA South Central Ontario Assistant VP of Government & Community Relations Teresa Di Felice has registered to offer feedback on congestion-related matters. No communications yet.
Developer Tenblock was keeping busy in September. On a lobbying file related to “Environment, sustainability, and climate policies,” Development Manager Graeme Kennedy and VP Stephen Job logged 36 communications to members of Council and staff.
The Kahnawake Native Renewable Centre (KNRC) has been pitching its emergency flooding barriers to a city that has recently seen a lot of emergency flooding. KNRC managing partner Gillian Ward logged emails to Councillor Frances Nunziata — she represents one of the most flood-prone areas in the city — the Purchasing department and the Environment & Climate division. On October 1, Ward logged a meeting with senior staff from Environment & Climate to discuss further.
A resident named Barbara Kerbel has hired Cassels Brock & Blackwell’s Matthew Lakatos-Hayward to lobby against a plan to build a new three-storey single-family home at 417 Russell Hill Road. The Committee of Adjustment Application lists Kapil Dilawri, owner of the Dilawri Group of Companies, as the applicant. Lakatos-Hayward has been reaching out to Councillor Josh Matlow’s office via email.
The Toronto Police Association has again hired Laura Silver of Blue Door Communications to run a PR campaign that seeks to get residents to contact their councillors in support of the police. This time, the cops are advocating for a good deal on the ongoing collective bargaining process. Silver has registered two communications campaigns targetting councillors — one from September 17 to October 1 and one from October 1 to October 15.
Sonia Kandola, Director of Government Relations (Canada) for Lime Technology, an e-scooter and bike-sharing company, logged emails to every member of Council, hoping to keep the dream of legal e-scooters alive in Toronto.
Reps from Brauer Housing Developments, a Belleville-based company, have registered to pitch their “Living Pods.” These tiny homes, they say, were recently endorsed by the City of Kingston as part of their incentive program to convince people to build additional dwelling units on their properties, increasing the supply of housing. Eponymous company president Jamie Brauer is leading the file, with no communications yet.
Toronto Wholesale Food Producers have hired Rubicon Strategy’s Mustapha Khamissa to lobby about a range of issues related to the Ontario Food Terminal on the Queensway, including construction, Gardiner access and bike lanes. Khamissa reached out to Councillor Amber Morley’s office on September 24, requesting a meeting.
Tech 4 sale
Curban Boundaries CEO Sam Tavi has registered to lobby about his company, Curban Boundaries. They want to install Vertical Parking. Like Ferris Wheels for cars. Could be right up Premier Doug Ford’s alley. No communications yet.
Natalie Tuysusian, a Director for PriceWaterhouseCoopers, met with City CTO Sonia Brar on September 25 to talk about “technology advisory and implementation services.”
Reps from cybersecurity company Fortinet logged seven separate video call meetings with a Project Manager from Technology Services in September.
SOVRA, a provider of procurement software, is lobbying City Hall via NATIONAL PR’s Stephen Adler. Adler logged emails to the mayor’s office, the City Manager’s office and the Chief Procurement Officer, requesting meetings.
Familiar faces
Robin Buxton Potts, a former (appointed) member of Council, is now working for Councillor Shelley Carroll as her Senior Strategic Advisor. Buxton Potts met with Daryl Chong, President & CEO of the Greater Toronto Apartment Association, on September 25. They discussed “heating and cooling standards.” Chong met with senior staff from Municipal Licensing & Standards the next day. Buxton was appointed to replace the departing Kristyn Wong-Tam as councillor for Ward 13 for about six months in 2022. She later ran for the open Ward 11 seat but finished third.
The charts
Lobbyist Watch will return in November.
More from Matt: on Doug Ford’s tunnel vision, and the island airport extension not being prepared for takeoff
📰 For the Toronto Star last week, I wrote about the money it’ll likely take to achieve Premier Doug Ford’s tunnel vision — and all the things Queen’s Park could accomplish instead.
🗞️ For the Star this week, I write about the island airport — and why, even for frequent fliers, a long-term lease extension isn’t ready for takeoff.
Look for it in your favourite newspaper.
The week at Toronto City Hall
MONDAY: The Compliance Audit Committee met. They again considered cases where donors in the 2023 mayoral by-election appear to have overcontributed. Some notable names are on the list, including former MLSE President & CEO Richard Peddie, Sussex Strategy Group Executive Chair Paul Pellegrini and Gavin Tighe, the Ford family lawyer. Since the overcontribution amounts are pretty small, the committee typically lets violators off with a warning.
TUESDAY: 🚔 The Toronto Police Service Board meets. It’s a light agenda, as the board waits for budget deliberations to start. Board members will hear a presentation about the police “Digital Program,” which so far has been successful in getting more people to file complaints about parking online instead of via phone call. The cops say there are upcoming opportunities to improve more of their online services, but it will cost about $9 million over the next three years to accelerate delivery.
🐢 The Aboriginal Affairs Advisory Committee meets. It’s their first meeting of the term, following a move by Council in early 2023 to look at a new approach for the committee and seek input from Indigenous Communities. Elder Larry Frost will start the meeting with a smudging ceremony.
WEDNESDAY: 🏟️ City Council meets.
I’ve covered the big items on the agenda in recent editions of this newsletter, but here’s a quick refresher on the big stuff.
EX17.5 - This staff report on the Council agenda about the island airport does not, by itself, justify a lot of debate. Staff are recommending Council endorse a change to the lease terms governing the airport to permit the construction of safety areas at the end of the airport runway. Staff are recommending Option 1, which is the no-frills option and is expected to cost Ports Toronto up to $64 million. So far, so good. But here’s where things get complicated: Ports says they need a long-term extension of the airport lease to finance the project. Like maybe for 40 years or so. Not everyone is buying that. At last week’s Executive Committee meeting, Councillor Gord Perks pointed out that Ports has about $75 million in capital reserve that could cover the cost. Ports argues they need that money for other things.
EX17.4 - Staff have proposed a host of changes to the Vacant Home Tax following this year’s disaster of an experience with collection. The fundamentals of the program will not change, as homeowners will continue to be required to declare each year whether their home is vacant or not, but deadlines will be extended, the CFO will be given the power to hold off on issuing bills if a large percentage of declarations have not been received, and there will be some new ways to make declarations, including via an improved website. I’d expect some councillors to move to kill the program entirely, but it’s brought in about $55 million annually over the first two years and will bring in more once the tax rate increases next year. It will be hard for Council to reject that kind of revenue.
IE16.4 - An update to City Hall’s Congestion Management Plan includes a recommendation to implement a construction levy charged to construction companies that block streets. The plan also asks for cameras to be deployed to capture traffic violations. Provincial approval will be required before the cameras can issue tickets. In a separate item, Council is also asked to redirect $550,000 to a new Strategic Capital Coordination office. The SCCO will try to coordinate construction projects better.
PH15.5 - The annual progress report on Council’s housing plan includes several recommendations to reiterate the need for more provincial and federal funding. Housing advocacy group More Neighbours Toronto has noticed some “substantial delays” in the plan’s timelines.
EX17.3 - Council is being asked to approve a contract for the installation of charging infrastructure and other changes to the ferry terminal needed to support the new electric ferries serving the islands. It’s estimated to cost about $42 million. That’s on top of the cost of the two ferries, pegged at $92 million.
HL16.9 - Medical Officer Dr. Eileen de Villa has produced a report on how a phased strategy for implementing a universal school food program in the City, following news that the federal government has committed $1 billion to school food programs nationally over five years. Student nutrition is a major priority for the mayor.
TE16.5, TE16.13 - Anti-poverty advocates are calling on Council to reject a Kingsett plan to build a 46-storey condo at 214-230 Sherbourne Street. Instead, they’d like City Hall to acquire the property and use it for social housing.
I’ll provide live coverage of the meeting on Mastodon, BlueSky and the other place.
🏆 Bid Award Panel contract award of the week: up to $18.5 million for security guard services.
🏆 (Special Meeting of the) Bid Award Panel contract award of the week: $508,800 to a confidential supplier for confidential services. Love the transparency here.
THURSDAY: 🏟️ Council continues. Member motions will be heard starting at 2 p.m.
MM22.2 - Councillor Dianne Saxe is asking for a report on increasing the fines the city charges for serious violations of bylaws. The move comes following reports that the company that placed a dumpster in a Bloor bike lane — a dumpster that later was a major factor in the death of a cyclist — could face fines of only $200. Saxe points out that the City can set maximum penalties of up to $100,000, and there are a number of offences that justify fines at that level.
MM22.8 - Councillor Mike Colle says the provincial government should look at high-speed rail instead of a Highway 401 tunnel. He’s also asking for a staff report estimating the cost of the provincial tunnel project.
MM22.9 - Councillor Chris Moise has a motion to urge the provincial government to keep operating safe consumption sites, backtracking on their plan to close sites they say are located too close to daycares and schools on March 31, 2025.
MM22.11 - Councillor Brad Bradford has a motion requesting the Auditor General look into the $150 million price tag that’s been attached to the West Toronto Railpath Extension. One of the things he’s looking for specifically is “details of the impact of Metrolinx administrative costs on the increased estimate.”
MM22.12 - Bradford also has a motion to pick up dead animals more quickly. After years of being unable to meet their targets, City Hall lengthened the service standard for dead animal pick-up from 48 hours to five business days earlier this year. Bradford wants the old 48-hour standard restored. Since that’ll presumably require more resources, he’s asking for a report as part of the 2025 budget process.
MM22.14 - Councillor Jennifer McKelvie is recommending Toronto join other cities in supporting a campaign to solve the homelessness, mental health and addictions crisis. One of the requests is for the provincial government to appoint a minister responsible for these issues.
MM22.20 - Councillor Josh Matlow would really like to know what’s gone wrong with the Eglinton LRT. He’s calling (again) for a public inquiry.
🐕 The Dangerous Dog Review Tribunal meets to consider appeals to muzzle orders issued for Labrador Retriever / American Bulldog mix Nelo and Belgian Malinois Cooper.
FRIDAY: The Friday before the Thanksgiving weekend is being held for a potential third day of Council deliberations. I’d be very thankful if they don’t end up needing it.
NEXT WEEK: After the Thanksgiving holiday, the Audit Committee meets on Tuesday, and the General Government Committee meets on Wednesday.
City Hall Watcher #300
Thanks for reading! Whether you started reading at issue #1 or plan to start with #301, thanks for giving me the best job I’ve ever had.
With the long weekend coming up, the next regular issue of City Hall Watcher will hit your inbox on Tuesday.
I wonder when Mayor Chow is going to ask Premier Ford about the property assessment process which hasn't been done since 2016.With the price of housing soaring over 40% since then the province is denying all cities in Ontario of a fair rate of property taxes.Is it something our mayor will bring up at the next big city mayor's conference?This additional tax , which is the only real source of income for the city is desperately needed.
300 - wow! I'll reach my 100th post this month but 300 is a whole other level. Congrats!