Kicking and screaming our way to the World Cup
The Week at Toronto City Hall for the week of March 4 through March 8. Plus a recap of a week with debates on the World Cup, a parking levy, and more.
Hey there! Welcome to March. It’s a quiet start to the month at Toronto City Hall as the committee calendar takes a pause to make room for a Federation of Canadian Municipalities board meeting in scenic Prince George, BC. Councillor Brad Bradford and Councillor Jennifer McKelvie are the City’s representatives on the board.
But meanwhile, back at the ranch, the business of running Toronto rolls on. Let’s look at what remains on the schedule and the decisions made by committees and boards this week, including news on a commercial parking levy, the very pricey World Cup, driving fines, and more. — Matt Elliott
What happened this week
⚽️ The big news was not surprising news. On Thursday, Mayor Olivia Chow’s Executive Committee heard that the cost of Toronto’s plan to host the 2026 World Cup has increased again, from $300 million to $380 million.
The increase includes the cost of hosting an additional match. The City had been assuming there’d be five. There are now six.
Queen’s Park has kicked in $97 million, based on a share of the previous cost estimate for five matches. They indicated this week that they won’t be increasing that figure to account for the extra match.
Money from the federal government is not yet assured, but City Manager Paul Johnson seemed pretty darn confident that it would be coming based on previous federal action to support large sporting events and also an established formula where Ottawa kicks in up to 35% of the total event cost.
But even assuming Prime Minister Justin Trudeau maxes out his contribution under the policy, Toronto’s likely going to be left holding more than 40% of the costs, despite numbers in an attached business plan showing Toronto can expect to take in only about 2% of the expected direct government tax revenue from the event, with all municipal revenue coming via City Hall’s tax on overnight stays. The federal and provincial governments are set to rake in way more, primarily via boosts to sales tax revenue.
This is the ideal scenario in that it assumes no further cost escalation and federal funding at the higher end of what’s likely. But it’s an ideal scenario that’s obviously less than ideal.
At the meeting, Johnson said the City is working hard to offset its costs. Those offsets could come via “private sector sponsorship” and “donor engagement.”
More intriguingly, the city manager also floated the idea of a “short-term implementation of an additional Municipal Accommodation Tax.” (MAT)
The MAT is a percentage-based levy charged to bookings at hotels and short-term rentals made through platforms like Airbnb. It’s currently set at 6%.
A move to increase it as a temporary measure during the summer of 2026 could be an interesting way to offset some of the costs. The Business Plan — which was based on five matches, not six — estimated the World Cup would result in 300,000 “room nights.” Those nights, charged at the current 6% tax rate, are estimated to bring in about $3 million in revenue. Doubling the rate would presumably double the revenue.
Chow’s committee also passed motions amending staff recommendations that would have allowed staff to sign high-value non-competitive contracts deemed necessary to “meet the timelines of the [FIFA World Cup 2026]” without Council approval. Council will get to have its say at their next meeting, set to kick off on March 20.
🅿️ An expected Council debate this month on a Commercial Parking Levy was short-circuited by a motion from Budget Chief Councillor Shelley Carroll at Executive Committee. She moved to refer the item back to City staff to do consultation, a parking inventory and prepare a plan to implement the tax, with another report due before the 2025 budget process.
This is all work that staff were planning to do anyway, but their original report sought approval from Council on the “Guiding Design Principles” for the parking levy. Carroll’s motion means they’ll skip that, and the item will not be on the March Council agenda.
It’s an interesting and notable bit of political strategy.
🗄️ Chow’s Executive Committee also voted to offer a two-week grace period on declarations for the Vacant Home Tax.
And they killed Councillor Jon Burnside’s motion to look at hiking property tax bills for Toronto Island residents.
And they approved a Chow motion to punt an expected report on ride-share license caps applying to companies like Uber and Lyft to the fall, with the provision that the report include more analysis of worker wages.
🌳 At Etobicoke York Community Council, Councillor Anthony Perruzza passed a motion to delay consideration of a new secondary plan for the Jane-Finch neighbourhood until June.
🚧 The Infrastructure & Environment Committee voted for Councillor Jennifer McKelvie’s motion to send a letter to Queen’s Park asking for hefty increases to the fines for drivers who “block the box” at intersections. The base fine is currently 90 bucks. City Hall would like to raise it to $450.
I wrote about this in the Toronto Star this week. It’ll still need to be approved by Council.
🏘️ The Planning & Housing Committee passed a motion from Councillor Brad Bradford requesting consideration of ending the “angular plane” requirements for garden suites. The committee also supported a request for a report on a renovictions bylaw that could mirror the bylaw recently implemented in Hamilton.
Monday, March 4
🚌 The City-School Boards Advisory Committee meets at City Hall at 9:30 a.m. (👀 Watch Live: Committee Room 2, YouTube)NEW CLASS: This is a new advisory committee created by Council last fall, comprised of two councillors and five school board trustees. Councillor Parthi Kandavel is the chair, with Councillor Jon Burnside also on the roster. Their first-ever agenda has a lot of housekeeping stuff. The most interesting item is probably an update on the Student Nutrition Program, which is always looking for more funding.
👉 The Civic Appointments Committee meets at City Hall at 9:30 a.m. (👀 Watch Live: Committee Room 3, YouTube)NEW GIGS AT PORTS, TTC, LIBRARY: The committee will consider whether to recommend a confidential name to Council for appointment to the PortsToronto Board of Directors. With the island airport landing on Council’s agenda soon, this choice could matter.
Also up for consideration: shortlists of candidates for appointment to the TTC board and the Toronto Library board.
Tuesday, March 5
✅ The Compliance Audit Committee meets at City Hall at 9 a.m. (👀 Watch Live: Committee Room 2, YouTube)🕵️ TOUGH LUK: The committee responsible for combing through campaign finances will consider six cases of overcontribution from the 2022 municipal election where donors gave more than the maximum to fringe mayoral candidate Tony Luk. In all cases, candidates give $180 more than the $2,500 limit.
Luk finished in sixth place in the 2022 race with 6,662 votes. He reported raising more than $150,000 from donors.
Previously, in City Hall Watcher
For paid subscribers of City Hall Watcher, this week’s issue has:
The COUNCIL SCORECARD returns with a look at how voting alliances on Council have changed over the last three meetings, including last month’s very special meeting to consider the 2024 budget. Mayor Olivia Chow has seen stronger support from right-leaning councillors while her support from the left has wilted a bit.
Next week:
It’s time for a fresh edition of LOBBYIST WATCH, featuring some golf course drama, parking levy revelations, and — as always — a whole lot of Uber lobbying.
Subscribe today for ad-free access to weekly subscriber-exclusive issues.
Wednesday, March 6
🏆 The Bid Award Panel meets via videoconference at 2 p.m.CONTRACT AWARD OF THE WEEK: $8.6 million for Cisco network products.
Thursday, March 7
No meetings scheduled.
Friday, March 8
🏗️ The CreateTO Board meets via videoconference at 1:30 p.m.HOUSING MATTERS NOW: The City’s Real Estate corporation typically has an agenda item titled “Housing Now Progress Update.” This month, it’s been listed as “Housing Matters Progress Update.” Smells like a rebranding.
Alas, the update is to be a verbal one, so we don’t get a sneak peek. The agenda does reveal that CreateTO employees will get a cost-of-living adjustment of 1.75% for 2024.
🎳 The Striking Committee meets at City Hall at 2 p.m. (👀 Watch Live: Commitee Room 1, YouTube)
NOT SERVICABLE: There’s a vacancy on the nascent Service Excellence Committee following the resignation of Councillor Jaye Robinson. But nobody is interested in filling the spot.
There is a heck of a lot of interest in filling a vacancy on the CNE Board, though. Eight councillors want the spot. I guess talking about roller coasters and Ferris wheels is more fun than poring over 311 data. For some people, anyway.
There’s also a vacancy on the Long-Term Committee. Councillor Alejandra Bravo wants it.
In all three cases, the Striking Committee will make a selection, subject to later approval by Council.
The Week After Next
It’s March Break at City Hall. The calendar is clear to allow for family vacations or staycations.
The Far-Flung Future
Council’s next meeting is set to kick off on March 20. Many of the items noted above will be considered for final approval at that meeting.
Feedback? Tip? Email Matt Elliott. For advertising inquiries, email Sean Hansel. Social media image via Toronto Archives.