Toronto city council is meeting this week for its first session of the summer, with several major items on the agenda including expanding pedestrian streets, reducing fares for Toronto Island ferries, honouring a fallen police officer, and enhancing public art at transit stations.
The meeting runs from Wednesday through Friday.
Discounting ferry prices
A motion introduced by Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik and seconded by Councillor Paula Fletcher proposes exploring ways to improve access to the Toronto Islands by reducing financial barriers.
The motion recommends reviewing discounted fare options and the possibility of removing passenger fees for Toronto Island ferries.
“With increasing numbers of visitors expected to Toronto Island as we develop it as a year-round destination, this is the time to examine how an efficient and equitable fare structure should be implemented,” the motion states.
Honouring Constable Marc Pinizzotto
Councillor Shelley Carroll and Mayor Olivia Chow have introduced a motion to honour Constable Marc Pinizzotto, who was shot and killed in the line of duty on June 11.
The motion directs city staff, in collaboration with Toronto Police Service, to identify an appropriate way to commemorate him through the naming of a city asset.
It also calls for engagement with Pinizzotto’s family and the Toronto Police Association during the process.
Mississauga council recently voted to rename Gate Park in his honour, as his family home is nearby.
Pedestrianizing more streets
Following the launch of the Church Street pedestrianization pilot, Councillor Josh Matlow has brought forward a motion calling for the creation of a citywide Pedestrian Streets Program.
The proposed program would establish criteria for selecting streets, identify candidate locations, and outline how future pedestrian street projects would be planned and implemented.
The motion envisions identifying both seasonal and year-round pedestrianized streets by next year, with staff directed to report back on required resources through the 2027 budget process.
Public art program for Metrolinx stations
A motion from Councillor Rachel Chernos Lin urges the city to work with Metrolinx to create a Public Art Program for transit stations owned by the agency.
This would include stations along the newly opened Line 5 Eglinton and Line 6 Finch West, as well as future Ontario Line stations.
Similar to the TTC Public Art Program, the initiative would involve art juries, local representatives, and members of the public in selecting installations.
