Bubble zones, raves and dangerous dogs on Toronto city council agenda
CBC
Bubble zones, raves and dangerous dogs are all on the agenda as Toronto city council kicks off three days of meetings on Wednesday.
Those are just three of the big issues coming to council, in addition to a lawsuit over Gardiner Expressway construction, potential updates to park rules, a city beauty plan and more.
Here's a look at what to expect:
Council should get some answers to questions surrounding a plan for a bylaw that would ban demonstrations directly outside places of worship, faith-based schools and cultural institutions.
According to a city council motion passed in December, the proposed "bubble zone" bylaw would create community safety zones to support "the City's commitment to keeping Torontonians safe from hate" and protect Charter rights "that address impacts of demonstrations that target people based on their identity as prohibited under the Ontario Human Rights Code."
The bylaw, sought by councillors following a wave of protests largely spurred by the Oct. 7 attack on Israel and the resulting war in Gaza, was supposed to be ready by the end of March. Staff are now expected to bring a report on bubble zones back to council next month, with a proposed bylaw and recommendations.
Coun. Gord Perks has asked city staff questions about the language used in an online survey consulting the public on the issue.
The request followed a letter from the Canadian Civil Liberties Association that says while the survey said the bylaw is not intended to limit peaceful protest, it would do just that, violating the Charter. It also points out the survey was anonymous and could be taken by people not living in Toronto, and that it failed to mention that a similar bylaw in another municipality is currently under legal challenge.
"With a matter of such sensitivity, it is important to ensure that the consultation process is diligent, fair, and process oriented," Perks wrote in his request.
Perks was one of three councillors who attended a rally against the proposed bylaw this month.
The city's rave scene will also be under review Wednesday.
Coun. Chris Moise has introduced a motion to urge the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario give the city more power to deny special occasion permits (SOPs) — the temporary liquor licenses needed for electronic music raves in spaces like parks and warehouses.
Moise says he and other councillors have heard a "surge" of concerns around public safety, dangerous overcrowding and noise complaints related to rave parties hosted by certain, unnamed non-profit organizations.
"While the majority of non-profit events in our city contribute positively to our community, a few have exploited regulatory exemptions, undermining the public trust and safety that these guidelines are intended to protect," Moise said in his motion.
Ontario’s Progressive Conservatives will huddle behind closed doors at a policy convention this weekend as some Tories question the party’s direction after nearly eight years in power.
The father of a three-year-old girl that was killed after being struck by a vehicle in Cambridge in mid-December says recent charges laid to the driver bring little comfort and relief.
The start of kindergarten can be a time of excitement or anxiety for parents, guardians and children — and also for Prince Edward Island's education officials as they try to staff schools appropriately.
Nunavut Nukkiksautiit Corporation (NNC)’s proposed hydro project is facing some backlash in Pangnirtung.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre will take to the stage Friday for what could be one of the most important speeches of his political career as he tries to convince delegates at the party's Calgary convention to keep him in the job.
As his flight departed from Amsterdam's Schiphol airport en route to Kuwait via Istanbul, Canadian crypto fugitive Andean Medjedovic was unaware that his globe-trotting lifestyle would soon be halted.
One of the largest taxi companies in Toronto will be down to three wheelchair-accessible cabs by the end of March, as advocates and providers say the city is failing to support accessible taxi drivers.
As a deep freeze continues to envelop southwestern Ontario at the same time municipalities deal with a pressing shortage of road salt, there's a renewed focus on finding different ways to melt road ice.
Dave Lawson is a proud Canadian who has bumper stickers that say "Canada is not for sale." He's fed up with grocery products plastered with maple leaves and patriotic logos that turn out to be American imports.
The Town of Badger has issued an evacuation order for some residents as water levels on the Exploits River continue to rise.
The head of a national seniors' advocacy organization says protecting nursing home residents from sexual abuse is an important but challenging issue.
New data shows Winnipeg's fire-paramedic service fielded hundreds of reports involving the city's homeless population, but one advocate says she expects that number to go down in light of the city's limits on where encampments can be.
Former students of the Île-à-la-Crosse Boarding School have reached a settlement in their lawsuit against the federal government.