‘Time-sensitive’ shelter consultation decision put off by city council

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The public wanted a say on where new homeless shelters open, but Toronto city councillors decided they’d rather call it a night.

Councillors were to consider a motion at this month’s meeting that called for individual consultations with the public for six new proposed homeless shelters, with input from the local councillor on when meetings take place and whether they’re held online or in person.

Online meetings will be held this month regarding changes to zoning for the shelter sites, two of which could open as soon as 2027. But councillors spent much of the day debating a new bubble zone bylaw, and by 9 p.m. Thursday, their ranks had noticeably thinned.

When it came time to debate the last two items of the night – the shelter consultation motion, as well as an item about securing a shuttered school for Toronto’s film industry – Councillor Gord Perks moved to push those decisions off to council’s next meeting, in late June.

“We’re losing quorum. People – like, Rachel just left,” Perks said, referring to Councillor Chernos Lin. “I’m sorry – you want to come back tomorrow? That’s the other option.”

Perks appeared to be addressing Councillor Parthi Kandavel, specifically. Kandavel, in apparent frustration, gestured broadly back toward Perks before walking across the chamber floor to show his tablet computer to Councillors Mike Colle and Lily Cheng.

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“So, 30-6 is time-sensitive, and the act of deferral makes it not effective. I’m not supporting deferral,” Stephen Holyday told the few councillors left in the chamber, referring to the motion by its number on the agenda.

“I don’t know what the problem is in getting two items done. That’s what we’re here for … Madam Speaker, I’m not really sure what the problem is where everyone’s in a rush to not deal with a time-sensitive item.”

The motion to defer the two items passed 10-5. Cheng, Holyday and Kandavel were joined by Councillors Chris Moise and Amber Morley in voting against putting the decision off. (Ten councillors were absent from the vote.)

The sites for the proposed shelters are in six different wards – those represented by Cheng, Colle, Kandavel, Morley, and Councillors James Pasternak and Alejandra Bravo, who were not present for the vote.

Pasternak had put the motion forward, seconded by Kandavel.

“The city has delegated the public consultation process to the community engagement facilitator public progress team,” the motion says. “Community consultation sessions and public engagement campaigns have taken on a generalized approach, which does not appropriately reflect the needs and concerns of local communities which will be impacted by the six new proposed shelters.”

One of the six shelters is planned to open at 1220 Wilson Ave. – in the southwest corner of Pasternak’s ward – by 2030. Pasternak did not respond to a request for comment from TheToronto Sun, but previously expressed hope a shelter could instead be hosted at nearby Humber River Hospital.

Kandavel also did not respond to a request for comment from the Sun, but has gone public with concerns about an impending shelter —  in at 2535 Gerrard St. E. —  in his ward of Scarborough Southwest, and has complained about the consultation process.

“I was never given the space and place to give the city feedback about what it takes to make shelters work in our community and to push back on what doesn’t,” Kandavel told the National Post, according to a report published early this year.

He also told the Post he has reservations about the use of third-party consultants, and said he wanted the city’s representatives to meet the public in person.

While the locations for the planned shelters were once confidential – Mayor Olivia Chow apparently rebuked Kandavel publicly for letting the public in on the secret – the City of Toronto now has them listed on its website. Along with the Wilson and Gerrard sites, shelters are expected to come to 1615 Dufferin St., 2204-2212 Eglinton Ave. W., 68 Sheppard Ave. and 66 Third St.

Earlier this month, the Sun reported on the Niagara Neighbours for Community Safety group’s battle to have their voices heard regarding 629 Adelaide St. W., a relocated shelter expected to open in the coming weeks. That came after a third-party consultant’s report suggested “NIMBYism” is stigmatizing Toronto’s homeless population.

jholmes@postmedia.com