Allison Smith

2 weeks ago | torontotoday.ca | Allison Smith

Toronto city council voted Thursday to approve a byelection for Ward 25 (Scarborough-Rouge Park) so voters can elect a new councillor to replace Jennifer McKelvie, who is now a Liberal MP. The byelection is expected to cost $550,000. McKelvie’s replacement will only be in office for about one year before Torontonians head to the polls for the general municipal election scheduled next fall. McKelvie won the federal seat in Ajax last month and officially resigned from Toronto council on May 9.

2 weeks ago | pelhamtoday.ca | Allison Smith

Toronto city hall and Queen’s Park are at odds over who will cover the costs of policing, transit, first responders and other services required for next year’s FIFA World Cup tournament. One year out from the city’s hosting duties, a new financial conflict has arisen between the two levels of government — and Mayor Olivia Chow is threatening to slash the city’s budget for the event if it’s not resolved.

3 weeks ago | torontotoday.ca | Allison Smith |Kathryn Mannie

Rookie Liberal MP Evan Solomon is Canada’s minister of artificial intelligence and digital innovation, a new portfolio that signals a tech focus for Prime Minister Mark Carney’s new government. Solomon, a former CBC and CTV broadcast journalist, was elected to represent the Liberals in Toronto Centre last month. Toronto—Danforth Liberal MP Julie Dabrusin was also named to Carney’s cabinet. Dabrusin, who was elected for a fourth term, will serve as minister of environment and climate change.

1 month ago | torontotoday.ca | Allison Smith

There are three downtown Toronto ridings where new Members of Parliament will definitely be elected today. There are no incumbents running in Toronto Centre, Spadina—Harbourfront and Taiaiako'n—Parkdale—High Park. That means whoever wins the most votes in those districts will be a rookie MP when they head to the House of Commons.

1 month ago | torontotoday.ca | Allison Smith

Toronto councillors hotly opposed to the redevelopment of Ontario Place leveraged a recent New York Times investigation to get the issue back on the city’s agenda. Councillors Josh Matlow (Toronto-St. Paul’s) and Ausma Malik (Spadina-Fort York) brought a motion to this week’s city council meeting requesting city manager Paul Johnson prepare a “status update” on the construction, permitting, approvals and land transfers at Ontario Place.