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Ben Spurr

Toronto

City Hall Bureau Chief at The (Toronto) Star

Toronto Star city hall bureau chief. If you've got a story, email me at [email protected], or call 416 869-4547.

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Articles

  • Here’s what 500 businesses say Donald Trump’s tariffs will mean for Toronto residents

    1 week ago | thespec.com | Ben Spurr

    Toronto businesses are bracing for job cuts and widespread cost increases as a result of U.S. tariffs, according to a new survey conducted by the city. A report headed to Mayor Olivia Chow’s executive committee on Monday detailed the results of an online survey intended to gauge the impacts of President Donald Trump’s aggressive trade policies on the city’s economy.

  • Here’s what 500 businesses say Donald Trump’s tariffs will mean for Toronto residents

    1 week ago | therecord.com | Ben Spurr

    Toronto businesses are bracing for job cuts and widespread cost increases as a result of U.S. tariffs, according to a new survey conducted by the city. A report headed to Mayor Olivia Chow’s executive committee on Monday detailed the results of an online survey intended to gauge the impacts of President Donald Trump’s aggressive trade policies on the city’s economy.

  • Toronto councillors vote to give themselves 24 per cent pay raise

    4 weeks ago | thespec.com | Ben Spurr |Mahdis Habibinia

    Toronto city councillors voted to give themselves a 24 per cent raise on Thursday after a report concluded they made less than their peers in other municipalities. While a majority of council members felt the pay increase was overdue, it was criticized by Mayor Olivia Chow as well as some staffers in councillors’ own offices, whose wages have been frozen as they attempt to unionize.

  • ‘Canadians take care of each other’: Toronto council approves response plan to Donald Trump’s tariffs

    4 weeks ago | thespec.com | Ben Spurr

    Toronto city council has unanimously approved Mayor Olivia Chow’s plan to fight U.S. tariffs, despite reservations expressed by some members that the measures were “performative” and would do little to deter American trade aggression. In a speech on the council floor, Chow again accused U.S. President Donald Trump of launching a “senseless” trade war against Canada that had upended relations between the two countries.

  • Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow unveils Trump’s tariffs plan

    1 month ago | thestar.com | Ben Spurr |Mahdis Habibinia |Ben Cohen

    Even as Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow vowed a forceful response to Donald Trump’s tariffs, officials cautioned it could take time to break the city’s reliance on U.S. suppliers.

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Ben Spurr
Ben Spurr @BenSpurr
10 Apr 25

Bike lanes compromise under discussion between Toronto, province https://t.co/vW916SUOW0

Ben Spurr
Ben Spurr @BenSpurr
9 Apr 25

We're at the stage where every city committee meeting features a councillor moving a motion asking "can we use AI?" to fix whatever problem they're debating.

Ben Spurr
Ben Spurr @BenSpurr
9 Apr 25

Speaker at infrastructure committee just put up what looks like a wartime ad for a carpooling club. They don't make PSAs like this anymore! https://t.co/0cfuzOr4jn