City Hall Watcher

An In-Depth Look at Toronto’s City Government with Visuals Hello, I’m Matt, also known as GraphicMatt on Twitter—yes, that's me with the distinctive hair! Welcome to my newsletter. I am an award-winning journalist with eight years of experience covering the actions of Toronto City Council. I was the pioneer in fact-checking Mayor Rob Ford’s assertion that he saved the city $1 billion. My goal is to keep you informed about council votes and your city councillor’s activities. For six consecutive years, my work has been featured in Metro, and I currently provide analysis on City Hall for CBC Toronto.

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Articles

Sixplexes for the Six, parking pondered, senior staff come and go, Tory turns up

1 day ago | toronto.cityhallwatcher.com | Matt Elliott

Hey there! Next week at City Hall is a busy one, with three standing committee meetings on the docket. Here’s a special free bonus edition of the newsletter with a look at what’s coming, including debates on six-unit multiplexes, the long-awaited parking strategy, the TTC’s troubling trends, and more. — Matt ElliottCity Hall Watcher is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Lobbyists join the battle of Bathurst Street

5 days ago | toronto.cityhallwatcher.com | Matt Elliott

Hey there! Welcome to June. A new month means a new edition of LOBBYIST WATCH. I’ve got tidbits about the brewing battle on Bathurst and Summerhill Market’s involvement, a wave of lobbying about self-driving cars, and a peek at Council’s upcoming debate on tiny shelters.
Toronto Council votes to inflate bubble zones

1 week ago | toronto.cityhallwatcher.com | Matt Elliott

Hey there! Another meeting of Toronto Council is in the books, which means it is time for me to bring you a complete recap. I’ve got some quotable quotes and some chartable charts from a meeting that featured debates on “bubble zones”, protecting tenants, and the far-off dream of better access to Toronto Islands.
Will Council burst the bubble zone bylaw?

2 weeks ago | toronto.cityhallwatcher.com | Matt Elliott

Hey there! Hope the long weekend treated you well. I watched the 2012 animated film The Lorax eighteen times or so. Three-year-olds love The Lorax. They can’t get enough of that weird little mustachioed tree-lover. Speaking of getting enough, there’s a big Council agenda this week.
Toronto's multiplexes are multiplying - but not fast enough

3 weeks ago | toronto.cityhallwatcher.com | Matt Elliott

Hey there. I’m taking a backseat this week, as guest contributor Damien Moule has returned to mark the second anniversary of Toronto Council’s decision to allow multiplexes. He’s got some data on how many multiplexes have been permitted since. There’s been an increase, but the numbers aren’t as high as City Hall planners hoped — or anywhere near as high as our civic frenemies in Edmonton.
Simons says: lobby the mayor

1 month ago | toronto.cityhallwatcher.com | Matt Elliott

Hey there! It’s a new month, which means today I have brought you a brand new LOBBYIST WATCH. Even as the federal election preoccupied most of us, Toronto’s municipal lobbyists still found time in April to make their pitches to members of Council and staff.
Carney crowned, McKelvie moves on, robot cars rise, leaf blowers could get banned

1 month ago | toronto.cityhallwatcher.com | Matt Elliott

Hey there! A busy week at Toronto City Hall looms, so here’s a special bonus edition of City Hall Watcher, with a look at what’s on the calendar. I’ve got notes on changes to development application fees, self-driving cars, a new “Toronto Builds” program, a potential ban on some leaf blowers, and pedestrian streets. — Matt ElliottCity Hall Watcher is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Council creates a congestion czar - but how many cars does Toronto even have?

1 month ago | toronto.cityhallwatcher.com | Matt Elliott

Hey there. Well, it’s another election day. If you’re finding it stressful waiting for the results to roll in, how about you distract yourself with a report from the April meeting of Toronto Council? It had it all — traffic, blue bins, development charges and even an appearance from Polkaroo.
Makeover, makeover: Toronto Council readies for debate on creating a pretty city

1 month ago | toronto.cityhallwatcher.com | Matt Elliott

Hey there! Hope you had a great long weekend. There’s less than a week to go before the federal election. If you’re feeling stressed about the vote, why not distract yourself with some coverage of a Toronto Council meeting?
Spider-Man, a Big Red Monster, Santa (with a real beard) - and other tales from Council expense records

1 month ago | toronto.cityhallwatcher.com | Matt Elliott

Hey there. The day has finally come. City Council’s 2024 office expense records are out — and as always, they offer a revealing look at how councillors navigate their jobs, both literally and figuratively. I’ve had a look at the details, starting with what I think is the most telling chart from the data: how councillors get around.