Matthew Bingley

Toronto City Hall Reporter

Author Archives

• Latest Toronto ferry outage raises further reliability questions

  Toronto's only municipally-owned car ferry was pulled from service on Monday, and while it isn't expected to take long to fix, it's the latest issue in a year.

  Politics

  Nov 13
• Toronto councillor resigns from FIFA committee amid sex assault trial

  The decision comes in the middle of an Ontario Court of Justice trial in which Michael Thompson is fighting two counts of sexual assault, following a 2022 Muskoka cottage weekend.

  Politics

  Oct 25
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• Bylaw targeting Toronto renovictions to be implemented summer 2025

  The plan will be debated at the Planning and Housing Committee next week and at Toronto City Council later in November.

  Politics

  Oct 24
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• Testimony wraps on first week of Toronto city councillor’s sexual assault trial

  Michael Thompson, 64, was charged with two counts of sexual assault in September of 2022, following a long weekend cottage getaway in Muskoka.

  Crime

  Oct 11
• ‘It really angers me’: Toronto urged to make progress on ancient remains discovery

  More than nine months after ancient human remains were discovered in a Riverdale neighbourhood, the city has spent nearly $200,000 monitoring the location.

  Politics

  Sep 19
• Toronto’s handling of ferry crashes raises questions

  In the past decade there have been eight incidents involving the city’s ferries, but only one of those has yielded a full-scale investigation from the Transportation Safety Board.

  Politics

  Sep 14
• Toronto plan to ban professional dog walkers from park sparks outrage

  A motion presented by the local councillor has banned commercial dog walkers from using a dog park in midtown Toronto after neighbours complained about it.

  Canada

  Aug 27
• Organizers worry Ford government parking garage could throw CNE into ‘turmoil’

  The arrival of the middle of August brings about the Canadian National Exhibition with crazy food and wild carnival rides. But plans for a parking garage could mar future events.

  Canada

  Aug 14
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• Accelerated Gardiner Expressway timeline murky until deal finalized

  Toronto officials have given the green light to an expanded work schedule that will see construction on the western leg of the Gardiner Expressway end earlier than expected.

  Canada

  Jul 31
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• Liberty Village residents on the edge over congestion, Toronto says a solution is coming

  Council is also due to look at a plan to speed up construction on the Gardiner Expressway at this week's meeting. A wider congestion plan will also be due in September.

  Politics

  Jul 23
• Definition of 100-year storm ‘seems to have flown right out the window’: Toronto official

  Toronto’s city manager says the city will review its response to Tuesday's storm, while an area food bank is calling for support after being impacted.

  Politics

  Jul 18
• ‘We’re all drowning’: Inside the chaos of Toronto’s vacant home tax rollout

  Newly released internal emails are offering a glimpse of the chaos behind Toronto’s vacant home tax rollout that had staff and councillors scrambling for answers.

  Politics

  Jul 15
• Chow ambitious as mayor enters 2nd year on job: ‘We can do a lot more’

  The sudden scandal-plagued departure of John Tory as Toronto's mayor vaulted Olivia Chow into the city's top job. One year later, Chow says 'we need to do more.'

  Canada

  Jul 13
• Questions mount after cost nearly quadruples for 2 new Toronto ferries

  Years after the city began the process of replacing its aging ferries to Toronto's harbour islands, the cost of two new vessels has nearly quadrupled from the original figures.

  Canada

  Jul 4
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• Toronto investigating new suicide barrier following deaths, including DVP passenger

  Toronto city staff have been directed to look into the viability of a new suicide prevention barrier on the Leaside Bridge over the Don Valley Parkway.

  Canada

  Jul 3
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• ‘They will eat everything’: Toronto enlists goat herd to tackle invasive species

  Over the next couple of days, the goats will be munching away at invasive species in a unique pilot project.

  Environment

  Jun 25
• New pools in Toronto finally opening as suffocating heat continues

  'We are extremely excited to be able to open this back up for Torontonians.' Summerville pool is among dozens of outdoor and wading pools reopening Saturday on modified hours.

  Canada

  Jun 22
• Toronto Public Library prepares for extended hours, more Sunday operations

  Eight branches will get more hours from Monday to Saturday starting in July and an additional eight locations will see doors open on Sundays beginning this September.

  Politics

  Jun 5
• ‘A no-go:’ City investigating early-morning rave heard along Toronto waterfront

  Dozens of posts online complained about a lack of action from city officials after they awoke to throbbing basslines which continued to around 5 a.m. on Sunday.

  Politics

  Jun 3
• Parkette dedicated to the memory of Leslieville shooting victim

  A Leslieville parkette has been renamed in honour of Karolina Huebner-Makurat, a Toronto mother who was killed by a stray bullet last July.

  Crime

  Jun 1
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• Oil spill that shut Toronto subway line for almost a day not an isolated incident: TTC

  The TTC is launching a probe to get to the bottom of repeated hydraulic oil leaks affecting the city’s subway network, the latest of which knocked out service for half a day.

  Politics

  May 16
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• Toronto hopes new garbage bins will improve on problematic originals

  Toronto is testing out new sidewalk waste bins to address longstanding complaints from residents who have bemoaned the messy and inefficient original designs.

  Politics

  Apr 25
• ‘We screwed up’: Toronto admits major flaws in vacant home tax rollout

  After being inundated with complaints from frustrated residents who received incorrect vacant home tax bills, City of Toronto staff were grilled by councillors.

  Canada

  Apr 18
• TTC tests out body cameras as part of new use-of-force policy

  The TTC is launching a nine-month pilot program that will see special constables and fare inspectors equipped with body cameras. Critics say the plan may not be effective.

  Politics

  Apr 12
• Strike deadline set by TTC union representing hundreds of workers

  Union president Sumit Guleria said that after a difficult bargaining session last week the union voted in favour of setting a strike deadline of April 22 at midnight.

  Canada

  Apr 11