Anthony Perruzza

As the largest city in Canada, the people and businesses of Toronto are significant consumers of materials and goods, a majority of which end up in landfills that are quickly approaching capacity. A circular economy refers to a society-wide approach to production and consumption that aims to eliminate landfill waste and maximize resources by recovering as much as possible from used products. Transitioning to a circular economy not only supports sustainability, but also sparks innovation, creates jobs, addresses climate change and reduces costs related to waste management.

The City has been working on its circular economy transition since Council set an aspirational goal in 2016 to work towards zero waste and to make Toronto the first municipality in the province of Ontario with a circular economy. Building on this work, the City has developed its first "Circular Economy Road Map" (the Road Map) (Attachment 1).  

The Road Map was shaped by valuable input from residents, Indigenous people, industry and peer cities around the world, including London (UK), Glasgow, Rotterdam and members of the Canadian Circular Cities and Regions Initiative. It sets out a vision for Toronto’s circular economy transition over the next 10 years through five Strategic Directions and 15 Actions to support waste reduction and sustainable consumption in Toronto, with a focus on addressing wider consumption behaviours that generate waste. Through the Road Map, the City will deliver incentives, supports and programs for residents and businesses that make circular solutions easy and accessible. It will also lead by example by embedding circular practices into its own operations, while also identifying and addressing barriers to create an enabling environment for businesses and community to pursue their own circular innovations.

The Road Map will be implemented by multiple City Divisions using a whole-of-city approach (see Attachment 2 for the City's 3-Year Circular Economy Road Map Implementation Plan). City staff have identified key initiatives to prioritize beginning in 2026, which include communicating the benefits of circularity, establishing forums to hear from circular businesses, identify barriers and co-develop solutions and determining whether existing resources and programs, such as the Green Market Acceleration Program, could be used to support circularity. Additionally, the City will assess the feasibility of a reuse hub to stimulate a secondary market for construction materials and is seeking Council authority to implement a second intake period of the Circular Food Innovators Fund, a grant program that supports businesses in implementing reuse systems that eliminate single-use and takeaway items.  

Implementing the Road Map is expected to further strengthen Toronto’s leadership profile and position the City among the global peer cities that are advancing the transition to a circular economy. Furthermore, the Road Map actions support the City in adapting to trade uncertainties and affordability concerns, with the circular economy offering a framework for enabling supply chains and businesses to become more resilient by decoupling operations from the extraction of natural resources, increasing material security and reducing exposure to price volatility.[1], [2] Beyond supply chain considerations, circular solutions offer a pathway to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that cannot be addressed by the renewable energy transition alone, including global greenhouse gases attributed to the production of materials, products, food and land management.[3] A transition to circular business models offers an opportunity for circular jobs and skills building,[4] innovation and new business partnerships and creates the pathways for residents to consume more sustainably and make the most out of the things they purchase through strategies like reuse and repair.

City staff will provide regular progress updates to City Council on the implementation of the Road Map. The first update will be delivered in 2029, following the initial three years of implementation (2026 - 2028).

[1] Rajaonson, Juste. (April, 2025). A stronger Canadian economy starts with a circular economy in cities and regions. Policy Options. https://policyoptions.irpp.org/2025/04/circular-economy/
[2] Jensen, Henrik Hvid. (February, 2024). How the circular economy secures manufacturing supply chains. World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/stories/2024/02/how-manufacturers-could-lead-the-way-in-building-the-circular-economy
[3] Canadian Climate Institute. (March, 2023). How circularity can contribute to emissions reductions in Canada. https://climateinstitute.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/how-circularity-can-contribute-emissions-reductions-canada.pdf
[4] Circular Economy, Solutions for Youth Employment, and International Labour Organization. (May, 2023). Decent work in the circular economy. https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/5d26d80e8836af2d12ed1269/6459fd6277ede78534464251_20230424%20-%20CJI%20-%20Decent%20work%20in%20the%20circular%20economy%20-%20210x297mm.pdf

This report recommends approval of an application to amend the Zoning By-law to permit a 6-storey (19.3 metres, excluding mechanical penthouse) residential building with associated amenity space, landscaping, and surface parking accessed from Bering Avenue. The proposed building comprises 37 dwelling units and a gross floor area of approximately 2,049 square metres.

I am writing to formally propose naming the north west baseball diamond at Martingrove Gardens Park (located at 31 Lavington Road) to “Jim Horton Baseball Diamond” in honour of the late Jim Horton, who passed away on February 6, 2025, at the age of 76.

Jim Horton started coaching in 1987 and was known as “Mr. Everything” for Martingrove Baseball and was a life member. In 2011, he received Etobicoke Baseball’s Lifetime of Excellence Volunteer Award for his outstanding dedication to the sport of baseball in the city.

Upon learning of his passing, many Etobicoke baseball families shared stories about him, including his dedication to supporting children and youth, as well as fostering community health and well-being through the sport. Jim's contributions went far beyond coaching. He served as an Executive Member of the Martingrove Baseball for more than thirty-five consecutive years, including many years as President, and was ultimately recognized as a life member of the organization. Over the years, he held nearly every executive role, including President, Vice-President, Equipment Manager, Umpire-in-Chief, Treasurer, and continued to assist the current Treasurer.

When it came to building and enhancing the game of baseball, Jim was a driving force behind the construction of the Centennial Park baseball diamond in Etobicoke. Jim was instrumental in securing the City's commitment to build and the Optimist Club's funding of the project at a cost of $100,000. As it stands, the Centennial Park Optimist Diamond is still a jewel of ballparks in the West End of Toronto, located at the corner of Eglinton and Centennial Park Boulevard.

On September 22, 2025, a property naming application was submitted to the City’s Strategic Partnerships Office requesting to name a baseball diamond at Martingrove Gardens Park in honour of Jim Horton. In 2008, City Council adopted item 2008.EY19.31 to rename the east baseball diamond at Martingrove Gardens Park in honour of Lloyd McConnie. The naming application and this motion seek to name the remaining diamond. Staff have confirmed that the proposed naming aligns with the City of Toronto’s Guiding Principles for Commemoration. The application demonstrates strong and positive community support, including a petition with 328 signatures from local residents and members of surrounding Greater Toronto Area communities, as well as letters of support and testimonials from members of the baseball community who knew Jim Horton.

Considering Jim Horton’s contribution to our community, and with the support of his family, it is appropriate that the City recognize his impact by naming the north west baseball diamond in Martingrove Gardens in his honour.

The motion is necessary since the City’s policy only pertains to naming real estate assets or a building, and an exemption allows for a ball diamond to be considered. As well, it allows for naming to be considered prior to the two-year grace period for recently deceased individuals.

Staff from Parks and Recreation confirm that costs associated with the production and installation of the new park sign will be accommodated within the 2025 Approved Operating Budget for Parks and Recreation.

On September 23, 2024, the Etobicoke York Community Council adopted item 2024.EY16.14 - Strathdee Drive - Traffic Calming (Speed Humps), without amendment.

The staff report recommending installation of traffic calming speed humps on Strathdee Drive originated from a neighbourhood request for investigation which was supported by a petition. The first petition, dated May 30, 2023, was signed by 21 households and demonstrated clear positive support. 

The staff report found that conditions on Strathdee Drive met the required warrants, including the 85th percentile operating speed of 17 km/h over the warranted speed of 30 km/h and the 95th percentile of 22 km/h over the warranted speed of 30 km/h. Increased volume was detected following the recent installation of speed humps on nearby Waterford Drive. 

The initiation of the petition and the final outcome of the investigation spanned the timing of City Council’s November 2023 decision on 2023.IE7.4, which changed the Traffic Calming Policy, and significantly lowered the required warrants for operating speed.

On October 14, 2025, I received a new petition from the residents of Strathdee Drive which calls for an immediate pause on the installation of the speed humps. A number of residents who signed the original petition have withdrawn their support for traffic calming. The results of the new household petition are: 21 of residents are in support of a pause, 4 opposed, and 3 are unknown or had no response.

The timing of this petition is urgent, since the installation process has already commenced with signage, and the new speed humps are anticipated to be installed in the coming weeks.

Considering the new petition from residents which indicates a withdrawal of support, I am making the following recommendations to the Etobicoke York Community Council.

The legacies of Dr. Jane Goodall and Dr. Anne Innis Dagg have reshaped global and Canadian understanding of wildlife and conservation. At the Toronto Zoo, young people get inspired every day to follow in their footsteps with curiosity about the natural world and how we can respect and learn from it.

Dr. Jane Goodall has inspired generations worldwide through her groundbreaking research on chimpanzees and her tireless advocacy for conservation and youth empowerment through the Roots and Shoots program. Dr. Anne Innis Dagg, a Canadian zoologist, author, and trailblazer in animal behaviour research, is internationally recognized as the pioneer of modern giraffe field research and a tireless advocate for both wildlife conservation and the advancement of women in science.

Both Dr. Goodall and Dr. Innis Dagg embody values of courage, perseverance, and hope for protecting the natural world, and their legacies can ignite passion in young people to take positive action for our future. Access to nature provides students with unique experiential learning opportunities that cannot be replicated in a classroom, fostering empathy, critical thinking, curiosity, and a deeper understanding of biodiversity and the challenges facing our planet.

Creating a “Legacy of Learning” program that provides free school field trip access for Toronto students to the Toronto Zoo will both honour the extraordinary contributions of Dr. Jane Goodall and Dr. Anne Innis Dagg and invest in the next generation of Guardians of Wild, ensuring that young Torontonians inherit not only knowledge but responsibility to care for the planet.

Learning through direct connection with animals aligns with the Toronto Zoo’s mission of connecting people, animals, traditional knowledge and conservation science to fight extinction, and with its Guardians of Wild Strategic Plan goal to inspire youth to become active champions for wildlife and the environment and supports the Toronto Zoo’s TZNet0 Plan. This program will also support the City of Toronto’s Poverty Reduction Strategy and various City efforts to support young people.

This motion is urgent as adequate time is required to develop the program design and implementation plan to report back as part of the 2026 budget process.

Intimate Partner Violence is a pervasive and urgent issue that affects individuals, families, and communities across Toronto. It manifests in various forms—physical, emotional, financial, sexual, and coercive control—and its impact extends far beyond the individuals directly involved, leaving lasting harm on children, families, and communities. 

There are many services available to Torontonians, including shelters, hotlines, and crisis programs—but many people don’t know they exist, or feel too afraid or ashamed to reach out. Advocacy groups continue to sound the alarm that professionals are seeing increased cases of physical violence, confinement, and financial and emotional abuse in recent years. For example, Toronto’s Barbra Schlifer Clinic alone served 18,000 survivors from April 2023-March 2024.

Recognizing the severity of this issue, Toronto City Council, led by Mayor Olivia Chow, declared intimate partner and gender-based violence an epidemic on July 20, 2023. This declaration was passed unanimously and aligns Toronto with over 30 Ontario municipalities that have made similar declarations, following the recommendations of the 2022 Coroner’s Inquest into the deaths of Carol Culleton, Anastasia Kuzyk, and Nathalie Warmerdam. This inquest highlighted the urgent need for systemic change and called for formal recognition of Intimate Partner Violence as an epidemic. 

Despite Council’s declaration, Intimate Partner Violence incidents continue to rise in Toronto (from 2023 to 2024), with Toronto Police attending to 18,119 incidents in 2024. Many individuals still suffer in silence due to fear, stigma, and lack of awareness of available resources. A comprehensive public communications campaign is crucial for raising awareness, reducing stigma, and ensuring that every resident knows where to turn for assistance. Such a campaign would not only inform but also empower individuals to seek assistance, fostering a community-wide response to this epidemic. Survivors should be able to access key information across the City in the many places where they interact with City services. 

Pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports in Toronto. Its courts are in high demand, with hundreds now across our city.

In 2023, City Council directed a report back as part of the reassessment of the Parks and Recreation Facilities Plan a review of the need for pickleball provision across the City, this work is underway.

Since this direction, other groups, including the City of Ottawa and British Columbia Recreation and Parks Association have developed their own pickleball strategies which have included noise mitigation efforts, due to the loud and frequent sound of the hard plastic ball hitting a solid paddle. As pickleball popularity grows, City Councillors offices are receiving more frequent complaints related to noise from these courts. To address these concerns holistically, implementation of the Parks and Recreation Facilities Plan’s recommendations on Pickleball should include considerations for noise impacts generated by this activity.

Although Toronto Public Health promotes eye examinations, it does not offer school-based eye examinations based on the dental model. Studies have shown that students with visual impairments have limited ability to learn incidentally. This affects how they form concepts and develop schema or frameworks for understanding new ideas and vocabulary that provide essential foundation skills for comprehension and abstract reasoning. Visual processing directly impacts one’s ability to learn, read, and retain information. Learning in school is typically directed at visual processing 75 percent of the time. So, to do well in school and in life, developing one's visual system is critical. Educational studies and epidemiological results have documented the high prevalence of poor vision among school-age students because of exposure to prolonged vision-demanding academic tasks and prolonged indoor sedentary lifestyles. Megan Collins, a pediatric ophthalmologist at the Wilmer Eye Institute, associate faculty at the Berman Institute of Bioethics, and co-director of the Johns Hopkins Consortium for School-Based Health Solutions concluded in one study that “giving kids the glasses they need helps them succeed in school. This collaborative project with Johns Hopkins, Baltimore City and its partners has major implications for advancing health and educational equity all across the country.” Toronto Public Health has noted, “Each year, thousands of children start school without ever having an eye exam. Parents often believe that their child will let them know that they cannot see well, but children are rarely able to tell that they have poor vision because they have nothing to compare it to. That’s why we recommend that all children have their first eye exam at 6 months old, again at 2-3 years old, and every year after that." As many do not take this advice, it is recommended that Toronto Public Health explore the viability of co-ordinating school-based eye examinations for elementary students in high needs areas at the start of the school year.

The City employs thousands of motivated, skilled, and trained professionals and subject matter experts. The services and advice that these public servants provide on a daily basis helps to ensure that Toronto is consistently ranked as one of the best cities in the world to live in.

Unfortunately, a troubling trend has emerged in recent years. Spending on outside consultants rose markedly over the tenure of the previous administration. From 2014 to 2023 (the most recent year data was made available), the City and its Agencies increased spending on outside consultants from $11.2 million to $57.7 million. This figure does not capture considerable additional expenditures on consultants involved with the delivery of capital projects.

While the City will always require some external expertise, core responsibilities such as playground design, planning studies, and crosswalks should not be contracted out to high-priced firms. Apart from the increased cost of contracting consultants, there are also ancillary benefits of performing more of this work in-house. A City of Toronto employee has flexibility to perform several roles on our residents’ behalf as opposed to an outside consultant hired to do a discrete task. Job satisfaction is also higher when public servants are engaged with the work they trained for instead of managing external partners to perform the same job. Hiring consultants also involves issuing a request for proposal, which can delay the start of a project by months while staff evaluate the contract bids.

This motion requests the City Manager and Division Heads to prioritize the use of our public service over procuring outside consultants to more effectively deliver services for Toronto residents.

This report recommends that City Council refuse the proposal to erect a structure on and adjacent to the property at 2 Whitney Avenue under Section 42 of the Ontario Heritage Act.

The subject site is a B-rated property located in the North Rosedale Heritage Conservation District. The applicant is seeking retro-active approval for the retention and completion of a partially constructed masonry wall, a structure that was erected without a heritage permit. All public and private lands within the boundaries of a heritage conservation district are designated under Part 5 of the Ontario Heritage Act.

The proposed wall, a substantial portion of which was built prior to the owner of 2 Whitney Avenue stopping work at the City's request, does not comply with the North Rosedale Heritage Conservation District Plan, the Official Plan or the Parks Canada Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada. As such, staff recommend that this application be refused.