Council Updates
A young cyclist was tragically killed on Bloor Street in July 2024 close to a construction bin that blocked the bike lane without a permit. Due to City Council’s failure to set meaningful fines for breaches of Chapter 743 of the Municipal Code (Use of Streets and Sidewalks), the tickets issued by Transportation Services to the companies allegedly responsible could amount to as little as $200. This shocks the community conscience, and should never happen again.
The City of Toronto Act allows Council to set a maximum fine of $100,000 for every serious breach of the Municipal Code. Council has done so for many offences, from Signs to Dust, but not for those most likely to injure or kill the innocent, like Chapter 743. Instead, this Chapter has been left to the default fine ceiling of $5,000, set decades ago by the Ontario Provincial Offences Act.
This woefully inadequate penalty sends a dangerous message to everyone who uses our streets and sidewalks, and it is time for Council to fix it. Councillor Saxe will present a motion pressing for credible maximum fines for breaches of the Municipal Code, and to authorize charges against corporate officers and directors in appropriate cases.