Latest news with #councillors
CTV News
2 hours ago
- Business
- CTV News
Mayor cracking down on councillors' disparaging comments that derailed 6-hour meeting
City councillors who cross the line during heated debates are straining relationships and slowing decision-making at city hall. On Tuesday, Mayor Josh Morgan warned councillors that he will crack down on the use of disparaging comments directed at city staff, stakeholders, and each other. '[You] make it sound like something untoward is happening,' a clearly frustrated Morgan said while resolving a dispute over a councillor's choice of words. 'That's what I've talked about before, and I'm going to engage on these things a little more clearly from now on.' The council meeting lasted over six hours. It's the latest council meeting needlessly extended by councillors using politically charged language that triggers an objection from another councillor (formally called a Point of Privilege). Rules that govern council meetings require the mayor to immediately rule on a Point of Privilege and remedy the situation, 'despite other pending business currently before Council.' At the same time members of the public are left waiting in the gallery each time council's progress through the agenda stalls. The mayor suggests that crossing the line can impact relationships with city staff, municipal agencies, and stakeholders. 'We can have lots of debate, but that does not need to be done with charged language or veiled accusations,' Morgan told CTV News after the meeting. 'So I called that out today, and I'm going to continue to do that. I'm going to expect the committee chairs to do the same.' During Tuesday's council meeting, the mayor had to interrupt debate about a funding request from the Old East Village Business Improvement Area (BIA). Coun. David Ferreira expressed concern that he had yet to see an accounting of how the BIA has utilized COVID Relief Funding which expires at the end of 2026. 'When I asked for this transparency from the Old East Village, I got a letter back that gives me a fog. I don't even know how to classify it. And it really actually hurts my confidence even more,' Ferreira said. Coun. Susan Stevenson, who sits on the OEV BIA Board, stood up and called a Point of Privilege, 'Saying your confidence being shaken, I think, is a disservice to the [city] staff who oversee this, to the BIA, and to the councillor that sits on that [board].' Later in the meeting, Coun. Sam Trosow took exception with Deputy Mayor Shawn Lewis' comments that presumed the results of a hypothetical appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal before council even voted on a high-rise development on Pack Road. Trosow was later scolded by the mayor for implying that the staff report recommending approval of the Pack Road development was not signed by the planner who wrote it. Morgan interrupted the meeting to allow the Deputy City Manager to confirm that the report was, in fact, recommended by the Director of Planning and Development. 'I'm actually going to ask all councilors, every single one in this room, to assume that staff of the corporation and staff of the BIA's are public service members doing things because they believe it is the right thing to do, [and] are doing things authentically and appropriately,' the mayor added. The councillors accused of making disparaging comments and those raising Points of Privilege tend to change based on the issue being debated. The increasingly common behaviour has involved many, but not all members of council. Council now has a brief period to cool off before committee meetings resume Aug. 11.
CBC
2 days ago
- Business
- CBC
Could a rating system for rental units help Montreal tenants?
Some Toronto city councillors and tenants' groups are pushing to implement a rental unit grading system in Canada's largest city. But affordable housing advocates in Montreal have mixed opinions on whether that would make an impact in their city.
CBC
6 days ago
- Politics
- CBC
Victoria, Saanich to work on amalgation question for next municipal election
Social Sharing The municipalities of Victoria and Saanich have taken steps towards amalgamation this week, with councillors in the capital city directing staff to work with Saanich staff to put together a short question that would be added to the ballot in the October 2026 local elections. The motion at Victoria city council Thursday morning, which included receiving the report from a citizens' assembly that recommended amalgamation after eight months of deliberation, passed unanimously after more than two hours of discussion. Earlier this week, councillors with the District of Saanich also discussed the report at length, with several of them expressing their support. Peter MacLeod, chair of the assembly on behalf of Toronto-based consultancy MASS SBP, said the members of the group were happy with the results. "I think the members are delighted," MacLeod told CBC News shortly after the meeting. "[They] were very pleased and gratified that both councils took their recommendations seriously." Saanich and Victoria are the two most populous municipalities on southern Vancouver Island, with populations of 117,735 and 91,867, respectively, according to 2021 census numbers from Statistics Canada. While they share some regional services, they are governed separately, with separate mayors and councils, separate police forces, and more. Years in the making If citizens vote in favour of amalgamation during the next local elections, MacLeod says it would still take at least four years for the process to be complete. The question of amalgamation in Greater Victoria has been years in the making. In 2014, seven of the 13 Capital Regional District municipalities said they wanted a study looking into amalgamation. In a non-binding referendum in 2018, residents approved each municipality spending up to $250,000 to study whether they would benefit from joining forces. The process was delayed by the pandemic but finally began last year. The Victoria-Saanich Citizens' Assembly, made up of 48 randomly selected residents from the two municipalities, released its recommendations in April. Criticism The discussion in Victoria Thursday morning did include criticism of the report and questions for assembly members. Coun. Jeremy Caradonna wondered why a financial analysis and risk assessment were not included as part of the process, or estimates of possible staff layoffs. At the meeting, MacLeod says the assembly recognized a "high degree of compatibility" between the two jurisdictions, including their populations and needs. Amalgamation discussions in other jurisdictions that MacLeod said he had taken part in often included a larger municipality absorbing a much smaller one, or several municipalities coming together — neither of which would be the case here.
BBC News
6 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Salford Council defers decision on skyscraper plans
A decision on whether to approve plans to build one of the UK's tallest skyscrapers in Salford has been deferred. Councillors earlier voted for the move in order to get more information regarding concerns around the £1bn project, which could see as many as 3,300 homes being built across 10 buildings at Regent Retail Park in would include a tower that could stand 895ft (273m) and up to 78 storey high - the biggest in Greater Manchester and one of the tallest in the country, behind the Shard and Horizon 22, both in nearby residents and councillors have objected to the scheme, saying the area of Ordsall is already under pressure and would struggle to cope with thousands of new people. One objector told Thursday's meeting it could currently take four weeks to see a GP in the local area of Ordsall."There was one resident we know who had a cough but she could not get an appointment for three weeks – she had to go to A&E for emergency treatment," they said. They also said congestion was already a "major problem". Salford MP Rebecca Long-Bailey said the scheme would create a "complete new town in the sky" which would "not be out of place in downtown Manhattan". She said: "There were no new proposals for GPs, no new school places, and no new dentists in one of the most deprived areas in the city, an area already struggling." Affordable housing was also a concern raised at the meeting, with planning reports showing creating affordable homes in the scheme was not the developer has offered the council 20% affordable housing through negotiations on the lease on the told the meeting they needed more information on affordable housing options as well as the impact the development would have on parking and transport. The deferral means the plans will come back to the planning committee at a later date. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Telegraph
16-07-2025
- General
- Telegraph
My council only collects rubbish once a fortnight. Here's how I cut my waste to one bag
Every time I drive from my house into Manchester, I am confronted by Pilsworth South Landfill, an unsightly hill that could be mistaken for the surface of the moon. I've watched diggers working on it day and night, to cap the rubbish and contain the smells produced from a dump site that is rapidly running out of space. As a small island, we're not blessed with places to put our waste, and many sites, like Walleys Quarry in Staffordshire, have been closed for good after years of plaguing residents. While I'm not in Pilsworth's direct shadow, I am constantly aware of the effect that it has on the people around it. Last year, there were 'unacceptable odour issues' arising from the site, caused by fresh waste being tipped and a rotten egg smell from hydrogen sulfide building up in rotting waste. The situation is dire - and set to get worse. Scotland's landfill ban comes into force at the end of the year, and it's estimated this could mean 100 truckloads of waste being dumped in England every day. Pilsworth's operators, Valencia Waste Management, have applied for a permit to process even more mixed non-hazardous waste at the site – despite councillors' concerns about 'over-tipping'. All of this has really driven home how vital it is to protect not just the environment itself, but also the people living near these overflowing dumps. When the stench becomes unbearable, the Environment Agency's advice is often simply to keep the windows shut – hardly ideal when it's 30 degrees outside. After actively working to cut down my waste, I now produce just one bag of rubbish every fortnight – and I'd like to reduce that even further. But I'm also aware that in the endless battle against wastefulness and pointless packaging, there's only so much any of us can do on our own. I see my choices as a vote for a world without single-use plastic and unnecessary wrapping, but it's almost impossible to avoid them entirely. So how did I do it? Here are the steps I've taken to cut my household rubbish down to just one bin bag every two weeks – all in an effort to protect the environment. I compost nearly all of my food waste Food waste is a huge issue, with households responsible for around 60 per cent of it. As a keen gardener, I compost every banana skin and eggshell from my kitchen, collecting them in a caddy and adding them to my garden heap. Over weeks and months, they break down and turn the compost patch into a haven for worms, insects and birds. Pet hair, coffee grounds and plastic-free tea bags can all go on the heap too, though cooked food should be put in the food waste recycling bin instead. Most councils – though not all – will also accept meat bones in food waste collections. I even throw in natural wine corks, though they take quite a while to decompose. Recycle soft plastics at the supermarket Even though soft plastics – anything that can be scrunched, like crisp packets, wrappers, film and cereal bags – might seem harmless, they can quickly fill up your bin. I've found them almost impossible to cut out entirely, so instead I collect them in a bag and drop them off for recycling at the supermarket during my weekly shop. While these plastics aren't usually collected at the kerbside, most large supermarkets (and some smaller ones) have big collection bins near their entrances and exits. In theory, they're turned into bags for life or plastic pellets; but according to one investigation by Everyday Plastic, some end up being incinerated either here or abroad. Buying unpackaged fruit and vegetables Whenever I'm in the supermarket, I choose loose fruit and vegetables in the hope it'll encourage them to stock more packaging-free options. I carry reusable mesh bags to put them in, and some places like Morrisons offer compostable brown paper bags too. Greengrocers and zero-waste shops are great for loose produce as well – and the latter often sell nuts, cereals and pasta you can pour straight into containers brought from home, avoiding packaging altogether. Refilling toiletries bottles again and again Contrary to popular belief, it's not only zero-waste shops that offer toiletry refills – many supermarkets and larger retailers do too. The service isn't available everywhere, but you can check for nearby stations online or via sites like About five years ago, I bought a reusable deodorant casing, and thanks to supermarket refills, I haven't needed single-use antiperspirant packaging since. Even smaller towns now have zero-waste shops, making refills easier to find than ever. There are also local doorstep delivery services – just search your postcode and 'refill delivery service' – where you pay a deposit for bottles that are collected, refilled and returned, much like a traditional milk round. I also use biodegradable sponges and brushes, which end up on my compost heap. While bamboo toothbrushes are an option, it's worth noting that their bristles are usually plastic, so they don't fully biodegrade. Paid-for zero-waste bags and boxes Some plastics are notoriously hard to reuse or recycle – things like food pouches, contact lens packaging, toothbrush heads and old pens. For these, I buy zero-waste collection bags from Terracycle. The fee covers postage, and I drop the filled bags off at a locker in my local supermarket. It's a simple process that gives me peace of mind, knowing it helps reduce harmful microplastics – which we ingest between 78,000 and 211,000 of each year. These plastics are then turned into pellets used to make play park equipment. Washable nappies for my son Every minute, around 300,000 nappies worldwide end up in landfill or incineration, where they can take up to 500 years to break down. I once visited a beach in Bali covered in discarded disposable nappies – a stark reminder of the problem. While some might hesitate at the idea of reusable nappies, I found them surprisingly straightforward with my now-three-year-old. They always came out of the washing machine spotless, and I used an electronic drying rack that kept electricity costs low. I simply flushed away solids and never had to rush to the supermarket, as I always had a clean batch ready. A huge bonus was that he never got nappy rash during the two years he wore them. Repairing small things Finding someone to repair a specific item can sometimes feel like a hassle, but it's a wonderful way to support local small businesses – and there's nothing quite like the satisfaction of bringing something back to life you thought was beyond use. I've managed to track down places to fix a broken vacuum cleaner, shoes and a sewing machine after some careful searching and local recommendations. Servicing items that attract dust and dirt, like vacuums or sewing machines, is also wise, as it extends their lifespan and can prevent costly repairs later on. I've even found a scissor-sharpening service where I send my blades to be restored instead of throwing them away once they become blunt. Jewellery and watches are other small items that can often be repaired locally or sent off to services like the Jewellery Doctor – just be sure to choose the right insurance level when posting valuable pieces. I take old textiles and shoes to a local charity When I moved into my house, I found some old sheets that weren't in good enough condition to donate. After a quick post on social media, I discovered the Fire Fighters Charity accepts them. They have bins outside many fire stations where you can drop off bags of used clothing and shoes. These items are then resold or repurposed into industrial wipes, rags, or car upholstery. The Salvation Army runs a similar scheme, with around 8,000 clothing banks across the UK – often in supermarket car parks or retail parks. Collections like these raise funds for charity, making it a double win for doing good in the world. I give old DIY materials to neighbours Recently, when I moved some walls on my top floor, I saved the wood from the wall frames. One of my neighbours collected it to share among his family for their log burners. He also took my old shed and transformed it into fencing for the community gardens. Having a local network like this helps cut waste – sharing tools and materials means we've avoided buying things like chainsaws or wheelbarrows that we'd only use once or twice. Other DIY materials people often welcome include stone, brick, tiles, paint, mirrors and old sinks. These are usually advertised on local Facebook groups, Nextdoor or Freecycle. Giving things away on Facebook 'Waste Saver' groups Even in rural areas like mine, there are plenty of Facebook groups where you can give away unwanted items or find things others no longer need. These groups often go by names like 'Waste Savers,' 'Freebies' or 'Giveaway' when you search for them. It's a brilliant way to keep stuff out of landfill – I've given away everything from wardrobes to maternity clothes. Before my son was born, I saved hundreds of pounds by picking up his toys, high chair, bouncers and even a breast pump from my local 'Freebie' group. It's not only great for your wallet but also a wonderful way to meet neighbours and avoid buying things you'll only use for a short while. Learning how to sew One of the best investments I've made for a lower-waste lifestyle is buying a sewing machine and learning to use it. I've made dresses from fabric offcuts and regularly mend my son's clothes when he comes home from preschool with holes in his trousers. It's a skill that's saved me a fortune – and my furniture too, as I reupholstered my secondhand sofa and loveseat myself instead of sending them to landfill. I learnt to sew by attending classes and joining a local craft group, which was a fun way to meet interesting people I wouldn't have crossed paths with otherwise. Since then, sewing has become a relaxing pastime that helps me find a moment of mindfulness in the evenings. Selling broken technology In our throwaway culture, one of the best things we can do for the planet is resist the urge to toss something the moment it stops working. I've made over £400 selling broken tech on eBay, so it's definitely worth a try – many buyers there make a living by fixing and reselling items. It's not just obvious things like laptops and phones; items like baby monitors and camera lenses can also be refurbished. I've sold broken camera lenses and a monitor with a damaged charging port within minutes, proving there's real value in things we often assume nobody would want, even if they're not working.
