Ben Spurr

Rod Phillips, former Ontario cabinet minister, says he won’t run for Toronto mayor Rod Phillips was mentioned in political circles as a potential municipal candidate after former mayor John Tory said Tuesday he would not launch a comeback bid.

That was fast. After Rod Phillips' name circulated as a potential mayoral challenger in the wake of John Tory's announcement Tuesday he was staying out, Phillips says today he won't run. www.thestar.com/news/gta/rod...

(Tremendous pic there from the Star's Rene Johnston)

How John Tory’s exit, some bad blood — and a Ford — are threatening to shake up Toronto’s mayoral race As Brad Bradford moves closer to solidifying himself as the consensus centre-right mayoral challenger to progressive incumbent Olivia Chow, he still has hurdles to clear.

How John Tory’s exit, some bad blood — and a Ford — are shaking up Toronto’s mayoral race www.thestar.com/news/gta/cit...

I do not like how this war is happening in different places in the world.

Michael Ford, premier’s nephew, considering run for Toronto mayor Michael Ford was a city councillor from 2016 to 2022 and was elected Ontario PC MPP in 2022.

Michael Ford, premier’s nephew, says he's considering run for Toronto mayor www.thestar.com/news/gta/mic...

John Tory not seeking re-election as mayor of Toronto: Sources The former mayor of Toronto will not run in the fall’s municipal election.

Breaking: John Tory set to announce he's not seeking re-election as mayor of Toronto, according to sources www.thestar.com/news/gta/joh...

Toronto’s mayor wants to finally fix this foul-smelling city eyesore. It’s unclear how much it will cost Mayor Olivia Chow is proposing the city take back control of its sidewalk trash receptacles after two decades of privatization.

Wee scoop from me this morning. Mayor Chow will introduce recommendations today to bring Toronto's street litter bin program in-house. The Astral-designed bins have been much maligned in the past 20 years. www.thestar.com/news/gta/tor...

Gardiner Expressway undergoes emergency repairs over fears of falling concrete — again The city discovered new sections of decay that undermine the highway deck’s load-carrying capacity and pose a “serious safety hazard” to people below.

Gardiner Expressway undergoing emergency repairs after city discovers "serious safety hazard" www.thestar.com/news/gta/gar...

Giorgio Mammoliti, colourful former Toronto councillor and Rob Ford ally, dies at 64 The former Toronto councillor was known for such unusual moves as ripping off his shirt in council chambers to protest a nude beach on Hanlan’s Point.

Breaking: Former Toronto city councillor Giorgio Mammoliti has died www.thestar.com/news/gta/gio...

Toronto restaurant owner Adam Skelly in court for Charter challenge over defying COVID-19 rules Adam Skelly, owner of Adamson Barbecue, calls filing the case “a reckoning with the unchecked exercise of state power.”

Toronto court set to hear constitutional challenge today from restaurant owner whose defiance of COVID lockdown rules became a flashpoint in 2020 www.thestar.com/news/gta/tor...

Metrolinx and the city spent nearly $100M on SmartTrack stations that may never be built, documents reveal In confidential documents seen by the Star shows that roughly $97 million has been spent on stops at King-Liberty and Finch-Kennedy that were indefinitely deferred in 2024.

Exclusive: Metrolinx and city spent almost $100 million on two SmartTrack stations that may never be built thestar.com/news/gta/metrolinx-and-the-city-spent-nearly-100m-on-smarttrack-stations-that-may-never-be-built/article_5d65890c-b5ef-4b49-b851-d30f6565fda6.html

What Olivia Chow’s latest property tax hike has done to her approval rating The mayor's approval rating is holding steady even as one of her main rivals gains ground, according to a new poll.

Mayor Olivia Chow's approval rating holding steady after latest budget, in what pollster says is positive sign for a potential re-election bid www.thestar.com/news/gta/wha...

It’s taken years for the city to close a tiny gap in this 65-km public trail. The trouble? A 110-year-old private golf course lies in the way Toronto has finally decided to expropriate part of the Weston Golf and Country Club, a private course that has been open since 1915.

From @alyshah.bsky.social: It’s taken years for the city to close a tiny gap in this 65-km public trail. The trouble? A 110-year-old private golf course lies in the way www.thestar.com/news/gta/it-...

Ask us: Our experts take your questions on Toronto’s 2026 budget On Thursday at 12 p.m., city hall bureau chief Ben Spurr and senior politics reporter David Rider will answer your questions about Olivia Chow's 2026 budget.

Do you have questions about Toronto's 2026 budget? Pop on over to the Star at noon and my learned colleague @dmrider.bsky.social and I will do our best to answer them www.thestar.com/news/gta/ask...

Booze for breakfast? Olivia Chow wants to let Toronto eateries raise a glass at 6 a.m. during the Olympic Games thestar.com/news/gta/booze-for-breakfast-olivia-chow-wants-to-let-toronto-eateries-raise-a-glass-at-6/article_ca6d1e12-21b0-4a52-8465-5d83e938d108.html?mrfhud=true

Catching the ‘seabus’? Report offers glimpse of proposed route for potential Toronto Harbour service A now released report shows the route and potential fares for the service. There are also plans for a proof-of-concept test this summer.

Catching the ‘seabus’? Report offers glimpse of proposed route for potential Toronto Harbour service thestar.com/news/gta/catching-the-seabus-report-offers-glimpse-of-proposed-route-for-potential-toronto-harbour-service/article_3a54abd9-e584-46ca-bd24-97890da7d739.html

City of Toronto contracted shelter security guards sue over ‘systemic wage theft’ The suit against the city and security company One Community Solutions (OCS) represents an estimated class of as many as 1,000 workers.

From Ben Cohen: City of Toronto contracted shelter security guards sue over ‘systemic wage theft’ www.thestar.com/news/gta/cit...

What Toronto’s snowstorm cleanup might mean for Olivia Chow’s political future Olivia Chow has spent months hammering home the message that she’s improved Toronto’s winter storm response, after last February’s painfully slow cleanup.

After promising to improve Toronto's winter operations, storm cleanup is a key test for Mayor Olivia Chow www.thestar.com/news/gta/cit...

TTC’s Josh Colle says transit moving relatively well, transit workers still removing snow from open sections of track by hand. “We’ll be ready for rush hour,” he says.

Chow says city has done rounds of plowing on major streets, and one round on residential roads. Snow removal at priority spots like hospitals and transit stops is starting today.

Mayor Chow delivering donuts and coffee to city snow workers

Does Toronto really plow bike lanes before roadways? Here’s what we found out A Toronto councillor asserted that there were no bikes to be found using bike lanes he said the city made “spotless” before it cleared snowy roads.

Does Toronto really plow bike lanes before roadways? Here’s what we found out thestar.com/news/gta/does-toronto-really-plow-bike-lanes-before-roadways-heres-what-we-found-out/article_bca9933b-9d55-4a83-beee-9014750a593e.html

The mayor and the homeowner are now having a conversation in front of reporters about the benefits of those incentives, complete with mugs branded with Chow’s slogans.

Toronto’s new ‘bubble zone’ bylaw was put to the test this week during a visit by a controversial Israeli comedian A show by Israeli comedian Guy Hochman at a Jewish community centre in North York sparked a protest where a former chapter head of the Jewish Defense League was charged with assault.

From Ben Cohen: Toronto’s new ‘bubble zone’ bylaw was put to the test this week during a visit by a controversial Israeli comedian www.thestar.com/news/gta/tor...

Toronto far behind on World Cup diversity spending goal The city has spent just $685,000 on hosting-related contracts with Black- and Indigenous-owned businesses or suppliers otherwise considered diverse.

Council set a target of spending $20 million on Indigenous, Black or otherwise diverse suppliers for the World Cup. With months to go, they've spent just $685,000. thestar.com/news/gta/toronto-far-behind-on-world-cup-diversity-spending-goal/article_3098de32-751e-434a-bfe7-f502628fd0a2.html

Toronto far behind on World Cup diversity spending goal The city has spent just $685,000 on hosting-related contracts with Black- and Indigenous-owned businesses or suppliers otherwise considered diverse.

Toronto far behind on World Cup diversity spending goal www.thestar.com/news/gta/tor...

From that story: TPS says 37 per cent of their officers now have less than 10 years on the job, nearly double the figure from 2019. Studies show officers with less experience are more likely to be subject to public complaints.

Toronto police are on a hiring spree. What a rookie-laden force could mean for public safety The proportion of uniformed Toronto Police Service members with less than 10 years on the job has nearly doubled since 2019, from about 20 per cent to 37 per cent.

For years, Toronto police said they faced a staffing shortage. Now that they're hiring hundreds more officers, they have another challenge: a growing number of inexperienced cops. Here's what that means for the force, and the public they serve www.thestar.com/news/gta/tor...

Feds cut $10 million from Toronto housing fund over sixplex decision Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government had previously threatened to withhold $30 million in housing funding over city council’s sixplex decision.

Feds cut $10 million from Toronto housing fund over sixplex decision www.thestar.com/news/gta/fed...

Toronto city councillors stand by consulate-sponsored trip to Israel amid criticism, as integrity commissioner finds no breach Toronto city councillors Mike Colle and James Pasternak attended a six-day “Canadian political leadership mission” to Israel in November.

Toronto councillors are standing by a consulate-sponsored trip to Israel in Nov., saying it strengthened bonds with an ally and aligned with council priorities. Critics say it was an attempt to burnish Israel's image as it faced genocide allegations. www.thestar.com/news/gta/tor...