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CTV News
7 days 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.
Motor 1
23-07-2025
- Automotive
- Motor 1
Another State Is Cracking Down on Slow Left-Lane Drivers. Here's How It Could Cost You
Anyone who's driven anywhere in America knows how annoying left-lane campers are. But in recent years, states have taken more proactive approaches to reminding drivers about proper road etiquette, with some implementing laws specifically targeting left-lane hogs that slow the flow of traffic. Another state has joined the list: Connecticut. Connecticut's legislature recently strengthened a law to prevent cars from camping in the left lane. Governor Ned Lamont signed the bill on June 23; however, it won't become law until October 1, 2026. This will give the state a year to educate the public about the updated statute and the fines associated with it. The law stipulates that anyone who violates the provision could face an $88 fine. The updated statute states that a person can drive in the extreme left lane on a 'divided limited access highway' only when overtaking another vehicle, to access or egress from the highway, or at the direction of law enforcement. The state also has carveouts for the need to avoid emergency vehicles, road maintenance, or traffic congestion. Otherwise, Connecticut expects drivers to stay out of the left lane. The state clarified the law at the request of Connecticut's Department of Transportation. DOT spokesperson Josh Morgan told the Hartford Courant that the law "was a little unclear where it applied," and that first responders were complaining of traffic congestion caused by left-lane campers. He added that left-lane campers create 'unsafe conditions' because other drivers begin weaving through traffic to pass on the right. The Law: Another State Could Legalize Japanese Mini Trucks Gavin Newsom Just Killed California's Pursuit of Annoying In-Car Speeding Alerts Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Source: Hartford Courant Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
CTV News
16-07-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Did support for housing mega-project undermine The London Plan-- or address current reality?
The London Plan's prescription to fight sprawl is to build up, not out. However, Mayor Josh Morgan suggests the local housing crisis has even outpaced the ambitious density targets initially included in the foundational planning documents that guide future development in London. On Tuesday, the Planning and Environment Committee considered a planning application by Southside Construction to permit a cluster of high rise residential buildings up to 16-storeys tall at 6309 Pack Rd. despite strong opposition from Londoners who live in a neighbourhood of single family homes across the road. Neighbours took turns during the public meeting warning members of PEC about the potential impacts of boosting the density on the property. Several explaining they purchased their homes believing the farm field would be developed into a mix of medium and low density housing no taller than nine storeys, as per The London Plan and Southwest Area Secondary Plan. The mayor responded that the maximum building heights contained within those plans are being updated because the current housing crisis wasn't foreseen when they were written a decade ago. 'Everything that's happened since then, with this housing pressure that we've had, these plans are not reflective of the pressure that we face today,' Morgan said. Coun. Sam Trosow expressed concern about deviating so far from the long-term planning policies developed in consultation with the public. 'You will be undermining people's confidence in the integrity of a previous planning process, and I say that with all due respect to staff who have put in a lot of work over the years,' Trosow warned. Municipalities must review and update their Official Plans every five years. Currently, city staff are reviewing some of the building heights prescribed in The London Plan and its related Secondary Plans. pack road - london plan - july 2025 Bostwick Area planning map from the Southwest Area Secondary Plan showing medium density along Pack Road (Source: City of London) The staff recommendation to approve the rezoning of 6309 Pack Rd. includes a long list of conditions, known as holding provisions, that the developer has to meet before each of the high rise buildings can receive a building permit. Deputy Mayor Shawn Lewis directed some of his comments directly to neighbours concerned about the impact of higher density development on the site. 'This is a 15 to 20 year build out. These buildings aren't going to be there tomorrow. They're not going to be there next year,' Lewis said. 'These holding provision conditions around things like stormwater management, the capacities on the sewers, the traffic impacts, all roll out over time.' 'I have grave, grave concern that we are going to say yes (to the rezoning) and then we'll fix it up along the way,' responded Coun. Anna Hopkins who represents the area. 'We heard this is going to take a long time to get it fixed-- but why are we approving it?' Members of PEC voted 4-1 (Peloza opposed) in favour of the rezoning —including a request that shadow studies be considered before each high rise is given the green light. Council will consider the recommendation from PEC at its meeting July 22.
CTV News
25-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Residential tower at Richmond and Oxford gets green light, council also paves way for parking lots into housing
743 Richmond St., seen on June 24, 2025, is slated for development into a residential tower. (Bryan Bicknell/CTV News London) A pair of endorsements by London City Council Tuesday are expected to attract much needed housing to the downtown area. Councillors have given the green light to a residential tower at the northern edge of Richmond Row. The property is situated at 743 Richmond St., the southwest corner of Oxford and Richmond streets. 'They actually have a lot of experience dealing with incredibly tight spaces and small footprints, and being able to turn those into transformative developments,' said Mayor Josh Morgan of Toronto-based developer Fritzrovia Real Estate. The company plans to build at 35-storey mixed use tower at the site, an intersection notorious for heavy traffic, acknowledged Planning and Environment Committee Chair and Councillor Steve Lehman. proposed building at 743 Richmond Artist renderings of proposed building at 743 Richmond St. (Source: Fritzrovia Real Estate) 'And I know there's going to be traffic disruption, there has to be. But as much as possible, to keep it in that alleyway, and at the side, away from shutting down lanes of traffic there,' he said. The plan includes 512 apartments geared to students and other would-be downtown dwellers. The building will also have two floors of commercial space. 'It's bringing in a lot of density and intensification into the downtown. So that's one thing that we're always trying to do,' said Ward 13 Coun. David Ferriera, in whose ward the building will be located. 'Also, it is right at the main north entrance to downtown, which is very significant,' he commented. proposed building at 743 Richmond Artist renderings of proposed building at 743 Richmond St. (Source: Fritzrovia Real Estate) Initial plans allowed for only 77 parking spaces at the building. Deputy Mayor Shawn Lewis says that's a work in progress. 'They do have a plan that could add a fairly significant number of parking spaces, underground spots, but it will require a little bit of negotiation with the city,' Lewis explained. Demolition of the existing building at the site, home to a former retailer, is expected to begin later this year. Meanwhile, residential development could also be coming to the opposite end of downtown. Municipal parking London Municipal parking lots at Horton and Ridout streets. (Daryl Newcombe/CTV News London) City Council has paved the way for a pair of municipally owned parking lots at Ridout and Horton streets to be developed into housing. The city will go ahead with a Request for Proposals later this year. But according to Mayor Morgan, a number of submissions have already been received, ranging between 450 and 600 units. 'This is kind of the southern end of what is a grassroots movement called The River District, where private sector, business owners, have come together to say, 'We really want to brand this area that is a dynamic way, and get people excited about it.' So, there could be a development here that plays into that. There's a lot of potential for it,' said Morgan. The former brownfield sites are being offered to developers in 'as-is' condition.
CTV News
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Community celebrations in London's improved parks
As London's neighbourhood parks undergo improvements through the Neighbourhood Parks Improvement Fund, the city announced each improved park will host a celebration. The upcoming events will feature music, games and activities. Josh Morgan, mayor of London said the improvements are about the people from the community enjoying the space. 'This is really exciting because it's not something the City of London has done before, is invest in an infrastructure asset and then say, actually we want everyone to come out and really enjoy it together because that's what it's all about,' said Morgan. The first event will be hosted at Murray Park, on June 25 from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The park, one of the first to be improved, has added seating and a new basketball court. The fund supports 23 park improvements, with $4 million allocated to the project. Improvements are expected to be completed by 2027, with 10 projects being constructed this year. 'A lot of people like to spend time in parks, and something we hear a lot as public officials is, 'please make these improvements, please improve the public spaces we use,' and this is an example of us being able to do that,' said London City Councillor Skylar Franke.
