Toronto council votes to give tree maintenance contracts to firms called out by auditor general

Thestar.com
May 7, 2021

Toronto city council voted Thursday to award $40 million in tree maintenance contracts to companies that include firms that were criticized by the auditor general in a scathing report issued in February.

“I don’t understand why we have to keep hiring these companies,” said Coun. John Filion, (Ward 18 Willowdale), who tried to introduce a motion that would have referred one of the companies back to the city manager for a discussion of performance, and to decide whether they should be rehired.

“How do you explain to your next-door neighbour that you have three companies that ripped you off, and not for a little bit of money, but a lot, by work not performed that you were charged for, and then you hire them all again,” said Filion, after the meeting.

“What message does that send to anybody -- to the public or companies doing business with the city? What are the consequences?”

The companies, which were not named in the auditor general’s report, were found by her to be billing for work that was not done.

Among other things, the auditor general found that work crews were active for an average of just three hours and 31 minutes in an eight-hour day. It was the second report in as many years to identify serious problems with tree maintenance services provided by contractors.

Janie Romoff, general manager of Parks, Forestry and Recreation, said the city doesn’t have the equipment to keep up with the volume of work needed to look after Toronto’s 10.2 million trees, and must hire outside vendors.

The firms were hired through a Request for Proposals process.

Coun. Stephen Holyday (Ward 2 Etobicoke Centre) said the recommendations from the auditor general, which include more and better oversight of work performed by arborists, have been incorporated into the new contracts.

“Ultimately we put our trust in the city’s professional public service to integrate the findings and provide a high level of contract management going forward” said Holyday.

“Ultimately I have trust and faith in them, and I think all members of council, especially myself, will be watching over the next couple of years.”

The decision by council to award the contracts was made at the end of a second day of meetings.

Council also voted Thursday to take steps to ensure that the province doesn’t unilaterally yield too much power when it comes to building so-called transit-oriented-communities (TOCs). The idea behind TOCs is to ensure development takes place in areas where transit is being built.

Coun. Kristyn Wong-Tam (Ward 13 Toronto Centre) was successful in having council agree to ask the federal government to consider including the First Parliament TOC on the National Historic Sites of Canada.

Coun. Brad Bradford (Ward 19 Beaches -- East York) was behind a successful motion to ask the province to develop a plan to restart outdoor sports and recreational activities, suspended by COVID-19, in consultation with local leagues and associations.

A motion by Coun. Mike Colle (Ward 8 Eglinton -- Lawrence) to publicly release the agreement between the City of Toronto and Oxford Properties, for the redevelopment of the Canada Square lands at 2200 Yonge St., near Eglinton Avenue West, was adopted by council.

Council also approved a motion by Coun. Jaye Robinson (Ward 15 Don Valley West) to ask Metrolinx to consider alternate site options for the Ontario Line Maintenance and Storage facility proposed for Thorncliffe Park and to consult with residents on the issue.

Council also voted to tell the provincial government that Toronto only supports ministerial zoning orders (MZOs) -- which allow the province to act unilaterally in municipal zoning matters -- if council is consulted ahead of time. Council backed that up by asking for MZOs for two affordable housing sites in the city.

A request by Coun. Michael Ford (Ward 1 Etobicoke North) for a report on extending the Finch West LRT to the future Woodbine GO Station was approved.

Councillors also agreed to request a report on reducing road salt; a report on technology that can detect noisy vehicles, take pictures of them and issue tickets; and to use Section 37 funds for a bench and statue honouring the late Coun. Pam McConnell at the Regent Park Aquatic Centre, which she was instrumental in having built.