Ben Spurr
@benspurr.bsky.social
City hall bureau chief at the Toronto Star
After ‘construction hell,’ first rides on Finch West LRT should be free, councillor says www.thestar.com/news/gta/aft...
After ‘construction hell,’ first rides on Finch West LRT should be free, councillor says
Coun. Anthony Perruzza is asking Premier Doug Ford to let residents take their first trip on the Finch LRT this Sunday free of charge.
www.thestar.com
December 3, 2025 at 5:05 PM
After ‘construction hell,’ first rides on Finch West LRT should be free, councillor says www.thestar.com/news/gta/aft...
Olivia Chow looks to hike taxes on sale of ‘luxury’ homes www.thestar.com/news/gta/oli...
Olivia Chow looks to hike taxes on sale of ‘luxury’ homes
Mayor Olivia Chow proposes increasing the land transfer tax on “luxury” homes valued at $3 million and up.
www.thestar.com
December 2, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Olivia Chow looks to hike taxes on sale of ‘luxury’ homes www.thestar.com/news/gta/oli...
Confused by Toronto's curbside parking signs? The city is trying to fix that thestar.com/news/gta/is-this-a-sign-of-torontos-future-city-looks-to-cut-curbside-clutter-with-clearer/article_c80f5d57-674f-4967-bcb5-9d04e8119448.html
Is this a sign of Toronto’s future? City looks to cut curbside clutter with clearer parking display
Toronto city staff are proposing a pilot project of signage with clearer language and colour-coded diagrams to reduce confusion about parking restrictions.
thestar.com
November 28, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Confused by Toronto's curbside parking signs? The city is trying to fix that thestar.com/news/gta/is-this-a-sign-of-torontos-future-city-looks-to-cut-curbside-clutter-with-clearer/article_c80f5d57-674f-4967-bcb5-9d04e8119448.html
Toronto suspends contractor with $200M in city projects in the past five years over alleged rules breach www.thestar.com/news/gta/tor...
Toronto suspends contractor with $200M in city projects in the past five years over rules breach
City data shows that since 2002 Toronto has awarded Capital Infrastructure and its affiliates almost 350 contracts totalling about $514 million.
www.thestar.com
November 27, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Toronto suspends contractor with $200M in city projects in the past five years over alleged rules breach www.thestar.com/news/gta/tor...
IntegrityTO has faced blowback for its graphic online posts. Is it showing the ‘stark reality’ of Toronto or making local politics toxic? www.thestar.com/news/gta/int...
IntegrityTO has faced blowback for its graphic online posts. Is it showing the ‘stark reality’ of Toronto or making local politics toxic?
On Tuesday, IntegrityTO’s Daniel Tate plans to mark the group’s arrival on the political scene with a launch event at the Mod Club, which will be attended by at least two sitting councillors.
www.thestar.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:27 PM
IntegrityTO has faced blowback for its graphic online posts. Is it showing the ‘stark reality’ of Toronto or making local politics toxic? www.thestar.com/news/gta/int...
@thesamaracentre.bsky.social Hi there, I'm trying to reach Samara for a story I'm working on, but haven't heard back. Can someone pls be in touch at [email protected]? Thanks.
November 20, 2025 at 1:07 PM
@thesamaracentre.bsky.social Hi there, I'm trying to reach Samara for a story I'm working on, but haven't heard back. Can someone pls be in touch at [email protected]? Thanks.
City of Toronto pauses hiring of non-essential workers www.thestar.com/news/gta/cit...
City of Toronto pauses hiring of non-essential workers
A memo issued by senior staff said a pause on hiring is necessary to address a projected operating shortfall for 2025.
www.thestar.com
October 22, 2025 at 10:23 PM
City of Toronto pauses hiring of non-essential workers www.thestar.com/news/gta/cit...
‘A real dark day’: Toronto City Hall reacts to Doug Ford’s move to ban speed cameras thestar.com/news/gta/a-real-dark-day-toronto-city-hall-reacts-to-doug-fords-move-to-ban-speed/article_878b37e6-166d-4cfd-b1d6-45d64e5798fc.html
‘A real dark day’: Toronto City Hall reacts to Doug Ford’s move to ban speed cameras
The Ford government tabled legislation Monday to ban automated speed cameras in Ontario.
thestar.com
October 21, 2025 at 12:59 PM
‘A real dark day’: Toronto City Hall reacts to Doug Ford’s move to ban speed cameras thestar.com/news/gta/a-real-dark-day-toronto-city-hall-reacts-to-doug-fords-move-to-ban-speed/article_878b37e6-166d-4cfd-b1d6-45d64e5798fc.html
All Toronto library branches to be open on Sundays starting this weekend www.thestar.com/news/gta/cit...
All Toronto library branches to be open on Sundays starting this weekend
The move mars a milestone in Mayor Olivia Chow's plans to extend hours at all the city's branches.
www.thestar.com
October 17, 2025 at 5:57 PM
All Toronto library branches to be open on Sundays starting this weekend www.thestar.com/news/gta/cit...
From me and @andytakagi.bsky.social: ‘It’s been a good ride’: Toronto’s transportation manager to retire after nine years www.thestar.com/news/gta/its...
‘It’s been a good ride’: Toronto’s transportation manager to retire after nine years
Deputy City Manager Will Johnston announced Barbara Gray’s decision in a letter sent to council members and municipal staff on Friday
www.thestar.com
October 15, 2025 at 9:10 PM
From me and @andytakagi.bsky.social: ‘It’s been a good ride’: Toronto’s transportation manager to retire after nine years www.thestar.com/news/gta/its...
At Downsview Park where Mayor Olivia Chow is joined by federal housing minister Gregor Robertson and CEO of Build Canada Homes (and former mayoral rival) Ana Bailao to make a housing announcement.
October 14, 2025 at 2:36 PM
At Downsview Park where Mayor Olivia Chow is joined by federal housing minister Gregor Robertson and CEO of Build Canada Homes (and former mayoral rival) Ana Bailao to make a housing announcement.
TTC beefing up subway service as more commuters return to the office www.thestar.com/news/gta/ttc...
TTC beefing up subway service as more commuters return to the office
Improvements the TTC is planning to implement Sunday will restore service on Line 2, Bloor-Danforth to pre-pandemic levels, the city says.
www.thestar.com
October 9, 2025 at 11:23 AM
TTC beefing up subway service as more commuters return to the office www.thestar.com/news/gta/ttc...
Neethan Shan wins Scarborough-Rouge Park byelection www.thestar.com/news/gta/sca...
Scarborough—Rouge Park byelection results: Neethan Shan wins
Monday’s byelection in Ward 25 Scarborough—Rouge Park was held to replace former councillor Jennifer McKelvie.
www.thestar.com
September 30, 2025 at 2:45 AM
Neethan Shan wins Scarborough-Rouge Park byelection www.thestar.com/news/gta/sca...
Nothing official yet in the Scarborough-Rouge Park byelection, but Neethan Shan has just entered a ballroom at the Scarborough Convention Centre to his supporters chanting his name. He's in the lead with more polls still to report. www.thestar.com/news/gta/sca...
Scarborough—Rouge Park byelection results: Neethan Shan in early lead
Monday’s byelection in Ward 25 Scarborough—Rouge Park was held to replace former councillor Jennifer McKelvie.
www.thestar.com
September 30, 2025 at 1:29 AM
Nothing official yet in the Scarborough-Rouge Park byelection, but Neethan Shan has just entered a ballroom at the Scarborough Convention Centre to his supporters chanting his name. He's in the lead with more polls still to report. www.thestar.com/news/gta/sca...
Mayor Olivia Chow at Wellesley station announcing details of a pilot project that will deploy Toronto Community Crisis Service teams to downtown subway platforms.
September 24, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Mayor Olivia Chow at Wellesley station announcing details of a pilot project that will deploy Toronto Community Crisis Service teams to downtown subway platforms.
The latest in our Waste Not, Want Not series about Toronto's trash: It’s a small sticker slapped on the side of Toronto blue bins, but it signals a big — and possibly difficult — change the city’s recycling program www.thestar.com/news/gta/why...
Why a small sticker slapped on your blue bin has Toronto city hall in a big uproar
New provincial rules will change who is responsible for collecting and disposing of recyclables in Toronto as the city’s landfill nears capacity.
www.thestar.com
September 17, 2025 at 8:43 PM
The latest in our Waste Not, Want Not series about Toronto's trash: It’s a small sticker slapped on the side of Toronto blue bins, but it signals a big — and possibly difficult — change the city’s recycling program www.thestar.com/news/gta/why...
From David Rider: New poll shows how Olivia Chow might fare against possible mayoral contenders — including John Tory www.thestar.com/news/gta/new...
New poll shows how Olivia Chow might fare against possible mayoral contenders — including John Tory
Forum Research surveyed 1,000 adults across Toronto on Wednesday and Thursday, asking about their support for four potential candidates well ahead of the October 2026 mayoral race.
www.thestar.com
September 5, 2025 at 1:45 PM
From David Rider: New poll shows how Olivia Chow might fare against possible mayoral contenders — including John Tory www.thestar.com/news/gta/new...
Scoop: Toronto and the federal government could be headed for another dispute over refugee supports, with Mayor Olivia Chow warning council that Ottawa looks set to "walk away" from its duty to house asylum seekers www.thestar.com/news/gta/ott...
Ottawa shirking responsibility for sheltering refugees, Chow warns, after Carney government offers Toronto just a quarter of requested funds
Mayor Olivia Chow warned the federal government’s new funding formula would leave Toronto $107 million short this year.
www.thestar.com
August 20, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Scoop: Toronto and the federal government could be headed for another dispute over refugee supports, with Mayor Olivia Chow warning council that Ottawa looks set to "walk away" from its duty to house asylum seekers www.thestar.com/news/gta/ott...
A powerful piece from @thekeenanwire.bsky.social, on the unfathomable death of 8-year-old JahVai Roy. "We came to know him only because we failed to protect him — even in his own home, even in his own bed, even in the arms of his mother." www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
Edward Keenan: His name was JahVai Roy. We cannot forget him
We must not only remember the loss of this 8-year-old boy, but fight to prevent it from ever happening again.
www.thestar.com
August 19, 2025 at 7:26 PM
A powerful piece from @thekeenanwire.bsky.social, on the unfathomable death of 8-year-old JahVai Roy. "We came to know him only because we failed to protect him — even in his own home, even in his own bed, even in the arms of his mother." www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
‘Horrific, senseless act’: Mayor tells mother of 8-year-old fatal shooting victim JahVai Roy police are doing everything possible to find perpetrator www.thestar.com/news/gta/cit...
‘Horrific, senseless act’: Mayor tells mother of 8-year-old fatal shooting victim JahVai Roy police are doing everything possible to find perpetrator
Mayor Olivia Chow says she has spoken with Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw and the city and police are doing everything possible to find those responsible for the death of
www.thestar.com
August 18, 2025 at 10:20 PM
‘Horrific, senseless act’: Mayor tells mother of 8-year-old fatal shooting victim JahVai Roy police are doing everything possible to find perpetrator www.thestar.com/news/gta/cit...
Coun. Dianne Saxe has some stronger words about today's bike lane ruling, saying the Ontario government's "wasteful and dangerous plan" has been "dealt a serious blow."
July 30, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Coun. Dianne Saxe has some stronger words about today's bike lane ruling, saying the Ontario government's "wasteful and dangerous plan" has been "dealt a serious blow."
Statement from Mayor Chow's office on bike lane ruling stops short of explicitly saying she welcomes the court's decision. Says bike lanes keep ppl safe, council should have control of municipal infrastructure, and city is reviewing the ruling.
July 30, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Statement from Mayor Chow's office on bike lane ruling stops short of explicitly saying she welcomes the court's decision. Says bike lanes keep ppl safe, council should have control of municipal infrastructure, and city is reviewing the ruling.
Mayor Olivia Chow's office says she was forced to remove a video she posted to social media in which she welcomed a Palestinian family to Toronto, after they faced a barrage of online abuse www.thestar.com/news/gta/vid...
Video of Mayor Olivia Chow welcoming Gaza refugees to Toronto pulled from Instagram over online abuse
The original Instagram post included a video in which the mayor at city hall holds a video call, greeting a Palestinian family that has fled Gaza as they arrived at Pearson International Airport.
www.thestar.com
July 30, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Mayor Olivia Chow's office says she was forced to remove a video she posted to social media in which she welcomed a Palestinian family to Toronto, after they faced a barrage of online abuse www.thestar.com/news/gta/vid...
'Consultation' is a 'slippery word': Council moves ahead with six shelter sites after heated debate www.thestar.com/news/gta/we-...
‘We have a housing crisis, folks’: Council moves ahead with six shelter sites after heated debate
Some councillors took issue with a previous decision that delegated site selection to city staff rather than elected officials.
www.thestar.com
July 25, 2025 at 5:47 PM
'Consultation' is a 'slippery word': Council moves ahead with six shelter sites after heated debate www.thestar.com/news/gta/we-...
From Ben Cohen: Council has also approved the appointment of a new medical officer of health www.thestar.com/news/gta/tor...
Toronto appoints a new medical officer of health
City council on Wednesday approved the appointment of Dr. Michelle Murti as the city’s new medical officer of health, replacing Dr. Eileen de Villa, who stepped down in December.
www.thestar.com
July 24, 2025 at 2:21 PM
From Ben Cohen: Council has also approved the appointment of a new medical officer of health www.thestar.com/news/gta/tor...