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Councillor Lily Cheng moves to look at including parking, loading space and outdoor amenity space at the new shelter 68 Sheppard West. She also wants to look a making the entrance not visible from Sheppard West.

Councillor Chris Moise thanks Gord Tanner and the shelters team. "For the first time in five years in Toronto Centre — where we've had the most and the largest encampments in our city — two weeks ago we've had zero encampments in any of our parks," he says.

Moise says he hopes Pasternak and others can "humanize this process, and vote in favour of the experts in the room that know better and allow these things to take place." Pasternak rises on a Point of Personal Privilege. He says Moise is "demonizing" those opposed to these shelter sites.

Councillor Paula Fletcher decries "politicizing the poor" and trying to turn shelters into election issues. "It's actually disgusting when I think about it in that way. Everybody has a responsibility to help everybody else here. Everybody has a responsibility to lift everyone up."

Councillor Stephen Holyday moves for a report on "a revised process" for shelter sites. He says he has a "grievous issue" with the current delegated process. "Why would anyone trust what we're doing if we don't adress that particular issue?"

Councillor Gord Perks argues Holyday's motion should be ruled out of order, because it's about the shelter bylaw and that's not what's before council today. Nunziata says she'll look at it and make a ruling.

Councillor Colle moves to look at including parking, loading zones and "landscaping buffers" for the shelter at Eglinton & Caledonia.

Colle takes aim at the federal MPs opposing these shelters. "That is disgusting." He says MPs should be focused on housing, criminal justice, and the economy. Instead, he says, "they're spending their time demonizing people that are in need of shelters!"

Colle says shelter-opposing MPs are "adding nothing of value, except for their own political aspirations of running for mayor of the city." "Do your damn job, and maybe stop the flood of unbridled immigration that all comes to Toronto," he says.

"Well-run shelters are good neighbours," says Councillor Dianne Saxe, pointing out her ward has lots of shelters and it's fine. She says she'll support this report. "I do want to also express my opposition to adding parking requirements to poison shelters," she says. It just increases costs.

Councillor Kandavel shows off a map of the shelters in his ward. He says successful shelters should be located on major arterial roads. He has concerns about the shelter at 2535 Gerrard East, saying it's too far removed from transit. He'll oppose the rezoning.

Councillor Brad Bradford moves to deny the rezoning for the shelter on Third Street in Etobicoke and do more consultation. He says there were five hours of deputations at the Planning & Housing Committee on this. He says the public "deserves to be heard." He accuses Perks of "silencing dissent."

Bradford says he's frustrated with this debate because it doesn't allow councillors to talk specifically about shelters. "When it comes to how we engage with this public, this council, this mayor, this administration, is saying, 'We don't want to hear it!'"

"For a long time, of course, council has hid behind the fact this was delegated to staff ... but I think what this process has illustrated to me is that communities are being torn apart right now," says Councillor Bradford of the shelter site selection process.

Here's the text of Bradford's motion re: the Sixth Street shelter. Councillor Morley asks Bradford what his "interest" is in this shelter, given it's in her ward. Bradford says he "heard from a lot of people" about this particular site.

"Would you not agree this undermines the work that I have in fact been doing in my ward?" Morley asks. Bradford says that's not his intention. Morley asks Bradford if he really thinks deferring this rezoning will result in a different shelter site. Bradford says he can't "presuppose the outcome."

"So we should further defer, further delay, and keep shovels out of the ground? Is what you're suggesting with this motion?" Morley asks of Bradford's motion to defer the shelter zoning. Bradford says you have to be "going out and having the conversations" to deal with community concerns.

Councillor Gord Perks asks Nunziata to rule Bradford's motion out of order. He says the procedure bylaws do not allow councillors to defer part of the item. She says she'll look at it and make a ruling later.

Councillor Bravo asks Bradford why he's moving to defer the Sixth Street site but not others. Why is he being selective? "This site in particular has some specific considerations with land title," he says. Bradford says it's zoned for commercial. It "warrants further review."

Council breaks for lunch. There are 81 items left on the agenda. That's still too many. Back at 2 p.m. to chip away at it.

Whoa. I was joking, but this is actually a pretty big trophy.

Mayor Olivia Chow notes that one of the reasons Elvidge won the award was for his "seamless execution of the 2023 mayoral by-election." "Ahem, thank you," Chow jokes.

Standing ovation for the City Clerk. "It's a pleasure to serve in this chamber, and what happens in the chamber matters," says Elvidge in a short speech. "Now let's get on with the meeting."