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More scenes from the Council Bus.

Councillors appear to be off the bus, finally. They’re filing back into the chamber, which is full of people wearing high-viz vests.

Dealing with some quick items now. Council votes 19-1 to APPROVE a 12-storey project in Councillor Amber Morley's ward. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...

Now back to the Development Charges reduction item. "The federal and provincial governments have, very deliberately, over the last two generations, got away with what I call 'the great download.'", says Perks, on why Toronto DC rates went up.

Councillor Holyday has four motions. I am confused by many of them. 1. Make the DC reduction program a rebate program. 2. Identify eligible developments in application reports 3. Identify "commensurate reduction in density" (???) 4. Annual progress report.

"If the incentives program is reducing the fixed cost the developer faces to create a project, then somewhere in that equation the reduction of fixed cost must have resulted in a reduction of density," explains Holyday. My brain is not galaxy enough for this.

I think Holyday's idea is that since developers sometimes ask for more density to offset the high cost of development charges, lower development charges should mean developers ask for less density. And he wants staff to quantify this and report on it. And he hopes it shows a reduction in density.

Mayor Olivia Chow points out these are "as of right" reductions to development charges, so Holyday's language about "eligible developments" and "approvals" is weird, since all developers will be eligible.

"That is not how the program works!" Chow says to Holyday. "That is the problem with it!" says Holyday.

"We should be jumping up and saying 'thank you, thank you, thank you!' instead of debating this item," says Nunziata, of the development charge reduction item. "Say 'thank you' and let's go on and build all this housing we need to build in this city."

Councillor Carroll urges council to reject Holyday's "poison pill" motion re: density, pointing to a community waiting for projects that will bring affordable housing. "If we move a motion that is quite frankly GOOFY and scuttle the deal, what will that community think of us then?"

"There's not enough property taxpayers in this city to pay for what's needed in this city!" declares Councillor Michael Thompson. He credits Chow for getting this deal done and getting the $1.5 billion. "Although her stature is small, she is mighty in nature!" says Thompson.

Councillor Mike Colle has a motion. He asks the Clerk to crank up the font size a couple of times. His motion asks the province to impose a "time limit" on development applications, saying there are a lot of lots sitting empty.

Councillor Perruzza wants to speak. He's not in the chamber. Guess where he is.

If you guessed "in his car", you win! Or, perhaps, lose, because you live in a city where there's a city councillor who routinely attends meetings from his car.

Mayor Olivia Chow is the final speaker on the development charge item. She's got a motion about entering into "Voluntary Recognition Agreements" with various construction unions.

Chow says her motion about making agreements with the construction unions will help keep workers safe while on the job. She notes the City already has agreements with unions on Industrial & Commercial construction, so this "fills the gaps" by applying the same thing to residential construction.

"If this goes through and this results in a higher cost to deliver residential, would you accept that less housing would be built?" Holyday asks Chow. "I don't believe it would be any more expensive," says Chow, pointing out Toronto already has a fair wage policy.

Here's the full text of Chow's labour union motion.

Burnside asks Chow if her contention is that unionized work is better quality. She says yes. "Was it non-unionized work that did the Crosstown or was it unionized?" Burnside asks. Chow says that was Metrolinx.

A bunch of construction workers from the listed unions have come to the chamber to watch Chow introduce this motion. Nunziata has to keep reminding them they are not allowed to applaud.

Holyday asks Nunizata to rule on whether Chow's motion is in order, as the item is about a housing program, not labour issues. Nunziata quickly rules it is in order. Holyday challenges her. Chair is UPHELD, 22-4. "Huh. Now I know who my friends are," Nunziata says.

Time to vote. Holyday's motion to try to make the DC reduction program a rebate, instead of as of right, FAILS 2-24.