The fallout continues from this week’s contentious Planning and Environment Committee meeting. On Thursday, Coun. David Ferreira wasn’t backing down from his comment during a debate about a planning application by York Developments to build a 30-storey high-rise in the North Talbot neighbourhood. While expressing his opposition to a motion by Coun. Steve Lehman to approve the application Ferreira said, “We’re discussing the money, the DCs [development charges], the tax revenue generation, and the campaign donations that might come out of that too.” A day later, Ferreira spoke with CTV News. The downtown councillor says he does not regret what he said. “No, I was just speaking to what everybody was thinking,” he said. When asked if he felt there are inappropriate levels of influence by lobbyists at City Hall, Ferreira replied, “Potentially.” On Thursday, Lehman emphasized that his motion stemmed from his support of downtown intensification, not lobbying. “Within the downtown boundary we’re allowed up to 45 storeys, this [property] is across the street from the boundary,” he told CTV News. The application by York Developments seeks permission to build a 30-storey building with 286 residential units at the northeast corner of Ridout Street and Kent Street. A report from city staff recommended refusing the zoning changes because the high-rise would be too tall, incompatible with adjacent heritage-listed buildings, and not sensitive to the existing neighbourhood. The public agenda included a letter from Ali Soufan, president of York Developments, arguing for the high-rise proposal to be approved. In June 2022, Soufan made a $1,200 donation to Lehman’s re-election campaign. Lehman vehemently denies being influenced by campaign donations, telling CTV News, “I could never let that influence my decision! In fact, in the past, I voted against applications that have been from supporters of mine - as do other councilors.” In October 2023, Ferreira and Coun. Skyler Franke brought forward a motion requesting the creation of a lobbyist registry at city hall. It included a list of 10 other Ontario municipalities that already make information available about lobbying activities. However, the motion was defeated after some opponents argued that the administrative costs would be too high. Ferreira still supports the creation of a registry, saying, “When it comes to transparency, I think a lobbyist registry would potentially help. When it comes to accountability, I think it would also help as well.” Lehman believes it would be a burdensome process. “I meet with people all the time, and if I was to keep track of my interactions with businesses and with people I meet in the grocery stores? I have meetings all the time [at city hall] on [planning] applications or on things that people want to see done,” he said. Ferreira acknowledges not all lobbying is bad and can help inform decision making. “But when you’re just kind of focusing on just those special interests, and you’re not really considering the public at large, there could be issues there,” he said. Council will make a final decision about whether to approve the high rise on March 3, 2026.
