Targeted polling. Canada isn't full of leftist university age women. Seems to be the only demographic polling Liberal by default.
WE really need to get rid of this guy
- Thread starter Retired_Can_Soldier
- Start date
Police charge man who barricaded himself inside Parliament Hill’s East Block
A man was holed up in the East Block on Parliament Hill for hours, sparking first a lockdown, then an evacuation of staff.
Author of the article:Christopher Nardi, Paula Tran, Matteo Cimellaro
Published Apr 05, 2025 • Last updated 8 hours ago • 3 minute read
An Ottawa Police Service robot is seen near East Block during a lockdown on Parliament Hill on Saturday.
An Ottawa Police Service robot is seen near East Block during a lockdown on Parliament Hill on Saturday. Photo by Spencer Colby /The Canadian Press
A 31-year-old man who barricaded himself inside the East Block on Parliament Hill for several hours was arrested late Saturday “without incident,” according to a social media post from the Ottawa Police Service.
The man, who was not identified, has been charged with two counts of breach of probation, public mischief and uttering threats to cause property damage, police said in a news release Sunday.
Sunday morning, police said the man “surrendered peacefully” following “hours of negotiations.” No one was injured.
On Saturday afternoon, the OPS said a man had barricaded himself in the historic building just before 3 p.m.
They also said the man did not have explosives, weapons or hazardous materials, and several packages found in the screening area were cleared. The man was to appear in court on Sunday.
The incident led to a huge police response involving agents from the Parliamentary Protective Service, the OPS and the RCMP, who locked down the building and surrounding area.
Dozens of police cars surrounded the building and the stretch of Wellington Street in front of the parliamentary precinct was shut to traffic and pedestrians. Hill employees were not allowed to enter the parliamentary precinct.
The East Block houses the offices of senators and their staff. As it was a weekend and Parliament is not currently sitting, the building was likely mostly unoccupied.
But shortly after the suspect burst into the office building, PPS issued a rare alert ordering senators and their staff to “seek shelter in the nearest room. Close and lock all doors and hide.”
The same order was sent to the Prime Minister’s Office and Privy Council Office staff in a building across to the street to do the same.
Roughly 15 minutes later, another memo ordered East Block occupants to evacuate, suggesting police quickly knew that the intruder did not pose a major threat to building occupants.
Tactical Unit Vehicle Lockdown Parliament Hill
A tactical unit vehicle arrives in the Parliament Hill area during a security-related incident in East Block on Saturday, April 5, 2025. Photo by Paula Tran /Postmedia
Numerous tactical units and bomb-sniffing dogs were seen outside the East Block building throughout the afternoon.
Within an hour of the alert, police deployed what appeared to be a bomb disposal robot towards the building. Later, two more such robots were deployed, but it was unclear if they were ever sent into East Block.
Tactical Unit Vehicle Lockdown Parliament Hill
Ottawa Police Service officers enter a tactical unit vehicle near East Block during a lockdown security incident on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Saturday. Photo by Justin Tang /The Canadian Press
Nearly five hours after the incident began, police had still not shared information about the intruder’s identity or apparent motive. Nor did they say if he was armed in any way.
Parliament Hill Lockdown
An Ottawa Police Service vehicle is parked at the intersection of Sparks and Metcalfe streets in downtown Ottawa to form part of a barricade for an exclusion zone resulting from a lockdown in East Block on nearby Parliament Hill on the evening of Saturday, April 5, 2025. Photo by Paula Tran /Postmedia
Ottawa police Insp. Mark Bouwmeester told reporters at around 7:30 p.m. that “the circumstances of this incident are considered suspicious,” but gave few details about what was happening inside.
“We’re currently in contact with the individual and our priority is to resolve this situation peacefully,” he said. “At this time there is no known injuries and we believe that the man is the only person inside the building.”
Saturday night, pedestrians and others mingled as normal on Sparks Street, just beyond the police cordon.
A worker walked outside D’Arcy McGee’s restaurant and bar asking if the live music echoing from speakers outside was too loud. It was turned off shortly after that.
But if you didn’t first look at Wellington, you would have been hard-pressed to notice something out of the usual on Sparks. A delivery worker was stocking items inside a café, a man walked his dog and groups of friends walked the strip or huddled outside to finish cigarettes or conversations as the standoff on the Hill was underway.
Parliament Hill Lockdown
A view of Parliament Hill from the south side of Wellington Street during a security-related incident in East Block on Saturday. Photo by Paula Tran /Postmedia
With files from The Canadian Press
torontosun.com
A man was holed up in the East Block on Parliament Hill for hours, sparking first a lockdown, then an evacuation of staff.
Author of the article:Christopher Nardi, Paula Tran, Matteo Cimellaro
Published Apr 05, 2025 • Last updated 8 hours ago • 3 minute read
An Ottawa Police Service robot is seen near East Block during a lockdown on Parliament Hill on Saturday.
An Ottawa Police Service robot is seen near East Block during a lockdown on Parliament Hill on Saturday. Photo by Spencer Colby /The Canadian Press
A 31-year-old man who barricaded himself inside the East Block on Parliament Hill for several hours was arrested late Saturday “without incident,” according to a social media post from the Ottawa Police Service.
The man, who was not identified, has been charged with two counts of breach of probation, public mischief and uttering threats to cause property damage, police said in a news release Sunday.
Sunday morning, police said the man “surrendered peacefully” following “hours of negotiations.” No one was injured.
On Saturday afternoon, the OPS said a man had barricaded himself in the historic building just before 3 p.m.
They also said the man did not have explosives, weapons or hazardous materials, and several packages found in the screening area were cleared. The man was to appear in court on Sunday.
The incident led to a huge police response involving agents from the Parliamentary Protective Service, the OPS and the RCMP, who locked down the building and surrounding area.
Dozens of police cars surrounded the building and the stretch of Wellington Street in front of the parliamentary precinct was shut to traffic and pedestrians. Hill employees were not allowed to enter the parliamentary precinct.
The East Block houses the offices of senators and their staff. As it was a weekend and Parliament is not currently sitting, the building was likely mostly unoccupied.
But shortly after the suspect burst into the office building, PPS issued a rare alert ordering senators and their staff to “seek shelter in the nearest room. Close and lock all doors and hide.”
The same order was sent to the Prime Minister’s Office and Privy Council Office staff in a building across to the street to do the same.
Roughly 15 minutes later, another memo ordered East Block occupants to evacuate, suggesting police quickly knew that the intruder did not pose a major threat to building occupants.
Tactical Unit Vehicle Lockdown Parliament Hill
A tactical unit vehicle arrives in the Parliament Hill area during a security-related incident in East Block on Saturday, April 5, 2025. Photo by Paula Tran /Postmedia
Numerous tactical units and bomb-sniffing dogs were seen outside the East Block building throughout the afternoon.
Within an hour of the alert, police deployed what appeared to be a bomb disposal robot towards the building. Later, two more such robots were deployed, but it was unclear if they were ever sent into East Block.
Tactical Unit Vehicle Lockdown Parliament Hill
Ottawa Police Service officers enter a tactical unit vehicle near East Block during a lockdown security incident on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Saturday. Photo by Justin Tang /The Canadian Press
Nearly five hours after the incident began, police had still not shared information about the intruder’s identity or apparent motive. Nor did they say if he was armed in any way.
Parliament Hill Lockdown
An Ottawa Police Service vehicle is parked at the intersection of Sparks and Metcalfe streets in downtown Ottawa to form part of a barricade for an exclusion zone resulting from a lockdown in East Block on nearby Parliament Hill on the evening of Saturday, April 5, 2025. Photo by Paula Tran /Postmedia
Ottawa police Insp. Mark Bouwmeester told reporters at around 7:30 p.m. that “the circumstances of this incident are considered suspicious,” but gave few details about what was happening inside.
“We’re currently in contact with the individual and our priority is to resolve this situation peacefully,” he said. “At this time there is no known injuries and we believe that the man is the only person inside the building.”
Saturday night, pedestrians and others mingled as normal on Sparks Street, just beyond the police cordon.
A worker walked outside D’Arcy McGee’s restaurant and bar asking if the live music echoing from speakers outside was too loud. It was turned off shortly after that.
But if you didn’t first look at Wellington, you would have been hard-pressed to notice something out of the usual on Sparks. A delivery worker was stocking items inside a café, a man walked his dog and groups of friends walked the strip or huddled outside to finish cigarettes or conversations as the standoff on the Hill was underway.
Parliament Hill Lockdown
A view of Parliament Hill from the south side of Wellington Street during a security-related incident in East Block on Saturday. Photo by Paula Tran /Postmedia
With files from The Canadian Press
Police charge man who barricaded himself inside Parliament Hill’s East Block
A man was holed up in the East Block on Parliament Hill for hours, sparking first a lockdown, then an evacuation of staff.
Anybody seen Justin Trudeau today? Maybe he went back for another chair.
Operation to capture Parliament Hill intruder successful, but moment to reflect: Experts
Experts say events that led to hours-long lockdown, exclusion zone around parliamentary precinct will lead to review
Author of the article:Matteo Cimellaro
Published Apr 06, 2025 • Last updated 8 hours ago • 4 minute read
Ottawa Police Service officers stationed on Parliament Hill during the investigation of an incident in East Block on Saturday, April 5, 2025.
Ottawa Police Service officers stationed on Parliament Hill during the investigation of an incident in East Block on Saturday, April 5, 2025.
The police operation on Parliament Hill on the weekend was a success, especially because no one was hurt, three security experts said.
However, those experts say the events that led to an hours-long lockdown and exclusion zone around the parliamentary precinct will lead to a review. It’s still unclear if changes are needed to how parliamentary security is managed, particularly on weekends and when Parliament is not sitting.
In the end, the 31-year-old intruder was captured without injury, and charged with two counts of breaching probation, one count of public mischief and one count of uttering threats to cause property damage.
On Saturday, the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) announced that a man had barricaded himself in the East Block, a building used chiefly by senators and their staff.
In a press release the next day, the police said the man had entered the security screening area just inside the doors, where he “began making threats to the safety of those inside.”
The man was isolated to the security screening area during the police operation that stretched from around 2:40 p.m. to 11 p.m., when he was arrested.
Those in the East Block and surrounding buildings, including the Prime Minister’s Office and Privy Council Office across the street, were almost immediately ordered to lock all doors and shelter in place. Fifteen minutes later, the buildings were ordered cleared.
Security experts said that on weekends often one door is left open to a security screening area manned by Parliamentary Protection Service (PPS) officers. It’s unclear if that procedure will be considered part of the review or if more police presence will be needed at every entry.
During the Saturday operation, OPS and PPS officers deployed chemical, neurological, radiological, nuclear and explosives units in case they were needed. Other units deployed included emergency services, K9s, tactical units and negotiators.
Vernon White, a retired senator and former Ottawa police chief, said that a priority is that physical altercation be avoided when dealing with this type of situation. It’s why, if an individual utters threats that include weapons or bombs, security officers have to believe them until the threat is disproved.
“If he said that he had weapons, the last thing you want to do is test whether he is telling you the truth.”
The event speaks to the delicate balance of policing and security on Parliament Hill, where the grounds remain open to tourists and locals alike to walk freely. Tours are also available for the public in several parliamentary buildings, including the East Block.
Buildings are also open on weekends for parliamentary and Senate staff.
Charles Bordeleau, a security consultant and former Ottawa police chief, points to the balancing act that security has played on the Hill in recent years. There has been an increased security presence on Parliament Hill over time. Bordeleau, who grew up in Ottawa, says there was hardly any security when he was young. Now, things are changing.
Over the past decades, events have led to the increased security presence on the Hill. In 2014, a terror attack left the shooter and 24-year-old Cpl. Nathan Cirillo dead. Cirillo was guarding the nearby National War Memorial when he was killed; the attacker was killed after rushing into the Centre Block. The PPS was created in the wake of that attack.
“This particular incident is strictly a reminder that there needs to be, maybe, beefed up security around buildings, even though our elected officials are not sitting now,” said Pierre-Yves Bourduas, president of P-Y Public Safety Management Inc. and a former deputy commissioner of the RCMP. “It’s just a reminder that thing could go sideways rather quickly.”
Both Bordeleau and Bourduas pointed out the challenges for security in a heightened, polarized political context.
“The level of violence associated with and potential of violence, certainly, the temperature has risen over the past number of years,” Bordeleau said. “People are feeling more emboldened and there’s certainly a lot more volatility involved in public safety.”
Still, even though the police operation took hours, experts agreed that the review following will be beneficial for the police services involved. White also said that the goal was to keep everyone safe, even if it took hours.
“You try to play down the seriousness of the situation they got themselves into, to try and find them an exit strategy that they can live with and that you can accept, right?” White said.
“This isn’t worth dying over, so let’s take our time,” White added.
torontosun.com
Experts say events that led to hours-long lockdown, exclusion zone around parliamentary precinct will lead to review
Author of the article:Matteo Cimellaro
Published Apr 06, 2025 • Last updated 8 hours ago • 4 minute read
Ottawa Police Service officers stationed on Parliament Hill during the investigation of an incident in East Block on Saturday, April 5, 2025.
Ottawa Police Service officers stationed on Parliament Hill during the investigation of an incident in East Block on Saturday, April 5, 2025.
The police operation on Parliament Hill on the weekend was a success, especially because no one was hurt, three security experts said.
However, those experts say the events that led to an hours-long lockdown and exclusion zone around the parliamentary precinct will lead to a review. It’s still unclear if changes are needed to how parliamentary security is managed, particularly on weekends and when Parliament is not sitting.
In the end, the 31-year-old intruder was captured without injury, and charged with two counts of breaching probation, one count of public mischief and one count of uttering threats to cause property damage.
On Saturday, the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) announced that a man had barricaded himself in the East Block, a building used chiefly by senators and their staff.
In a press release the next day, the police said the man had entered the security screening area just inside the doors, where he “began making threats to the safety of those inside.”
The man was isolated to the security screening area during the police operation that stretched from around 2:40 p.m. to 11 p.m., when he was arrested.
Those in the East Block and surrounding buildings, including the Prime Minister’s Office and Privy Council Office across the street, were almost immediately ordered to lock all doors and shelter in place. Fifteen minutes later, the buildings were ordered cleared.
Security experts said that on weekends often one door is left open to a security screening area manned by Parliamentary Protection Service (PPS) officers. It’s unclear if that procedure will be considered part of the review or if more police presence will be needed at every entry.
During the Saturday operation, OPS and PPS officers deployed chemical, neurological, radiological, nuclear and explosives units in case they were needed. Other units deployed included emergency services, K9s, tactical units and negotiators.
Vernon White, a retired senator and former Ottawa police chief, said that a priority is that physical altercation be avoided when dealing with this type of situation. It’s why, if an individual utters threats that include weapons or bombs, security officers have to believe them until the threat is disproved.
“If he said that he had weapons, the last thing you want to do is test whether he is telling you the truth.”
The event speaks to the delicate balance of policing and security on Parliament Hill, where the grounds remain open to tourists and locals alike to walk freely. Tours are also available for the public in several parliamentary buildings, including the East Block.
Buildings are also open on weekends for parliamentary and Senate staff.
Charles Bordeleau, a security consultant and former Ottawa police chief, points to the balancing act that security has played on the Hill in recent years. There has been an increased security presence on Parliament Hill over time. Bordeleau, who grew up in Ottawa, says there was hardly any security when he was young. Now, things are changing.
Over the past decades, events have led to the increased security presence on the Hill. In 2014, a terror attack left the shooter and 24-year-old Cpl. Nathan Cirillo dead. Cirillo was guarding the nearby National War Memorial when he was killed; the attacker was killed after rushing into the Centre Block. The PPS was created in the wake of that attack.
“This particular incident is strictly a reminder that there needs to be, maybe, beefed up security around buildings, even though our elected officials are not sitting now,” said Pierre-Yves Bourduas, president of P-Y Public Safety Management Inc. and a former deputy commissioner of the RCMP. “It’s just a reminder that thing could go sideways rather quickly.”
Both Bordeleau and Bourduas pointed out the challenges for security in a heightened, polarized political context.
“The level of violence associated with and potential of violence, certainly, the temperature has risen over the past number of years,” Bordeleau said. “People are feeling more emboldened and there’s certainly a lot more volatility involved in public safety.”
Still, even though the police operation took hours, experts agreed that the review following will be beneficial for the police services involved. White also said that the goal was to keep everyone safe, even if it took hours.
“You try to play down the seriousness of the situation they got themselves into, to try and find them an exit strategy that they can live with and that you can accept, right?” White said.
“This isn’t worth dying over, so let’s take our time,” White added.
Operation to capture Parliament Hill intruder successful, but moment to reflect: Experts
Experts say the events that led to an hours-long lockdown and exclusion zone around the parliamentary precinct will lead to a review.
Ottawa police name suspect in Parliament Hill lockdown incident
Author of the article:Canadian Press
Canadian Press
Craig Lord
Published Apr 07, 2025 • 1 minute read
Ottawa Police Service officers stationed on Parliament Hill during the investigation of an incident in East Block on Saturday, April 5, 2025.
OTTAWA — Ottawa police have released the name of the person they say was behind a massive security incident on Parliament Hill over the weekend.
Police say Tyler Hall-Worthington, a 31-year-old Ottawa man, has been charged in connection with the lockdown Saturday afternoon at East Block, a building in the parliamentary precinct that mainly houses offices for senators and their staff.
An Ottawa police spokesperson told The Canadian Press that the suspect was still in custody as of Monday morning.
Hall-Worthington faces charges of public mischief, uttering threats to cause property damage and two counts of breach of probation after police alleged he barricaded himself in the East Block security screening area.
No one was injured and no weapons or dangerous materials were recovered after the incident, which summoned a wave of special police units and shut down traffic for hours in the blocks around Parliament Hill.
Hall-Worthington was set to appear for a bail hearing in Ottawa on Monday.
torontosun.com
Author of the article:Canadian Press
Canadian Press
Craig Lord
Published Apr 07, 2025 • 1 minute read
Ottawa Police Service officers stationed on Parliament Hill during the investigation of an incident in East Block on Saturday, April 5, 2025.
OTTAWA — Ottawa police have released the name of the person they say was behind a massive security incident on Parliament Hill over the weekend.
Police say Tyler Hall-Worthington, a 31-year-old Ottawa man, has been charged in connection with the lockdown Saturday afternoon at East Block, a building in the parliamentary precinct that mainly houses offices for senators and their staff.
An Ottawa police spokesperson told The Canadian Press that the suspect was still in custody as of Monday morning.
Hall-Worthington faces charges of public mischief, uttering threats to cause property damage and two counts of breach of probation after police alleged he barricaded himself in the East Block security screening area.
No one was injured and no weapons or dangerous materials were recovered after the incident, which summoned a wave of special police units and shut down traffic for hours in the blocks around Parliament Hill.
Hall-Worthington was set to appear for a bail hearing in Ottawa on Monday.
Ottawa police name suspect in Parliament Hill lockdown incident
Hall-Worthington was set to appear for a bail hearing in Ottawa on Monday.
Councillors billed Toronto taxpayers for popcorn, podcasts
Some of the spending ranges from seemingly wasteful to weird
Author of the article:Justin Holmes
Published Apr 23, 2025 • Last updated 18 hours ago • 4 minute read
Dianne Saxe and popcorn
University-Rosedale city councillor Dianne Saxe billed taxpayers for more than $4,000 worth of podcast-related expenses in 2024. Other councillors spent big on popcorn.
City councillors spent thousands on podcasts, parties and popcorn – and Toronto taxpayers got the bill.
Councillors’ office expenses for 2024 were recently released, and some of the spending ranges from seemingly wasteful to weird.
Toronto’s 25 councillors each had a budget of $58,411.87, and some spent almost all of that. Lily Cheng, the biggest spender, came in at $58,404.53, barely beating out Chris Moise’s $58,383.99.
The two were also close rivals when it came to buying popcorn on the city’s dime.
Cheng billed $906.98 worth of purchases at The Canada Popcorn Company, spread across community events on three days throughout 2024. Meanwhile, Moise expensed $1,040.64 for 1,000 custom-made popcorn bags for a special Moss Park movie night. (The councillor watched the Toronto-set Disney film Turning Red.)
Dianne Saxe – reaching, presumably, a very different audience – expensed $4,172.16 for Toronto Mike Digital Services to produce two podcasts. One of them, titled Green Economy Heroes, which spotlights environmentally minded businesses, was on the invoices for $2,849.28. (The rest of the expensed amount was for two episodes of a Toronto-themed podcast called Saxe in the City.)
Her most recent Green Economy Heroes episode, released last month, focused on a B.C. vehicle leasing business. Toronto was only mentioned in passing, Saxe did not introduce herself as a city councillor, and municipal politics was absent from the conversation, except when guest Shayna Rector Bleeker made a reference to “elected leaders like yourself,” referring to Saxe.
The Toronto Sun has asked for clarification as to why this would be considered a city expense. Saxe has not responded.
Saxe also appears to have led in taking a ride on Toronto’s money. The University-Rosedale councillor’s office rang up $923.79 in trips via Uber or Lyft. Not far behind was Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik, who prefers taxis. Her office clocked in with $881.83 worth of cab rides.
A couple of car lengths behind were Alejandra Bravo, at $787.33 of taxi trips, and Jamaal Myers, with $757.27 spent on Uber.
In a video posted to social media, activist Daniel Tate called it “sadly ironic” that Myers, the TTC chairman, spent so much time in Ubers “while the rest of us struggled on an inefficient transit system.”
Michael Thompson didn’t pay for taxis, but instead racked up a whopping $6,355.85 in mileage for 2024.
Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik
The office of Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik, seen at an executive committee meeting in March 2025, spent hundreds on cab fare and thousands on a Taylor Swift themed-party in 2024.
Meanwhile, Malik claimed a number of expenses related to last fall’s Taylor Swift concert series, which was held in her ward.
Malik billed $2,299.24 for community event expenses from the date Nov. 9. While the descriptions in the expense report sometimes differ, it appears that money was spent to hire artists and buy beads, drinks, candy, samosas and more for a Swift-themed friendship bracelet event held at the Bentway.
Malik’s office also paid a print shop $381.60 for flyers “for city services for Taylor Swift series to constituents.”
(Those expenses are in addition to the tens of thousands that City Hall spent promoting the singer with its Taylor Swift Way campaign, as the Sun has previously reported.)
On Dec. 29, with days left in 2024, Anthony Perruzza spent $115 for a screen protector and case for his iPhone. That was a bargain compared with the $178.05 the city paid in June for a phone case and ear buds for his chief of staff, Matias de Dovitiis.
Vincent Crisanti spent $450 on a meet and greet with Spider-Man at the North Kipling Community Centre one May afternoon. Meanwhile, Myers expensed $732.67 to get Santa Claus to the Merry Malvern Holiday Market. If that sounds like a splurge, it’s because, as the invoice notes, it was for three hours with a Santa with a “real beard.”
Expenses for Mayor Olivia Chow’s office were also disclosed. Of note: Chow spent $4,032.47 on fridge magnets.
In one of the big-ticket items, Parthi Kandavel hosted a community dinner meeting on Dec. 30, at Watts Restaurant in Scarborough, reportedly feeding 120 at a total cost of $7,200. Meanwhile, over the year, Nick Mantas spent $23,264.89 on a communications firm that handled his electronic newsletter.
While nine councillors expensed more than $50,000 in 2024, they weren’t all big spenders. Stephen Holyday was, by far, the most frugal, expensing just $1,193.16, below even Rachel Chernos Lin, who only joined council in November (winning a byelection for the seat left vacant by the May 16, 2024 death of Jaye Robinson). In second place for the least amount expensed among those who had spent the full year on council was Frances Nunziata, with $8,724.91 in expenses.
HEY, BIG SPENDERS
The amounts expensed by the mayor and Toronto councillors in 2024, with both Jaye Robinson and Rachel Chernos Lin included for Ward 15 – Don Valley West:
Mayor Olivia Chow: $76,747.12
Lily Cheng: $58,404.53
Chris Moise: $58,383.99
Anthony Perruzza: $56,588.07
Jamaal Myers: $56,315.87
Amber Morley: $55,244.24
Paul Ainslie: $54,580.81
Alejandra Bravo: $53,400.17
Brad Bradford: $51,376.84
Paula Fletcher: $50,672.56
Ausma Malik: $49,925.63
James Pasternak: $48,656.77
Parthi Kandavel: $48,373.71
Dianne Saxe: $47,163.96
Nick Mantas: $38,178.90
Vincent Crisanti: $37,291.24
Jennifer McKelvie: $36,220.24
Shelley Carroll: $34,566.96
Josh Matlow: $29,009.58
Jon Burnside: $28,355.55
Mike Colle: $23,241.66
Gord Perks: $20,132.37
Michael Thompson: $17,631.66
Jaye Robinson: $12,018.41
Frances Nunziata: $8,724.91
Rachel Chernos Lin: $1,299.62
Stephen Holyday: $1,193.16
jholmes@postmedia.com
thebentway.ca
toronto.ca
torontosun.com
Some of the spending ranges from seemingly wasteful to weird
Author of the article:Justin Holmes
Published Apr 23, 2025 • Last updated 18 hours ago • 4 minute read
Dianne Saxe and popcorn
University-Rosedale city councillor Dianne Saxe billed taxpayers for more than $4,000 worth of podcast-related expenses in 2024. Other councillors spent big on popcorn.
City councillors spent thousands on podcasts, parties and popcorn – and Toronto taxpayers got the bill.
Councillors’ office expenses for 2024 were recently released, and some of the spending ranges from seemingly wasteful to weird.
Toronto’s 25 councillors each had a budget of $58,411.87, and some spent almost all of that. Lily Cheng, the biggest spender, came in at $58,404.53, barely beating out Chris Moise’s $58,383.99.
The two were also close rivals when it came to buying popcorn on the city’s dime.
Cheng billed $906.98 worth of purchases at The Canada Popcorn Company, spread across community events on three days throughout 2024. Meanwhile, Moise expensed $1,040.64 for 1,000 custom-made popcorn bags for a special Moss Park movie night. (The councillor watched the Toronto-set Disney film Turning Red.)
Dianne Saxe – reaching, presumably, a very different audience – expensed $4,172.16 for Toronto Mike Digital Services to produce two podcasts. One of them, titled Green Economy Heroes, which spotlights environmentally minded businesses, was on the invoices for $2,849.28. (The rest of the expensed amount was for two episodes of a Toronto-themed podcast called Saxe in the City.)
Her most recent Green Economy Heroes episode, released last month, focused on a B.C. vehicle leasing business. Toronto was only mentioned in passing, Saxe did not introduce herself as a city councillor, and municipal politics was absent from the conversation, except when guest Shayna Rector Bleeker made a reference to “elected leaders like yourself,” referring to Saxe.
The Toronto Sun has asked for clarification as to why this would be considered a city expense. Saxe has not responded.
Saxe also appears to have led in taking a ride on Toronto’s money. The University-Rosedale councillor’s office rang up $923.79 in trips via Uber or Lyft. Not far behind was Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik, who prefers taxis. Her office clocked in with $881.83 worth of cab rides.
A couple of car lengths behind were Alejandra Bravo, at $787.33 of taxi trips, and Jamaal Myers, with $757.27 spent on Uber.
In a video posted to social media, activist Daniel Tate called it “sadly ironic” that Myers, the TTC chairman, spent so much time in Ubers “while the rest of us struggled on an inefficient transit system.”
Michael Thompson didn’t pay for taxis, but instead racked up a whopping $6,355.85 in mileage for 2024.
Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik
The office of Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik, seen at an executive committee meeting in March 2025, spent hundreds on cab fare and thousands on a Taylor Swift themed-party in 2024.
Meanwhile, Malik claimed a number of expenses related to last fall’s Taylor Swift concert series, which was held in her ward.
Malik billed $2,299.24 for community event expenses from the date Nov. 9. While the descriptions in the expense report sometimes differ, it appears that money was spent to hire artists and buy beads, drinks, candy, samosas and more for a Swift-themed friendship bracelet event held at the Bentway.
Malik’s office also paid a print shop $381.60 for flyers “for city services for Taylor Swift series to constituents.”
(Those expenses are in addition to the tens of thousands that City Hall spent promoting the singer with its Taylor Swift Way campaign, as the Sun has previously reported.)
On Dec. 29, with days left in 2024, Anthony Perruzza spent $115 for a screen protector and case for his iPhone. That was a bargain compared with the $178.05 the city paid in June for a phone case and ear buds for his chief of staff, Matias de Dovitiis.
Vincent Crisanti spent $450 on a meet and greet with Spider-Man at the North Kipling Community Centre one May afternoon. Meanwhile, Myers expensed $732.67 to get Santa Claus to the Merry Malvern Holiday Market. If that sounds like a splurge, it’s because, as the invoice notes, it was for three hours with a Santa with a “real beard.”
Expenses for Mayor Olivia Chow’s office were also disclosed. Of note: Chow spent $4,032.47 on fridge magnets.
In one of the big-ticket items, Parthi Kandavel hosted a community dinner meeting on Dec. 30, at Watts Restaurant in Scarborough, reportedly feeding 120 at a total cost of $7,200. Meanwhile, over the year, Nick Mantas spent $23,264.89 on a communications firm that handled his electronic newsletter.
While nine councillors expensed more than $50,000 in 2024, they weren’t all big spenders. Stephen Holyday was, by far, the most frugal, expensing just $1,193.16, below even Rachel Chernos Lin, who only joined council in November (winning a byelection for the seat left vacant by the May 16, 2024 death of Jaye Robinson). In second place for the least amount expensed among those who had spent the full year on council was Frances Nunziata, with $8,724.91 in expenses.
HEY, BIG SPENDERS
The amounts expensed by the mayor and Toronto councillors in 2024, with both Jaye Robinson and Rachel Chernos Lin included for Ward 15 – Don Valley West:
Mayor Olivia Chow: $76,747.12
Lily Cheng: $58,404.53
Chris Moise: $58,383.99
Anthony Perruzza: $56,588.07
Jamaal Myers: $56,315.87
Amber Morley: $55,244.24
Paul Ainslie: $54,580.81
Alejandra Bravo: $53,400.17
Brad Bradford: $51,376.84
Paula Fletcher: $50,672.56
Ausma Malik: $49,925.63
James Pasternak: $48,656.77
Parthi Kandavel: $48,373.71
Dianne Saxe: $47,163.96
Nick Mantas: $38,178.90
Vincent Crisanti: $37,291.24
Jennifer McKelvie: $36,220.24
Shelley Carroll: $34,566.96
Josh Matlow: $29,009.58
Jon Burnside: $28,355.55
Mike Colle: $23,241.66
Gord Perks: $20,132.37
Michael Thompson: $17,631.66
Jaye Robinson: $12,018.41
Frances Nunziata: $8,724.91
Rachel Chernos Lin: $1,299.62
Stephen Holyday: $1,193.16
jholmes@postmedia.com
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