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Councillor Update - October 2025

Fall is officially here! I hope this Thanksgiving we can reconnect and break bread with loved ones. And of course, I know kids are getting excited and parents are busy getting costumes ready for Halloween. If you are able, I encourage you to have treats on hand for all the little princesses and superheroes that will be visiting your home.

An alarming trend in the city has been fires caused by a battery in an e-bike or e-scooter igniting within apartment units. With City Council returning after the summer break on October 8, I am working with Councillor Bravo to strongly advocate for regulation changes at the provincial and federal levels to protect all of us from fires caused by the large lithium-ion batteries. 

The rise of e-bikes, e-scooters, e-mopeds, and more have created very visible conflicts in the limited amount of public space we have in the city. This is one of the reasons I created sidewalk decals in Toronto Centre to remind drivers they should not be trying to share space with pedestrians. 

But a growing and dangerous issue is the risk of fire and explosions associated with lithium-ion batteries. Whereas there were three fires in 2023 linked to e-bike of e-scooter batteries, Toronto Fire Services has reported that number jumped to 25 in 2024, and is leapfrogging ahead in 2025 with 29 fires recorded to date. 

Toronto’s Fire Chief has recently requested both the federal and provincial governments to increase regulation around lithium-ion batteries. Federal regulation is necessary to improve certification and standards for how these batteries are manufactured for use in Canada. Provincial updates to the Fire Code are also critical to ensure that owners of these devices and landlords can ensure the safe storage of lithium-ion batteries.

Should the province ignore the risk–like they are by seeking to remove automated speed cameras–I will be asking City staff for amendments to City bylaws to reduce the risk to health and property caused by improper lithium-ion battery usage and storage. It would not be a step I would take lightly–the Fire Chief has been clear to me that changes to the Fire Code would be significantly more effective–but with incidents rising, something must be done. 

Yours in service,

Chris Moise
City Councillor
Ward 13 - Toronto Centre

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It has been a tremendously busy summer! Between Pride and FIFA on one end, the final Toronto and East York Community Council and City Council of the term later this month on the other, and the ongoing Church Street Pedestrianization Pilot, my team and I have been working hard to continue delivering results. Despite the stress, despite the heat, and especially despite the province’s ongoing work to make the City of Toronto miserable, for this final proper Councillor Update of the term, I want to provide positive vibes only.

The celebration on Church Street continues! The Church Street Pedestrianization has officially launched, with the Church-Wellesley Village Business Improvement Area (BIA) and my team installed patios and more seating on Church Street post-Pride to make it an even better place to visit. The pedestrianization lasts until August 21, so come on out and experience The Village like never before, enjoy the beautiful weather, and help me advocate for more pedestrianization across the City and to make this pilot permanent!

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Phone: (416) 392-7903
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Toronto, ON M5H 2N2

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