Toronto city council votes to rename Dundas Street

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‘This … is the right decision in our continuous path to building a Toronto that is inclusive, equitable and reflects the values of its diverse members’

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Toronto’s Dundas subway station will be renamed, along with Dundas Street and other “Dundas” locations. Photo by Veronica Henri/Postmedia Article content

Toronto city council has voted to rename Dundas Street.

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The city will also remove Henry Dundas’s name from other public infrastructure such as Dundas Station and Yonge-Dundas Square.

Dundas was an 18th-century Scottish politician who delayed Britain’s abolition of slavery by 15 years.

Toronto Mayor John Tory says the man never set foot in Canada, and that the city should not celebrate his legacy.

“This recommendation is the right decision in our continuous path to building a Toronto that is inclusive, equitable and reflects the values of its diverse members,” Tory said in a release Wednesday.

“We acknowledge that this is just the first of many steps to come, but this a genuine step in the right direction of who we are and what we can be. The names of our public streets, parks, and monuments are a reflection of our values as Torontonians.”

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Toronto mayor backs staff report that recommends renaming Dundas Street

The city will hold a public consultation to find a new name for the street, which is expected to wrap up in the second quarter of next year.

Seventeen councillors voted in favour of the public consultation, while seven voted against.

The city also plans to make room in its budget to support people and businesses affected by the change.