Upwards of 125 bus shelters across the city could soon be wrapped in advertising following a decision by city council to amend its street furniture agreement with Astral.
City council has voted 29-11 in favour of a package of amendments that will allow Astral to place advertising wraps and LED electronic advertising on up to 3 per cent of transit shelters in the city.
The amendments were recommended by city staff as a potential source of additional revenue for the city, but not everyone on council agreed with the decision.
“Right now in the city of Toronto residents can barely recognize a bus or a streetcar because of the ads and now they will be lucky if they can even find the shelter and if they do they will be lucky if they can see out,” Coun. Janet Davis told CP24 following the vote. “We have gone too far with advertisements in public spaces and this opens the door for even more.”
“Some of us have some concerns that we are gradually increasing the amount of advertising that the public is subjected to on city streets,” Coun. Gord Perks added. “These are places that aren’t really about the buying and goods of services but are about meeting neighbours and playing with your kids.”
The city’s 20-year-contract with Astral requires that the company provide infrastructure like transit shelters and garbage bins and give the city a portion of revenue generated by advertising.
To date, the city has received about $89 million from the deal with an additional $344 million in guaranteed revenue expected before the deal runs out in 2027.
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