Toronto city council votes to rename Dundas Street in 17-7 vote

The renaming of Dundas Street, one of Toronto's most populace and largest streets, will move forward following a city council vote in favour of erasing the Scottish politician's name from Toronto's history.

Toronto City Council voted 17-7 in favour of the name's removal, along with the removal of other landmarks named after the politician, including Yonge-Dundas Square and TTC stations, reports CP24.

"This is the right thing to do. Because yes, it has symbolic importance to particular communities, but I think to all the people as a reaffirmation of what it is we're trying to build—the kind of city we're trying to build, the kind of people we are, who we are, what we are here in Toronto," Mayor John Tory said.

"It is a moment in history where we can say that simply—all we're saying is we are not going to continue to recognize and to honour someone who took the actions that he took at the time he did it that are so inconsistent with the values that we're trying to build up and celebrate today. That's what we're saying."

Dundas has no actual history in the city. The Scottish politician, who was instrumental in the delaying of abolition of slavery, did not once visit Toronto.

The total cost of the renaming is estimated as ranging from $5.1 million to $6.3 million over two years, 2022 through 2023, a statement from the city reveals. Plans will also be made to rename the nearly 60 businesses with Dundas in their name.