Public access to Toronto City Hall could soon include walk-through metal detectors on the main floor of the building at Nathan Phillips Square, after the idea of enhancing security for councillors, staff and visitors was approved on Monday by the city’s general licensing and government committee.

Compared to other public buildings, such as Queen’s Park and the Parliament buildings in Ottawa, Toronto City Hall on Queen St. W. remains a relatively open facility. Tourists and members of the public can walk into the ground-floor foyer to access government services or tour the unique circular lobby.

“One of the things I really appreciate about Toronto City Hall is how public and accessible it is,” said Coun. Josh Matlow (Ward 12 Toronto-St. Paul’s) after the meeting.

“There are weddings here, school trips. Public life happens every day throughout the building and I would never want to see that very special character lost.”

But council has repeatedly been advised that security at the building needs to be improved, Matlow pointed out.

“We don’t want city hall to become Fort Knox, but we do want it to be secure to protect the public and everyone who works here,” he added.

“I wish things were different, but I also wish that I didn’t need to lock my front door every day.”

The changes would restrict access to areas of the main floor at city hall that are currently open to the public. Access to councillors’ offices and council meetings is already restricted. To be allowed to attend a council meeting, visitors must submit to having their bags searched and walking through a metal detector.

While details of the plan cannot be released for security reasons, Matlow said a blueprint is forming. The recommendations are based on assessments from Toronto Police Services, among other security-focused organizations.

The estimated cost is $350,000 and is to be absorbed in the 2020 capital budget for corporate real estate management.

The committee asked staff to report back in November on using artificial intelligence technology for the development of new and possibly less intrusive security methods. City council will have the final say.

“I think it’s all very sad that it’s necessary,” said Coun. John Filion (Ward 18 Willowdale), who remembers the days when the mayor’s office wasn’t locked behind glass. That was before the deadly van attack on Yonge Street in 2018 that killed 10 people and injured 14, and before a gunman shot 15 people on the Danforth, killing two, and then turned the gun on himself.

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Filion has himself been the target of violence — shots were fired at his car and home in April 2019, three weeks after a man armed with a weapon tried to force his way into his North York residence.

“We know from the van attack and the Danforth shooting that we are not immune to those things. Unfortunately public bodies need to put more protection in place and it’s just a sad sign of the times,” said Filion.