Mayor John Tory's executive committee has approved a recommendation asking the province to amend the Highway Traffic Act to allow special constables to direct traffic and oversee construction sites.

The recommendation for trained personnel other than police officers to direct traffic during disruptions such as construction or film shoots now goes to city council for final approval, when it meets in May.

Jaye Robinson is the city councillor for Ward 25 in Don Valley West. She also sits on the executive committee and is pushing the city to do away with paying a premium for paid-duty police officers to direct traffic.

Robinson joined CBC Radio's Metro Morning to speak with host Matt Galloway about why the changes are necessary.

"I'm very happy to see this staff report and recommendations that [call for] the province to finally open up the legislation," she said. "This has been a long time coming."

Before becoming a councillor, Robinson worked as head of events in Toronto and said it was very costly for festivals to close city streets.

"We have to close streets all the time," she explained, referring to road construction projects such as water main repairs and transit upgrades. "It's costing the city $1.5 million a year coming directly from city budgets to do this work because of paid duty."

Coun. Jaye Robinson says Vancouver pays trained special constables to deal with special projects. (CBC)

The councillor said paying police officers to direct traffic isn't cheap.

"It's $68 per hour plus a 15% administration fee," Robinson said. She explained how Vancouver is "way ahead of us" with special constables and trained personnel who are being paid $22 per hour to deal with these projects.

"We want to make sure these people are highly trained, they're responsible, they're diligent, but it's worked beautifully in Vancouver," the councillor explained. "People question whether you need these highly-trained police officers simply directing traffic."

Robinson said residents are frustrated but acknowledged there will be some resistance.

"I expect a lot of push back [from police] — absolutely."

Mayor Tory speaks on paid duty

During a media availability on Monday, Mayor John Tory expressed his frustration with what he describes as a "Groundhog Day" issue that keeps recurring in Toronto politics.

"When I see that there are legal opinions rendered as far back as 2006, and that we're sitting here ten years later, and that there's been only the most modest of reforms brought about in this area, then I have to say there is clearly much more to be done," said Tory.

The mayor just returned from a trip to Asia, where he promoted Toronto as a place to do business. He said his trip gave him some perspective on the issue.

"I think without exception in the cities we were in, Tokyo, Shanghai, they have non-police people who are like traffic wardens, and they're directing traffic, and they're freeing up police officers to do real police work," said Tory.

As it stands, Toronto police are paid a minimum of $250 for each officer per paid-duty shift. That's because each officer must be paid for at least three hours of work at $68 per hour, plus a 15 per cent administrative charge.