In June 2012, Council was debating and discussing a recommendation from Mayor Ford's Executive Committee to end the Plastic Bag Fee in Toronto. Many other ideas were suggested and presented as options, including Councillor Michelle Berardinetti's motion to keep the very successful Bag Fee and to add a mechanism to encourage retailers to donate the profits from the bag fee to support Toronto's tree canopy. Councillors Peruzza and Shiner both proposed banning plastic bags altogether, and Councillor Shiner's motion won enough votes to pass.

The relevant part of the motion is: “That City Council prohibit all City of Toronto retail stores from providing customers with single-use plastic carryout (shopping) bags, including those advertised as compostable, biodegradable, photodegradable or similar effective January 1, 2013.”

It was proposed by conservative Ford-ally Councillor David Shiner, and passed by a vote of 27 to 17

See the final decision text, including how each Councillor voted* here:http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2012.EX20.2

*Note: Councillor Josh Matlow voted against Shiner's motion in error, he intended to vote 'Yes' though his recorded vote is 'No'