CEO Dan Doctoroff said he remains optimistic about the development, but that Sidewalk Labs was not aware of the “mobility issues and how severe they are,” and that it “didn’t know enough about the site a year ago or more than a year ago.” Waterfront Toronto’s Request for Proposals (RFP) clearly identified transit as a subject to address, said spokesperson Andrew Tumilty. In one section, he said, the RFP specifically called on the partner to “actively participate in planning and securing for integrated transit solutions.” (Canadian Press)

Talking point: This is the first time Sidewalk Labs has publicly discussed pulling out of the project. Whether they’re trial balloons or genuine threats, the comments reflect the increased pressure that Doctoroff and Sidewalk Labs have recently faced, including specific pushback on its reported transit plans. Last month, the Toronto Star and National Observer reported that the company was was considering financing Waterfront’s light-rail transit, but a source from the Ontario government told The Canadian Press that the province had never heard of the plan and would never sign off on it. The reported plans were raised at the federal ethics committee during an appearance by Waterfront Toronto executives; Doctoroff has been invited to testify before the group, though a date has not been confirmed.