Toronto is one-stop closer to changing the name of Dundas Street.

The Mayor’s Executive Committee voted unanimously to move ahead with the change.

Mayor John Tory says Henry Dundas never set foot in Canada. He says the Scottish politician also opposed the end of the British Empire’s participation in the transatlantic slave trade in the 18th century.

“These are decisions that often start a degree of controversy here but I stand by this as being the right thing to do,” Tory told CP24. “Both to recognize the actual history of Mr. Dundas to recognize who he was and who he was not and to send a powerful signal to everyone in this city, every single one of the 3-million that live here that we are going to be true to the values that we espouse.”

Tory says city planners estimate it will cost 5-million dollars to change signage and erase the Dundas name. He’s hoping they’ll be able to reduce that cost.

City council could vote on the matter next week. If approved, the city manager would work to report back with new name recommendations next year.