| 139304 | LETTER | N | N | MAIN | ACTION | AMENDED | N | Review of Toronto’s Winter Maintenance Program | 2025.EX21.1 | Y | Y | Y | Y | <p>Like many Torontonians, I am frustrated with the City of Toronto’s response to the recent snow storms. All Toronto residents, including seniors, people with mobility issues and parents with strollers, were left to contend with an inadequate and slow city response. It can’t continue like this. We know these storms happen every couple of years and yet each time our city is paralyzed by a big snowfall.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Last week, I had the opportunity to tour snow removal operations. It is painstaking work and the people who do it deserve to have the proper equipment and logistical plans to succeed. I am confident that through my recommendations in this letter, we will improve Toronto’s winter maintenance program both for the residents who rely on it and the people who deliver it.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>In addition to my recommendations, I have also asked City Manager Paul Johnson to immediately review options to deploy additional City staff from other departments to clear and remove snow, as well as support flood prevention efforts, while also ensuring other essential City services continue their operations.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I look forward to our discussion on winter maintenance at our next Executive Committee meeting, including any further ideas you may have to improve Toronto’s responses to major storms.</p> | 21 | 1 | CMMTTEE | EX | All | N | 1742961600000 | … | Letter | ACTION | Amended | Main | Committee | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | ACTION | true | Amended | … | … | … | … | — | — | — | — |
| 139454 | REPORT | N | N | SUPPL | ACTION | AMENDED | N | Mayor’s Economic Action Plan in Response to United States Tariffs | 2025.EX21.2 | Y | Y | Y | Y | <p>Canada and the United States (US) have one of the world's most integrated and successful economic relationships. Trade between the two countries has driven decades of sustained economic growth, creating jobs and generating wealth. A more protectionist posture by the new US administration and a series of economic policy announcements, including tariffs and rising to the threat of the annexation of Canada, have shattered the confidence of Canadians in this economic union, upon which the Canadian economy has long relied. While the application of tariffs presents the immediate threat, the deep uncertainty and the risk of a new US political consensus in favour of economic nationalism, pose long-term threats to Toronto’s economy.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>As Canada and Ontario's economic engine, Toronto has a critical interest in protecting its businesses, workers and residents while building greater long-term economic resilience. This report presents the Mayor’s Economic Action Plan in Response to US Tariffs, outlining the City of Toronto's immediate response to the potential impacts from the US' volatile economic policies. The Plan details ten (10) immediate actions to be implemented over the next 30 days to ensure Toronto remains resilient amidst economic adversity while continuing to build a strong and diversified economy to enable growth with a commitment to return to Council with additional measures in future.</p> | 21 | 2 | CMMTTEE | EX | All | N | 1742961600000 |
| 139311 | REPORT | N | N | MAIN | ACTION | NO_ACTN | N | City of Toronto United States Tariff Response Action Plan | 2025.EX21.2a | Y | Y | Y | Y | <p>The City Manager and the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture will be submitting a report that provides information on the City of Toronto United States Tariff Response Action Plan, which will detail the City's response to United States' economic policies, to the Executive Committee before its meeting on March 19, 2025. </p> | 21 | 2 | CMMTTEE | EX | All | N | 1742961600000 | … | Report | ACTION | No Action | Main | Committee | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … |
| 139361 | REPORT | N | N | MAIN | ACTION | ADOPTED | N | Toronto Ferry Service Operational Review | 2025.EX21.3 | Y | Y | Y | Y | <p>This report responds to City Council’s directive on October 9 and 10, 2024 (<a href="https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2024.EX17.3">EX17.3</a>), to conduct a review to determine the organizational structure best suited to address the asset planning, management and maintenance, operations and user experience of the City of Toronto's ferry system, the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal and the Island ferry docks, and to report back to Executive Committee in the first quarter of 2025. This review comes at a pivotal time, recognizing the crucial role Toronto’s Ferry service plays for Torontonians, visitors, and the broader ferry network, new safety regulations coming into force in 2025, the introduction of two state-of-the-art electric ferries in 2026 and 2027, and related shoreside infrastructure and terminal improvements underway.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The City of Toronto engaged Greenline Marine Inc. (“the Consultant”) to support its operational review of the ferry system. The objective was to assess the service’s practises relative to industry standards and benchmarks and provide recommendations to staff to ensure the City’s ferry operation is aligned with those standards and can respond to the evolving ferry industry landscape in Canada. An executive summary of the Consultant’s report is attached.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The review first established that Toronto’s Ferry Service is an essential transportation link for both residents and visitors to the Toronto Islands, and the Toronto Islands Residential Community Stewardship Act, 1993 mandates that municipal services be provided to the island, including ferry services. Further, Toronto's ferry service handles one of the highest passenger volumes in Canada. According to 2023 ridership data, Toronto’s Ferry System ranks seventh amongst Canada’s busiest ferry routes who collectively carry more than 66 percent of the country’s passenger ferry volumes, and is among the top four routes during the height of the summer season, with over 18,000 daily passengers at peak times. It is a busy, high-volume service that has generally performed well and operated consistently and safely.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The review, informed by leadership and staff interviews, review of data and documentation, and stakeholder meetings, ultimately found that Toronto’s ferry service is compliant with all regulatory requirements and meets broad policy expectations.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>However, it is not fully consistent with ferry industry norms in key areas such as asset management, safety management, organizational structure and workforce development. Additionally, enhanced stakeholder engagement and public communication strategies would benefit the service and those who use and rely on it.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The Consultant provided seven recommendations to enhance the service. Staff have accepted these recommendations and are taking and will continue to take a variety of actions, including establishing a structured asset management plan for the City’s existing and incoming ferry fleet, developing a robust Safety Management System aligned with Transport Canada's new regulations, continued and enhanced targeted recruitment and retention strategies for specialized marine staff, allocating resources to support a greater focus on areas like customer experience and safety management, and elevating ferry operations within a City division's structure.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Finally, the Consultant identified key principles to guide the City’s decision-making on the appropriate organizational position for the service, outlined in this report. On this basis, the City will reposition the ferry operation within the Fleet Services Division, which has attributes aligned with the guiding principles, including experience and capability in the opportunity areas identified by the Consultant. There will be no loss of ferry operations Full Time Equivalent positions (FTEs) resulting from this transition, and the City anticipates allocating additional resources over time to support the operation. For example, the City will ensure Fleet Services is equipped with the necessary customer experience expertise and focus to lead this important public-facing service.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Staff will formally transition the authority of the ferry operation from Parks and Recreation to Fleet Services by Q4 2025. In the interim, the Deputy City Manager, Corporate Services will oversee all aspects of implementation, including communications, resourcing and asset management, in partnership with the Deputy City Manager, Community and Social Services. Staff will also continue to implement the Consultant's recommendations outlined in this report over time.</p> |
| 139367 | REPORT | N | N | MAIN | ACTION | ADOPTED | N | Transit Priority on Queens Quay East - Interim Priority Bus Lanes | 2025.EX21.4 | Y | Y | Y | Y | <p>On December 17, 2024, City Council directed Transportation Services to work with the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) to report back on interim priority bus lane implementation along Queens Quay East between Bay Street and Parliament Street, in advance of the Waterfront East Light Rail Transit (WELRT) project. On February 24, 2025, the TTC Board received and endorsed the proposed transit priority measures on Queens Quay East and Front Street West. The interim priority bus lanes are intended to provide immediate improvements to approximately 4,000 daily customers prior to the implementation of WELRT.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>This report seeks Council authority to install priority bus lanes to improve travel times and reliability for transit customers on the following street segments:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">-Southbound Parliament Street from Lake Shore Boulevard to Small Street,</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">-Westbound Queens Quay East from Small Street to Bay Street,</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">-Eastbound Queens Quay East from Lower Jarvis Street to Bonnycastle Street, and</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">-Eastbound Front Street West from a point 50 metres east of Bay Street to Yonge Street.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>No motor vehicle traffic lanes are proposed to be removed, and all existing traffic capacity would be maintained by optimizing the existing curb-to-curb space on the Queens Quay East, Parliament Street, and Front Street rights-of-way. Local access and right-turns would be maintained, and a left-turn prohibition at Dockside Drive (east leg) at Queens Quay East is proposed in the peak periods.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>In addition to the interim painted bus lanes on Queens Quay East, the removal of approximately eight (8) on-street parking spaces on Front Street West, between Bay Street and Yonge Street, is proposed to provide a dedicated layover area for buses. This would facilitate better service reliability for customers, allow buses laying over to keep clear from general traffic, and simplify the customer experience for TTC bus transfers at Union Station.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Interim priority bus lanes will provide immediate improvements to the three bus routes operating on Queens Quay East and may be further utilized by other bus routes for future diversion routing, during construction of the various infrastructure and development projects in the surrounding area. The City, TTC, and Waterfront Toronto are continuing work to advance the Waterfront East Light Rail Transit (WELRT) project design, which would replace the proposed interim priority bus lanes in the future.</p> |
| 139318 | LETTER | N | N | MAIN | ACTION | AMENDED | N | Extending Vehicle Age Limits for Vehicles-for-Hire | 2025.EX21.5 | Y | Y | Y | Y | <p>The by-law regulating vehicles-for-hire in the City of Toronto mandates maximum allowable ages for vehicles used as a taxicab, limousine or for a private transportation company. I have heard from the vehicle-for-hire industry that a significant proportion of vehicles are due to expire as of March 31st, 2025.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Of particular concern is that 45 wheelchair accessible vehicles (WAVs), or approximately 10 percent of the existing fleet, are due to expire this year, and a further 203 are set to expire next year. Without a change to the by-law, there is a significant risk of losing these vehicles from the fleet, which would further reduce accessible service in the City.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>In addition, according to staff about 1,300 sedan taxicabs (representing 37 percent of all current active taxicabs) reach their vehicle age limit on March 31, 2025. Many of those who have ordered their replacement vehicle are affected by severe delays in vehicle delivery and taxi outfitting (including installation of bylaw-required equipment). </p>
<p> </p>
<p>That is why I am proposing to take two actions to help the vehicle-for-hire industry: first I am asking that Council permanently extend the maximum vehicle age limit from seven to ten model years for all vehicles-for-hire that are wheelchair accessible. Second, I am proposing to temporarily extend the expiry date from March 31, 2025 to August 29, 2025 for sedan taxicabs or limousines to reflect current supply chain challenges.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>While these two actions respond to an urgent, time-sensitive issue, I recommend that the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards be granted additional time to complete the work related to taxi data and accessibility that was requested of them as part of 2024.EX19.3.</p> | 21 | 5 |
| 139310 | REPORT | N | N | MAIN | ACTION | ADOPTED | N | Rexdale - Casino Woodbine Community Benefits Agreement: 2024 Progress Update | 2025.EX21.6 | Y | Y | Y | Y | <p>2024 marked the sixth year since the inception of the Rexdale-Casino Woodbine Community Benefits Agreement. Adopted by City Council in 2018, the Agreement stands as a precedent-setting and award-winning[1] example of municipal policy innovation, community advocacy, and impactful public-private partnership towards inclusive economic development. By leveraging the expansion of gaming at the Woodbine Racetrack, the Agreement has harnessed a major development project into a vehicle for driving equity-focused opportunities and fostering meaningful community benefits.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>This report provides an update on 2024 targets, the City's share of gaming revenues, and also reflects on the Agreement's progress and impact captured in a five-year review, led by City staff in 2024 in collaboration with One Toronto Gaming, the Agreements' Community Steering Committee and community partners. The 2018 Agreement requires annual progress reports from One Toronto Gaming to the City of Toronto, with corresponding updates from City staff to City Council. One Toronto Gaming's 2024 annual report is included in this report as Attachment 1.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Overall, the commitments within the agreement have been met or are on track for completion. Attachment 2 summarizes One Toronto Gaming's progress towards meeting the targets and requirements of the Agreement. Key Highlights of One Toronto Gaming's progress as of December 31,2024 include:</p>
<p> </p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">-Child Care Centre: Children's Services has confirmed that the future child care centre will be connected to a Toronto Community Housing Corporation building unit nearby to the Casino and is accessible by public transit. This target has not yet been fully met. Children’s Services is currently in the agreement negotiation stage with Toronto Community Housing Corporation and are working with City Legal to draft and execute an agreement. Upon completion, Children’s Services and Toronto Community Housing Corporation will be able to confirm construction development timelines for the child care centre. </p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"> </p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">-Local and Social Hiring (Operations): Of the 3,160 new hires since 2018, 42 percent (1,319 individuals) self-identified as a social hire[2] and 8 percent (257 individuals) were local hires[3]. The social[4] hiring target has been met; the local hires target has not yet been met. Actions to meet this target are further detailed in this report.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"> </p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">-Construction Hiring: Of the 2,819 people employed on the construction site since 2018, 29 percent (807 individuals) self-identified as a social hire and two percent (65 individuals) self-identified as a local hire. The combined construction hiring target has been met.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"> </p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">-Full-time Employment: Of the 1,794 active employees, 61 percent (1,101 individuals) are employed on a full-time basis and 39 percent (693 individuals) are employed on a part-time basis. This target has been met.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"> </p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">-Supply-Chain Diversity: In 2024, One Toronto Gaming spent $100.5 million across 18 local suppliers, representing 33 percent of their total procurement spend. One Toronto Gaming spent $1.8 million across 3 diverse suppliers, representing less than one percent of their total procurement spend. The combined supply chain diversity target has been met.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"> </p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">-Community Access to Space: One Toronto Gaming finalized the Community Access to Space Policy and Procedures in November 2024 and hosted the first community event in December 2024. Four community events are scheduled to take place within the first half of 2025. This target has been met.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"> </p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">-Responsible Gambling: To identify negative impacts of expanded gaming and implement mitigation measures, Toronto Public Health and Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation developed a workplan with four workstreams that will guide Responsible Gambling work from 2025 to 2029 and fulfill Agreement requirements. This target has been met.</p> |
| 139366 | REPORT | N | N | MAIN | ACTION | AMENDED | N | Municipal Diversity Plan for Appointments to the Toronto Police Service Board and Police Board Composition | 2025.EX21.7 | Y | Y | Y | Y | <p>The purpose of this report is to recommend City Council adopt a diversity plan for appointments to the Toronto Police Service Board in accordance with the legislative requirement in section 28 of the Community Safety and Policing Act, 2019.</p> | 21 | 7 | CMMTTEE | EX | All | N | 1742961600000 | … | Report | ACTION | Amended | Main | Committee | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … |
| 139363 | LETTER | N | N | MAIN | ACTION | ADOPTED | N | Building a Universal Student Food Program in Toronto | 2025.EX21.8 | Y | Y | Y | Y | <p>At its meeting on February 26, 2025 the City-School Boards Advisory Committee considered Item <a href="https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2025.TS4.1">TS4.1</a> and made recommendations to Executive Committee.</p> | 21 | 8 | CMMTTEE | EX | All | N | 1742961600000 | … | Letter | ACTION | Adopted | Main | Committee | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … |
| 139365 | LETTER | N | N | MAIN | ACTION | ADOPTED | N | Backlog of City Approvals for School Board Projects | 2025.EX21.9 | Y | Y | Y | Y | <p>At its meeting on February 26, 2025 the City-School Boards Advisory Committee considered Item <a href="https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2025.TS4.3">TS4.3</a> and made recommendations to Executive Committee.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Summary from the letter (February 26, 2025) from Trustee Maria Rizzo</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Some school boards have experienced a wait time of an average of approximately 33 months for city approvals like site plan and city other approvals slowing down renovations, additions or new builds for schools in the City of Toronto.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>As you are aware school boards have recently lost childcare funding by the province due to in part the time frames to complete projects.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Although our school boards have not received capital funding from the province in the past two years there are past projects that require city approvals before they can begin the additions, renovations or new childcare and schools.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>School boards like any other builder take advantage to construct projects in warmer weather and moreover, school boards attempt to do construction work in school communities when students are not attending school.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>All of the members of this committee are aware of the issues facing school boards in completing capital projects.</p> | 21 | 9 | CMMTTEE | EX | All | N | — | … |
| 139193 | LETTER | N | N | MAIN | ACTION | ADOPTED | N | Increasing Number of Meetings Per Year for the Confronting Anti-Black Racism Advisory Committee | 2025.EX21.10 | Y | Y | Y | Y | <p> At its meeting on February 13, 2025, the Confronting Anti-Black Racism Advisory Committee considered <a href="https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2025.CR5.4">CR5.4</a> and made recommendations to Executive Committee.</p>
<p><br /> </p>
<p>Summary from the Letter (January 30, 2025) from Councillor Amber Morley:</p>
<p><br />Currently, the Confronting Anti-Black Racism Advisory Committee can hold up to four meetings per year according to its Terms of Reference. By way of this letter, I am recommending that the Committee meet up to six times per year.</p> | 21 | 10 | CMMTTEE | EX | All | N | 1742961600000 | … | Letter | ACTION | Adopted | Main | Committee | … | … | … | … |
| 139309 | LETTER | N | N | MAIN | ACTION | ADOPTED | N | Public Reporting of Performance and Service Standards | 2025.EX21.11 | Y | Y | Y | Y | <p>At its meeting on February 28, 2025, the Service Excellence Committee considered Item <a href="https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2025.SE7.2">SE7.2</a> and made recommendations to the Executive Committee.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Summary from the letter (January 28, 2025) from Councillor Paul Ainslie:</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Meeting customer service targets remains a key focus for the City of Toronto. Currently, the Customer Experience Division does not publicly post divisional performance data. To address this, City Divisions need to provide the Customer Experience Division with the necessary information to publicly report on their performance against service standards.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>While divisions would benefit from demonstrating resource needs based on performance standards, this data must be aggregated. Customer Experience to conduct ongoing analysis of performance trends, identify areas for improvement, and develop central repository for performance data. User-friendly public dashboards and reports should be created and maintained, providing context, and highlighting service impact on residents.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>This will enhance public trust, improve service delivery, and promote greater transparency and accountability within the City of Toronto.</p> | 21 | 11 | CMMTTEE | EX | All | N | 1742961600000 | … | Letter |
| 139362 | LETTER | N | N | MAIN | ACTION | ADOPTED | N | Advancing the Tamil Community Centre | 2025.EX21.12 | Y | Y | Y | Y | <p>The Canadian Tamil community has been working tirelessly to advance the construction of a new community centre that will serve communities in northeast Scarborough. There is a longstanding need for increased community and social services in this area which is lacking city owned and operated community centres.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Building on more than a decade of foundational work done by long-standing community organizations and business leaders, a Steering Committee was established by the Canadian Tamil community to oversee the feasibility process for the design, construction and operation of a Tamil Community Centre.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The non-profit Tamil Community Centre will provide an inclusive, safe space where community organizations can offer programming and services to help address the evolving needs of the Tamil community and other racialized communities. The space will include cultural facilities, such as a library, museum and auditorium, multi-purpose spaces to facilitate educational programming and mental health services, and recreation facilities, including a gym and outdoor playing fields.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>In October 2020, Toronto City Council voted unanimously in support of 311 Staines Road as the future site of the Tamil Community Centre, and a land lease was finalized the following year with an annual rent of $1 plus HST.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario have announced $26.3 million in funding for the construction of the Tamil Community Centre through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program. The remaining costs of construction, approximately 25 percent, will be fundraised by the Tamil community.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The City-owned lands at 311 Staines Road being leased to the Tamil Community Centre do not currently benefit from Official Plan designation and Zoning By-law permissions necessary for the Community Building to be delivered in accordance with the terms of the Lease. Representatives for the Tamil Community Centre have filed Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment applications to facilitate the necessary land use permissions to deliver the Community Building. As an extension of the City’s in-kind support of the project, a waiver of the planning application fees associated with the Official Plan and Zoning By-law amendment applications would ensure the City upholds its commitment in offering the land lease, and enables the Tamil Community Centre to uphold their commitment to deliver the project.</p> |
| 139312 | REPORT | N | N | MAIN | ACTION | AMENDED | N | Supporting Ownership Housing Developments | 2025.EX21.13 | Y | Y | Y | Y | <p>Toronto is experiencing a continued housing supply slowdown as a result of high construction and financing costs, higher interest rates, and declining pre-construction sales and rents. Foreign trade risks and immigration changes add significant uncertainty to the growth outlook of housing supply. The slowdown in development activity could have a generational negative impact on Toronto's ability to accommodate the housing needs of current and future residents, and a potential permanent loss of development capacity if capital and labour are reallocated.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>This slowdown is being experienced across the housing spectrum. Following the introduction of a new Purpose-Built Rental Supply Program in late 2024, this report is proposing measures to unlock and advance stalled multi-unit ownership housing projects that include at least 5%-10% affordable housing and are expected to start construction within the next two years. Subject to approval of this report, the City will provide deferral of the payment of development charges (DCs) for eligible multi-unit ownership units. The deferred DCs would then be payable, interest free and at June 2024 DC rates, four years following approval of the deferral or at the time of condominium approval, whichever occurs earlier.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Subject to adoption of this report, staff will undertake a review of projects already in the City’s development review pipeline to identify interested proponents with projects on private land that have submitted a Complete Site Plan Application as of March 1, 2025 and include at least 5%-10% of their units as affordable housing.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Based on a high-level preliminary review, staff estimate that there are at least approximately 14,000 units in the development review pipeline that will be developed as condominium buildings and that include an affordable housing component at various stages of development review status. Based on the City’s current financial capacity, up to 3,000 condominium units can be unlocked through these measures. Staff will report in Q2-2025 with the results of the implementation process.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>In previous discussions with industry leaders, through Building Industry and Land Development (BILD), the City was asked to provide a full exemption of DCs for condominium units to unlock stalled developments. While this report does not recommend an exemption, the proposed measures aim to improve the financial viability of condominium housing projects by reducing upfront development and financing costs for developers, while considering the financial constraints of the City of Toronto and that these projects will contribute to the affordable housing supply and creation mixed-income communities in Toronto.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The City of Toronto hopes that municipal actions undertaken will be complemented by efforts by the provincial and federal governments to advance housing supply. For example, City Council has formally requested the Province amend the Development Charges Act to authorize municipalities to adjust or remove annual development charge indexing provisions without an amendment to the development charge by-law, with the objective of incentivizing housing development (<a href="https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2025.CC27.2">Item CC27.2</a>). This would allow the City of Toronto to have greater flexibility in responding to market conditions.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Recent trade developments between the United States (US) and Canada, notably US-initiated tariff disputes, have introduced new uncertainties which will have direct and indirect impacts on construction projects, and the overall economy. There is an opportunity to spur construction of ownership projects with an affordable housing component faster, so people can move into these new homes sooner. These actions will support Toronto and Canada’s efforts to ensure a more resilient economy, during the response to tariffs and beyond, while supporting local jobs and economic growth.</p> |
| 139413 | LETTER | N | N | MAIN | ACTION | REFERRED | N | Committee Discussion on Indigenous Council Members | 2025.EX21.14 | Y | Y | Y | Y | <p>At its meeting on January 30, 2025, the Aboriginal Affairs Advisory Committee considered <a href="https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2025.AA3.3">Item AA3.3</a> and made recommendations to the Executive Committee.</p> | 21 | 14 | CMMTTEE | EX | All | N | — | … | Letter | ACTION | Referred | Main | Committee | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … |
| 139497 | LETTER | N | N | NEW | ACTION | AMENDED | N | FIFA World Cup 2026 Toronto: Economic Benefits of Hosting, Soccer for All Legacy Fund and Community Benefits Plan Updates | 2025.EX21.15 | Y | Y | Y | Y | <p>At its meeting on March 18, 2025, the FIFA World Cup 2026 Subcommittee considered Item <a href="https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2025.FWC3.1">FWC3.1</a> and made recommendations to City Council.<br /> <br /> <br />This staff report shares data reflecting the economic, social, and cultural opportunities for the Greater Toronto Area, province, and nation associated with hosting the FIFA World Cup 2026 (FWC26), with a particular focus on leveraging the event for long-term benefits. As a designated host city, Toronto is poised to experience significant economic growth, including boosts in tourism, job creation, and local business activity.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>This report also introduces a framework for quarterly reporting on community benefits, emphasizing inclusivity, engagement, and transparency. Key initiatives include tracking local employment opportunities, equity-deserving communities, and fostering community-based events aligned with the global tournament. Being a key component, social procurement ensures that the event contributes to the city's social goals, such as promoting diversity, sustainability, and equity. This report highlights the City's approach to utilizing the procurement process as a tool for positive social impact, benefiting local suppliers, underrepresented groups, and sustainable practices. Through these initiatives, Toronto aims to deliver a FIFA World Cup that leaves a lasting legacy of cultural enrichment and economic vitality.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>This report is a coordinated response, providing updates and addressing directives from City Council March 2024 (<a href="https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2024.EX12.2">EX12.2</a>), led by the FWC26 Toronto Secretariat, in collaboration with Social Development, Finance and Administration, Purchasing and Materials Management, and Parks and Recreation.</p> |
| 139491 | LETTER | N | N | NEW | ACTION | ADOPTED | N | Amending the Housing Rights Advisory Committee Terms of Reference | 2025.EX21.16 | Y | Y | Y | Y | <p>The Housing Rights Advisory Committee (the Committee) was established to provide advice to City Council on policies, programs and actions that the City can implement to advance its commitment to furthering the progressive realization of the right to adequate housing in Toronto. The Committee provides this advice based on the housing and human rights expertise and lived experiences of its members, academic research, and learnings from other jurisdictions.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The Committee also provides advice to Council to ensure that the interests and needs of those with living/lived experiences of housing precarity, discrimination and homelessness are reflected in City programs and service delivery, and supports the City's engagement with Indigenous, Black and other equity-deserving communities. This enables the Committee to identify systemic barriers that prevent residents from accessing and maintaining adequate housing, and to recommend actions to remove such barriers.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>At its September 23, 2024 meeting, the committee adopted the formation of Working Groups in alignment with its Priorities Framework (<a href="https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2024.HS3.1">2024.HS3.1)</a>. City Council had previously approved an amendment to HRAC’s Terms of Reference allowing honorarium payments for participation in Working Groups (<a href="https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2024.MM18.3">2024.MM18.3</a>) at its May 22 and 23, 2024 meeting.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Amendments to the Committee’s Terms of Reference are needed to formalize the Working Groups, in order to further support the Committee’s ability to provide effective advice and recommendations to City Council on housing rights matters within Toronto’s complex housing and homelessness service system. The recommended amendments:</p>
<p> </p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">- enable the Working Groups’ to engage proactively and upon request with City Officials and employees and with members of the public (including Indigenous, Black, and other equity-deserving communities and people with lived and living experience of homelessness and housing precarity).</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"> </p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">- clarify that the City Clerk’s Office does not provide meeting management for Working Group meetings.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"> </p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">- outline the support that Housing Secretariat Division provides to Working Groups, which includes administrative and facilitation support for engagement.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"> </p>
<p>These proposed amendments align with previous Council recommendations with respect to HRAC Terms of Reference.</p> |
| 139493 | LETTER | N | N | NEW | ACTION | ADOPTED | N | Participation in Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative Advocacy Days and Advocacy Against Tariffs | 2025.EX21.17 | Y | Y | Y | Y | <p>From March 5-7, I represented Mayor Chow and the City of Toronto as a delegate at the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative's "Advocacy Days" in Washington, D.C. This initiative brought together Canadian and American mayors to advocate for the protection of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence watershed and to oppose proposed tariffs that threaten cross-border trade and economic stability. Meetings with U.S. Mayors, Senators, and Congressional leaders from both Democratic and Republican parties emphasized the significant economic impact of potential tariffs on both sides of the border, particularly on Toronto and the broader Ontario region. <a href="https://glslcities.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/GLSL-Cities-Initiative-Press-Release-Great-Lakes-Day-2025.pdf">https://glslcities.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/GLSL-Cities-Initiative-Press-Release-Great-Lakes-Day-2025.pdf</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Key Activities and Findings:</p>
<p> </p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">Participation in Advocacy Days:<br />-The delegate participated in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative's "Advocacy Days" (www.glslcities.org), joining mayors from Ontario, Quebec, and various U.S. districts.<br />-The primary focus was to advocate for the protection of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence watershed and to address the potential negative impact of tariffs.</p>
<p> </p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">Advocacy Against Tariffs:<br />-Meetings were held with U.S. Mayors, Senators, and Congressional leaders, highlighting the detrimental effects of potential tariffs.<br />-Key points emphasized during these meetings included:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 60px;">-Tariffs threaten jobs and disrupt integrated supply chains, putting at risk eight million American jobs dependent on trade with Canada.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 60px;">-Tariffs weaken the $6 trillion Great Lakes economy, which drives 50% of all U.S.-Canada trade.<br />-Tariffs jeopardize decades of cross-border cooperation, hindering efforts to strengthen economic ties.</p>
<p> </p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">Economic Impact on Toronto and Ontario:<br />-Toronto drives an estimated $123 billion in trade with the United States, contributing 25% of Ontario's GDP, workforce, and businesses.<br />-The Toronto region accounts for 20% of Canada's economy and 53% of Ontario's economy.<br />-As a financial and business hub, Toronto plays a critical role in U.S.-Ontario trade, with Ontario merchandise exports to the U.S. increasing 25% from $202 billion to $252 billion between 2019 and 2023.<br />-The U.S. is Canada’s largest trading partner. A 25% blanket tariff on all U.S. imports will heavily impact Canada, Ontario, and Toronto.<br /> </p>
<p>I had the pleasure in participating in a series of meetings and events:</p>
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<p><strong>Congressional Meetings</strong></p>
<p>Representative Frank Mrvan – Indiana -01 - Democrat</p>
<p>Senator Todd Young – Indiana - Republican</p>
<p>Representative Debbie Dingell - Michigan -06- Democrat</p>
<p>Representative John Moolenaar - Michigan-02 – Republican</p>
<p>Representative Bill Huizenga – Michigan -04 – Republican</p>
<p>Senator Kirsten Gillibrand – New York – Democrat - Staff</p>
<p><span style="font-size: 8.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p><strong>Additional Congressional Meetings</strong></p>
<p>Senator Chuck Schumer – New York – Democrat - Staff</p>
<p><strong><span style="color: black;"> </span></strong></p>
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<p><strong>Great Lakes Day Congressional Breakfast Reception</strong></p>
<p>Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi – Republican</p>
<p><strong><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; color: black;"> </span></strong></p>
<p><strong><span style="color: black;">Events </span></strong></p>
<p><span style="color: black;">Canada Embassy Reception </span></p>
<p><span style="color: black;">Congressional Lunch</span></p>
<p><span style="color: black;">U.S. Dept of Agriculture Roundtable</span></p>
<p><span style="color: black;">Industry Leaders Roundtable on a Strong U.S. Canada Trade Relationship</span></p>
<p><span style="color: black;">Dinner and Dialogue with Global Water Leaders</span></p>
<p><span style="color: black;">Breakfast with the Ambassador to France</span></p>
<p><span style="color: black;">Press Conference on Trade</span></p>
<p><span style="color: black;">Debrief Lunch</span></p>
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<p> </p>
<p>The Advocacy Days provided a crucial platform to address the potential economic consequences of tariffs on Toronto and the broader region. The meetings with U.S. officials underscored the importance of maintaining strong cross-border economic ties and the need to oppose protectionist policies. The information gathered and the relationships established during these meetings will be valuable in ongoing efforts to protect the economic interests of Toronto and the Great Lakes region.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative’s “Advocacy Days” (<a href="https://glslcities.org/">www.glslcities.org</a>)</p>
<p>Attachment 1: Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative Key Messages and Asks.</p> |