| 137565 | LETTER | N | N | MAIN | ACTION | AMENDED | N | Ombudsman Toronto Housing Unit Status Report 2024 | 2024.EC17.1 | Y | Y | Y | Y | <p>City Council on July 24 and 25, 2024, referred Item CC20.3 to the Economic and Community Development Committee for consideration. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Summary from the report (July 17, 2024) from the Ombudsman on Ombudsman Toronto Housing Unit Status Report 2024.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Pursuant to section 170(2) of the City of Toronto Act, 2006 (COTA), the purpose of this report is to provide City Council with a status report describing the activities of Ombudsman Toronto’s Housing Unit since its creation in July 2023. In less than a year, the Housing Unit has been fully staffed, developed its infrastructure, launched two investigations, provided consultations to City staff, and met with more than 170 people through their engagement work. Notably, the Housing Unit has also developed a framework that uses the concept of housing as a human right to guide their investigations, the first of its kind for an Ombudsman organization in Canada.</p> | 17 | 1 | CMMTTEE | EC | All | N | 1734411600000 | … | Letter | ACTION | Amended | Main | Committee | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | ACTION | true | Amended | — | — |
| 137569 | LETTER | N | N | MAIN | ACTION | NO_ACTN | N | Overview of Ombudsman Toronto’s Housing Unit Status Update and Housing Rights Framework | 2024.EC17.1a | Y | Y | Y | Y | <p>At its meeting on September 23, 2024 the Housing Rights Advisory Committee considered Item <a href="https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2024.HS3.3">HS3.3</a> and made a recommendation.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Summary from the presentation (September 13, 2024) from the Acting Deputy Ombudsman (Housing):</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Luke Brown, Acting Deputy Ombudsman (Housing) will present Housing Unit’s Status Update, which overviews the Unit’s activities since its inception in July 2023. This will be followed by a presentation on the Unit’s Housing Rights Framework.</p> | 17 | 1 | CMMTTEE | EC | All | N | 1734411600000 | … | Letter | ACTION | No Action | Main | Committee | … | … | … | … |
| 137921 | REPORT | N | N | SUPPL | ACTION | NO_ACTN | N | Response on the Role of Ombudsman Toronto in Fulfilling Functions from Council Decision 2019.PH11.5 | 2024.EC17.1b | Y | Y | Y | Y | <p>On July 24, 2024 (<a href="https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2024.CC20.3">2024.CC20.3</a>), City Council referred the Ombudsman Toronto Housing Unit Status Report 2024 to the Economic and Community Development Committee (ECDC) for consideration.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>At its meeting on October 23, 2024 (<a href="https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2024.EC16.7">2024.EC16.7</a>), ECDC deferred consideration of the item to the November 26, 2024 ECDC meeting. This report responds to direction from 2024.<a href="https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2024.EC16.7">EC16.7</a> that requested the City Manager, in consultation with the City Solicitor, to advise on the statutory powers, obligations, and any limitations related to the Office of the Ombudsman as an accountability officer that may exist in the fulfillment of the functions set out by City Council decision 2019.<a href="https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2019.PH11.5">PH11.5</a>.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>In December 2019, City Council directed the City Manager to establish the role or function of a Housing Commissioner to perform the functions of independently assessing implementation of the revised Toronto Housing Charter and the HousingTO 2020-2030 Action Plan and ensuring that the City, within its legislative authorities, and through implementation of various programs and policies, is taking concrete actions to combat systematic housing discrimination and address systemic hurdles in the housing system.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>In July 2022, City Council approved a number of actions to achieve Council's housing goals which included a request to the Toronto Ombudsman to consider the findings of the City Manager's report to Council (2022.EX34.7) and identify resources or structure required for their Office, including a potential role of Deputy Ombudsman, Housing, to focus specifically on housing by leveraging the role of the Office to undertake systemic reviews, investigations and provide independent advice to City Council.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>In response, City Council adopted with amendments, the recommendations from Ombudsman Toronto on the "Review and Consideration for a Housing Commissioner Role or Function at Ombudsman Toronto" on March 29, 2023 (2023.DM5.2), which established the role of Deputy Ombudsman, Housing and a dedicated unit to focus on investigations and reports related to systemic housing discrimination and systemic hurdles in the City of Toronto’s housing planning and service delivery roles.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>As an independent officer of Toronto City Council, the role of the Ombudsman is to impartially investigate City decisions, acts and omissions from an administrative fairness perspective. The Ombudsman’s jurisdiction and mandate come from the City of Toronto Act, 2006 and the Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 3. The legislation provides Ombudsman Toronto with investigative powers and protections that allow the office to carry out its mandate independently.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>This report shares the City Manager's review of the statutory powers and obligations of Ombudsman Toronto which, in consultation with the City Solicitor, did not identify limitations that would impact the fulfillment of Ombudsman Toronto's mandate to undertake reviews, investigations and provide independent advice to City Council, as part of the actions approved by Council to achieve the City's housing goals.</p> |
| 137641 | REPORT | N | N | MAIN | ACTION | ADOPTED | N | A Partnered Approach to Inclusive Economic Development | 2024.EC17.2 | Y | Y | Y | Y | <p>This staff report puts forward a definition of Inclusive Economic Development (IED) along with a set of principles to guide the City of Toronto's efforts to advance and support IED and as the basis for co-development with community partners of an IED Framework. It aims to address the findings referenced in several City of Toronto strategies and data products -- including the Poverty Reduction Strategy and the recent Sidewalks to Skylines: A Ten-Year Action Plan for Toronto's Economy (APTE) 2025-2035 -- that the benefits of a high-performing economy have not been equitably shared among Torontonians despite Toronto’s economic success over several decades.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The report responds to Economic and Community Development Committee's referral to staff of an earlier report on Inclusive Economic Development at its July 2024 meeting, and to the direction to develop a revised framework that builds on input from community partners. In September 2024, a full-day consultation was held with over 20 institutional and community partners leading initiatives related to IED, alongside those with lived experience of poverty. The feedback received at the consultation informed the definition, principles and next steps outlined in this report.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The next steps build on action #4 within the APTE, which calls for the creation of a Working Table for Inclusive Economic Development to co-develop an IED Framework. The framework will be co-developed with community partners to clarify roles and responsibilities and establish an IED governance and accountability structure. It will be brought back for consideration of the Economic and Community Development Committee by early 2026.</p> | 17 | 2 | CMMTTEE |
| 137623 | REPORT | N | N | MAIN | ACTION | ADOPTED | N | Addressing Reconciliation and Equity via Community Funding | 2024.EC17.3 | Y | Y | Y | Y | <p>Social Development, Finance and Administration has been working closely with leaders within the not-for-profit sector to support the needs of Indigenous, Black, and equity-deserving communities that possess multiple vulnerabilities and remain disproportionately impacted by the aftermath of the pandemic and the ongoing affordability crisis. This work has focused on increasing financial resources while streamlining processes and adding supports to reduce administrative burden and increase impact, ensuring funding is fully inclusive and accessible in a way that deepens equity, removes barriers, and cultivates long-term commitments to Indigenous, Black and equity-deserving communities.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>This report provides an update on three grant making practices that are effectively advancing the City’s reconciliation and equity commitments: Indigenous Funding Framework; Black Mandated Funding Framework; and the broader Community Service Partnerships. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>The Indigenous Funding Framework has been co-designed with leaders from the Indigenous community and with support from the Indigenous Affairs Office. It builds on policy and procedural changes Social Development, Finance and Administration has made since 2018 to prioritize supportive funding relationships that enshrine the right to self-determination for Indigenous organizations. The Framework includes a definition of an Indigenous organization, goals, principles, practical applications and an implementation plan that will guide funding relationships moving forward.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>This report also provides an update on progress made towards the implementation of the Black-Mandated Funding Framework (BMFF), adopted by Toronto City Council in November 2023. This Framework seeks to address historic underinvestment in community organizations that serve Toronto’s diverse Black communities through tailored efforts to remove the systemic barriers experienced by Black-mandated organizations in accessing funding. These organizations are thus strengthened to better respond to the needs of Toronto’s diverse Black communities.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Thirdly, the Community Service Partnerships, Social Development, Finance and Administration's largest grant stream, which has been the focus of renewal since 2018. City staff have consistently worked to review and redesign elements of the grant stream so as to maximize impact, increase transparency, and address funding inequities. While the pace of renewal was deeply impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, some progress has been attained. Indeed, Toronto City Council received an update and a three-year plan to complete this work in the fall of 2023. In 2024, the plan focused on internal and external stakeholder engagement, portfolio analysis, and a jurisdictional scan. Key themes that emerged from these activities are included in this report.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The 2024 Operating Budget for the total Community Partnership Investment Program (CPIP) to not-for-profit, grassroots and resident-led groups to deliver social services fuels upstream and prevention initiatives is $29.555 million (gross and net). This report includes an overview of all grants approved with delegated authority between September 2023 and October 2024. These grants included initiatives to support youth violence prevention programs, grants to support communities as they healed in the aftermath of violent incidents, as well as those designed to support youth and resident leaders to implement initiatives to support their communities.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The grant programs administered by Social Development, Finance and Administration are highly responsive to changing needs within Toronto communities. The current delegated authority provided to the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration includes the authority to reallocate, approve or disburse one-time Community Investment grant funding, subject to the annual budget process. This report seeks to extend this authority so that the Executive Director may continue to authorize the creation of new grant programs or revise existing grant programs to address changing community priorities. Any grants created or revised through such action will align with the Toronto Grants Policy, City strategies, priorities, and the mandate of Social Development, Finance and Administration. Additionally, an overview of all grants approved with delegated authority will continue to be reported to Toronto City Council.</p> |
| 137692 | REPORT | N | N | MAIN | ACTION | ADOPTED | N | Shelter Safety Action Plan and Contract Amendments related to Lodging for Asylum Seekers and Refugees, and Community Safety Team Services | 2024.EC17.4 | Y | Y | Y | Y | <p>The City is committed to prioritizing and continuously improving shelter safety for staff and clients. On April 30, 2024, the Economic and Community Development Committee adopted the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) Shelter Safety Study and directed Toronto Shelter and Support Services (TSSS) to report back on the development of a Shelter Safety Action Plan in consultation with people with lived experience and the Housing Rights Advisory Committee (2024.EC12.13). This report outlines the Shelter Safety Action Plan, which advances the recommendations from the CAMH Shelter Safety Study, and builds on the expertise and guidance from people with lived experience, shelter providers, health and mental health partners, and the Housing Rights Advisory Committee, and sets out an implementation roadmap to support staff and client safety in the shelter system. To continue supporting people experiencing homelessness and living in encampments, including people with complex health and mental health needs, the City requires ongoing commitment, investment, and collaboration with all orders of government, community organizations and sector partners.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>TSSS continues to implement the City’s 10-year Homelessness Services Capital Infrastructure Strategy, which aims to make physical shelter infrastructure accessible, safer, and better aligned to respond to the diverse needs of shelter clients, staff, and the surrounding community. In response to 2024.EC9.4, City staff have been working to review and improve community safety efforts in and around shelter sites in collaboration with existing community safety services. This includes continued collaboration with Toronto Police Service, Business Improvement Areas, City Divisions, community organizations and institutions, partnership tables, and local networks. In addition, this report seeks City Council authority to amend competitive blanket contracts 47025287 and 47025624 for Community Safety Team Services that enhance safety in shelter for staff and clients, and support two Toronto Community Housing Corporation social housing buildings with a concentration of tenants with complex needs.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>A report back is provided based on an evidence-informed needs assessment supported by Toronto Public Health to continue overdose prevention at large temporary shelter hotels. The City aims to maintain and expand lifesaving supports available in large shelter hotel sites, which may be particularly important considering proposed provincial legislation which, if passed, may lead to a significant decrease in the availability of overdose prevention services across the city.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>With the ongoing arrival of refugee claimants to Toronto since September 2021, the City requires the support of all orders of government, community organizations, and sector partners. In follow up to the Council request (2024.EC11.7), this report seeks City Council authority to provide reimbursement to churches and community organizations, many Black-led, for eligible expenses incurred while providing temporary emergency shelter and support to hundreds of refugee claimants who arrived in Toronto in 2023. It also seeks City Council authority to amend and extend non-competitive blanket contract 47024284 with Canadian Red Cross Society to continue providing temporary lodging services for refugees until December 31, 2025. Refugees continue to arrive in Toronto and require services beyond what the purpose-built shelter system can currently provide, as Toronto Shelter and Support Services gradually transitions from temporary shelter hotel sites as part of its Homelessness Services Capital Infrastructure Strategy.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>These continued efforts are important measures to support people experiencing homelessness in need of immediate support. The City is committed to long-term solutions to homelessness including affordable housing and supportive housing, which, with adequate income support, remain the most important factors to end homelessness and to build safe and secure communities for the people we serve and all residents of Toronto.</p> |
| 137639 | LETTER | N | N | MAIN | ACTION | NO_ACTN | N | Housing Rights Advisory Committee - Feedback on the Development of Toronto’s Shelter Safety Action Plan | 2024.EC17.4a | Y | Y | Y | Y | <p>At its meeting on November 4, 2024 the Housing Rights Advisory Committee considered Item <a href="https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2024.HS4.2">HS4.2</a>.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Summary from the presentation from the Supporting Unhoused Rights Holders Working Group:</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The Chair of the Supporting Unhoused Rights Holders Working Group will provide an update and share the outcomes of the group’s consultation on Toronto’s Shelter Safety Action Plan.</p> | 17 | 4 | CMMTTEE | EC | All | N | 1734411600000 | … | Letter | ACTION | No Action | Main | Committee | … | … | … | … | … |
| 137638 | REPORT | N | N | MAIN | ACTION | AMENDED | N | Implementation of the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care System and 2025 to 2029 Child Care and Early Years Service Plan: Update | 2024.EC17.5 | Y | Y | Y | Y | <p>This report provides an update on the implementation of the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care system in Toronto, including an initial analysis of the Province’s new cost-based funding approach to funding. The report also discusses recently announced program changes and their potential impacts on the child care sector in Toronto. Finally, the report provides an update on the development of the 2025-2029 Child Care and Early Years Service Plan for Toronto. </p> | 17 | 5 | CMMTTEE | EC | All | N | 1734411600000 | … | Report | ACTION | Amended | Main | Committee | … | … | … | … | … |
| 137544 | REPORT | N | N | MAIN | ACTION | REFERRED | N | An Approach to Support Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORCs) in Toronto | 2024.EC17.6 | Y | Y | Y | Y | <p>This report provides a response to City Council’s request that Seniors Services and Long-Term Care (SSLTC) work with specific City divisions to develop an approach to supporting Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORCs) in Toronto. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Toronto’s population of adults over the age of 65 is growing, with increasing diversity and evolving priorities for aging in place. To respond to these priorities, the first and second Toronto Seniors Strategies advanced key City initiatives that supported the quality of life, social participation, access to services, and well-being of seniors in Toronto. In June 2024, City Council directed SSLTC to develop the third Toronto Seniors Strategy, which will continue to develop and adapt City programs, policies, and strategic initiatives to better support aging in place, particularly for seniors who are Indigenous, Black, and those who belong to equity-deserving groups. There is an opportunity to incorporate an approach to supporting seniors living in NORCs into the third Toronto Seniors Strategy.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>NORCs are regular residential buildings or neighbourhoods that have naturally become home to a high density of seniors and older adults. A building or neighbourhood can evolve over time into and out of its status as a NORC, in line with changing population dynamics. Therefore, programming and supports for NORCs should be adaptable, accessible, and flexible. Although the concept of NORCs is being explored by non-government institutions, they have not been formalized as an official type of residence or community by the City of Toronto or any other municipality in Canada.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>To date, the City of Toronto has been supporting seniors to age in place in a multitude of ways, including seniors who live in NORCs. In alignment with City Council direction and the City's ongoing work to support aging in place, SSLTC conducted engagements with select divisions named or implicated in the direction from City Council (2023.MM13.13). Based on SSLTC's inter-divisional engagements, this report outlines current initiatives led by City divisions that support aging in place across three key areas: health and well-being, mobility and safety, and design and planning. This report outlines future opportunities to enhance seniors' access to City programs and services that may support their quality of life.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>This report also describes proposed next steps for a City-wide approach to supporting NORCs through the third Toronto Seniors Strategy, to better enable seniors to age in place safely and independently. SSLTC plans to enhance collaboration with City divisions and identify potential new partnerships to better support seniors living in NORCs; develop a shared understanding of NORCs across City divisions; and explore key NORC-related topics through the community consultations that will inform the third Toronto Seniors Strategy. Making these new linkages and determining key areas for action will better enable coordinated access to municipal services for seniors to promote aging in place.</p> |
| 137637 | REPORT | N | N | MAIN | ACTION | ADOPTED | N | Night Economy Working Groups Update | 2024.EC17.7 | Y | Y | Y | Y | <p>A healthy night economy requires a responsive municipal framework that enables nighttime business and culture to thrive while balancing the needs of all city residents and visitors. As directed by Council, two distinct but related night economy working groups were established to enhance the social, cultural, and economic activities taking place between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. This staff report provides updates on the efforts of the two working groups to advance this work. It also provides updates on other City efforts relating to the night economy, including the Night Economy Annual Town Hall, the Good Neighbour Guide for Late-Night Businesses, as well as the communication channels used to support work relating to the night economy.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The Night Economy Internal Working Group advances a coordinated approach across City divisions and agencies to ensure that Toronto's night experience is safe, positive, sustainable, and inclusive. The Night Economy External Working Group, in turn, provides insight from nighttime businesses, creative sectors, and residents to help inform the City's support of the night economy.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>As described in this staff report, current priorities of the two working groups include: integrating applicable city-wide plans and strategies, such as SafeTO and Our Health, Our City; and enhancing those elements which can enable a healthy and sustainable night economy, including public transportation, flexible use of space, and family-friendly experiences.</p> | 17 | 7 | CMMTTEE | EC | All | N | — |
| 137621 | REPORT | N | N | MAIN | ACTION | ADOPTED | N | Proposed Cedarbrae Markham Lawrence Village Business Improvement Area Poll Results | 2024.EC17.8 | Y | Y | Y | Y | <p>The purpose of this report is to recommend that the area shown in Attachment 1 be designated as the Cedarbrae Markham Lawrence Village Business Improvement Area.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>In accordance with the Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 19, Business Improvement Areas, the City Clerk conducted a poll to determine if there is sufficient support to designate the area as the Cedarbrae Markham Lawrence Village Business Improvement Area. The proposed Business Improvement Area is the area along Lawrence Avenue East bounded by Bellamy Road to the west, Greenholm Court to the east, Markham Road from Lawrence to the south and Painted Post Drive to the north.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The City received the required benchmark number of ballots to validate the poll and the majority of accepted ballots were in favour of establishing a Business Improvement Area. Accordingly, it is recommended that City Council pass a by-law to designate the area described in Attachment 1 as the Cedarbrae Markham Lawrence Village Business Improvement Area. Subject to Council's approval, this will be the City's eighty-fifth Business Improvement Area.</p> | 17 | 8 | CMMTTEE | EC | 24 - Scarborough - Guildwood | N | 1734411600000 | … | Report | ACTION |
| 137829 | LETTER | N | N | MAIN | ACTION | AMENDED | N | Toronto Francophone Affairs Advisory Committee - Requests in Support of Work Plan, 2024-2026 | 2024.EC17.9 | Y | Y | Y | Y | <p>At its meeting on October 17, 2024 the Toronto Francophone Affairs Advisory Committee considered item <a href="https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2024.FA3.1">FA3.1</a> and made recommendations to the Economic and Community Development Committee.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Summary from the report (October 17, 2024) from the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture</strong></p>
<p> </p>
<p>A final version of the 2024-2026 work plan for the Toronto Francophone Affairs Advisory Committee (TFAAC) has been developed.</p> | 17 | 9 | CMMTTEE | EC | All | N | — | … | Letter | ACTION | Amended | Main | Committee | … | … | … | … | … |