Seeking Provincial Funding for the Construction of Riverine Flood Mitigation for the Rockcliffe-Smythe Area - by Councillor Frances Nunziata, seconded by Mayor John Tory

The City of Toronto, in partnership with the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, is working to implement a flood mitigation strategy for the area adjacent to Black Creek through the Rockcliffe Riverine Flood Mitigation Project Municipal Class Environmental Assessment launched on January 21, 2021 and currently underway. On March 1, 2022 the City and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority held the second of two Public Information Centres for the Rockcliffe Riverine Flood Mitigation Project Environmental Assessment. At the Public Information Centres, the City and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority provided an update on the project, the preferred solution, alternative design concepts, and project next steps. The preferred solution involves significant infrastructure investment to modify the Black Creek and Lavender Creek Channels, construct a new flood protection wall, road realignment as well as several bridge replacements. If approved, the entire project would be constructed in phases over an anticipated 10-year timeframe with an estimated cost of approximately $371 million. Community members expressed an urgent need for the project to be fully funded in order for construction to proceed and reduce the risk of flooding in this area, and better adapt to a changing climate. Councillor Nunziata has championed the Rockcliffe Riverine Flood Mitigation Project with support from Mayor John Tory. The City has applied for approximately $148 Million from the Federal Disaster Mitigation Adaptation Fund for this project and to-date has received commitment for approximately $19 million from the Federal government through this fund. Later this year, the City anticipates hearing back on additional Federal Disaster Mitigation Adaptation Fund funding applications. The Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Federal Member of Parliament for York South Weston has expressed support for opportunities for additional funding commitment from the Federal government for this project. Given the scale of the project investment needed and the priority of this project, this motion asks that Council direct the City Manager to seek funding support from the Provincial government.

and the General Manager, Toronto Water to work with the Chief Executive Officer, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority to finalize an implementation phasing plan to optimize the order in which each infrastructure component as part of the preferred Rockcliffe Riverine Flood Mitigation Project solution should be built, subject to available funding and the completion of the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment process.