Update on Alcohol in Parks Pilot - by Councillor Shelley Carroll, seconded by Councillor Chris Moise

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The decision

2023-05-10 · Toronto City Council · amended

As filed

City Council on May 10, 11 and 12, 2023, adopted the following: 1. City Council direct the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation to consult City Councillors on their interest in hosting a pilot in their wards and to work with interested Councillors to confirm an appropriate pilot for responsible personal alcohol consumption in their respective wards. 2. City Council direct the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, in consultation with the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, the City Solicitor and the Medical Officer of Health: a.

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to report to the July 6, 2023 meeting of the Economic and Community Development Committee with a recommended approach, including necessary by-law amendments, for allowing responsible personal consumption of alcohol in Toronto parks on a pilot program basis, running from August 5, 2023 to October 9, 2023. b. to take the appropriate research and consultation steps to ensure that the pilot is informed by relevant experiences and best practices of other Canadian jurisdictions and reflects public health, public safety, enforcement, operational and cost considerations. 3. City Council request the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation to seek advice of the Medical Officer of Health and report to the Economic and Community Development Committee on any harm reduction, treatment or education programs that should be in place prior to the approval and implementation of any pilot location. 4. City Council request the General Manager, Parks Forestry and Recreation to provide City Councillors with a list of parks most suited to being a part of the pilot in each ward as part of consultation on a pilot program.

The vote

Adopt Item as Amended · Carried, 19-5

For (19)Alejandra Bravo, Amber Morley, Anthony Perruzza, Ausma Malik, Brad Bradford, Chris Moise, Dianne Saxe, Gord Perks, Jamaal Myers, Jaye Robinson, Jennifer McKelvie, Jon Burnside, Lily Cheng, Michael Thompson, Mike Colle, Nick Mantas, Paul Ainslie, Paula Fletcher, Shelley Carroll

Against (5)Frances Nunziata, James Pasternak, Josh Matlow, Stephen Holyday, Vincent Crisanti

Absent (1)Gary Crawford

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On the agenda

As the city filed it

Across the country, major cities are piloting various programs to allow alcohol consumption in public parks. In Toronto, alcohol in parks is illegal but largely unenforced: No tickets were issued in 2022. Following the lead of these cities and acknowledging the desire for options to drink in public parks, this Motion directs staff to undertake an opt-in pilot program this summer, in line with the best practices of other Canadian cities.

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Throughout implementation, City staff shall engage with City Councillors, local neighbourhoods, and equity-deserving communities across the city as they evaluate the pilot's suitability for the Toronto context. This pilot needs to centre a public health and harm-reduction approach, and the evaluation should enumerate the full needs of the program including access to washrooms, waste receptacles, and necessary clean-up efforts. Reason for urgency: staff need direction now in order to implement bylaw changes this summer.

Staff recommended

Councillor Shelley Carroll, seconded by Councillor Chris Moise, recommends that: 1. City Council direct the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation to consult City Councillors on their interest in hosting a pilot in their wards and to work with interested Councillors to confirm an appropriate pilot for responsible personal alcohol consumption in their respective wards. 2. City Council direct the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, in consultation with the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, the City Solicitor and the Medical Officer of Health: a.

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to report to the May 31, 2023 Economic and Community Development Committee meeting with a recommended approach, including necessary bylaw amendments, for allowing responsible personal consumption of alcohol in Toronto parks on a pilot program basis, running from July 1, 2023 to October 9, 2023; and b. to take the appropriate research and consultation steps to ensure that the pilot is informed by relevant experiences and best practices of other Canadian jurisdictions and reflects public health, public safety, enforcement, operational and cost considerations.

On the record

The item as the City filed it

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