Summit to Solve the Epidemic of Criminal Break-and-Enters Against Small Business in the City of Toronto - by Councillor Mike Colle, seconded by Councillor Frances Nunziata

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The decision

2024-02-06 · Toronto City Council · amended

As filed

City Council on February 6 and 7, 2024, adopted the following: 1. City Council request the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, in consultation with the Toronto Police Service, the Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas, and the Insurance Bureau of Canada to engage in immediate actions to address and support small businesses impacted by break-ins including a summit meeting of stakeholders and to report to the Economic and Community Development Committee in the fourth quarter of 2024 on current and future actions, including with respect to: a.

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collecting and reporting data on small business break-ins including frequency, economic cost, etc.; b. a communication strategy with small businesses and Business Improvement Areas on how to prevent break-ins; access police resources for prevention audits, emergency response and investigation; and manage the negative impacts of claims on insurance rates; c. best practices from other jurisdictions on how small businesses are supported to secure their facilities against break-ins, including assistance provided by, or policies under the jurisdiction of, the provincial or federal government; and d. opportunities to access more affordable security systems, such as through bulk-rate purchasing by business associations or others.

On the agenda

As the city filed it

Small businesses across Toronto are facing an unprecedented wave of criminal break and enters that are affecting the daily lives of these business owners who are already struggling to recover and survive in the post-COVID environment. These small businesses owners are our friends and neighbours, and help make up the fabric of our main street communities keeping them vibrant and ensuring that we have opportunities to shop local.

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Taken on their own, these selfish crimes may seem petty but they are happening at an alarming rate and have a major impact on small business owners who may not be able to afford security guards or sophisticated alarm systems. These break-ins cause a disproportionate impact on the cost of repairs, lost business and increased insurance to name a few. This motion should be deemed urgent due to the need for immediate action at all levels of government, and the need for a joint response to crack down on these crimes and educate small business owners on the best actions to prevent the devastating effects of these break-ins.

Staff recommended

Councillor Mike Colle, seconded by Councillor Frances Nunziata recommends that: 1. City Council request the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, in consultation with the Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas, the Toronto Police Service and the Insurance Bureau of Canada to report to the Economic and Community Development Committee in the fourth quarter of 2024, on a rapid action plan to: a. develop a method of collecting data from break-ins to develop a communications and education campaign in conjunction with the Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas and member Business Improvement Areas for businesses on how to best prevent and combat business break-ins; b.

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examine best practices of other jurisdictions on how business break and enters are supported by the different levels of government; and c. examine the economic cost of small business break-ins, with information including but not limited to how best to access police resources for both prevention audits and emergency response and investigation, making more affordable security systems available on a bulk rate through Business Improvement Areas, and how to manage the negative impacts of claims on insurance rates.

On the record

The item as the City filed it

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