Progress Update on the Implementation of the Reconciliation Action Plan

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The decision

2025-12-16 · Toronto City Council · adopted

As filed

City Council on December 16 and 17, 2025, adopted the following: 1. City Council direct the Deputy City Manager, Community Development and Social Services, to engage with Indigenous communities on the topic of the City's Reconciliation Action Plan to determine the next phase of Reconciliation priorities and report to Toronto City Council by the end of the second quarter in 2027. 2. City Council authorize the Director, Indigenous Affairs Office to negotiate and enter into agreement(s) with not-for-profit agencies and vendors as required to advance the City's Reconciliation priorities in a form acceptable to the City Solicitor and within approved budget limits until June 30, 2027.

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3. City Council authorize the Executive Director, Social Development, to provide one-time funding of $350,000 to the Toronto Aboriginal Support Services Council to increase organizational capacity and support for City projects. 4. City Council direct the Director, Waterfront Secretariat and the General Manager, Parks and Recreation, with the support of the Indigenous Affairs Office and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, to report to the Economic and Community Development Committee in the first quarter of 2026 on the due diligence undertaken by staff related to the name "Wonscotonach Parklands" for the Lower Don Parkland system. 5. City Council direct the Director, Waterfront Secretariat and the General Manager, Parks and Recreation, with the support of the Indigenous Affairs Office to report back on an Indigenous naming process for Coxwell Common located at 1555 Danforth Avenue. 6. City Council direct the Executive Director, Housing Development Office, to work with the Director, Waterfront Secretariat and Waterfront Toronto, to ensure that future Request for Proposal processes for affordable housing delivery in Ookwemin Minising prioritize partnerships with non-profit and Indigenous housing providers to deliver and operate affordable rental homes. 7. City Council adopt and forward to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities the following resolution to advance the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls National Inquiry Calls to Justice: "Resolution - Advancing the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls National Inquiry Calls to Justice WHEREAS in 2019, the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls released their final report, "Reclaiming Power and Place," which included 231 Calls for Justice to address systemic violence against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people; WHEREAS the federal government's implementation of the Calls for Justice has been insufficient and lacks the urgency and accountability required to end the ongoing genocide of Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people; WHEREAS Indigenous rights-holders, governments and families of MMIWG victims continue to demand urgent action on the Calls to Justice, including directly addressing the needs of off-reserve Indigenous populations, to ensure all families and survivors get the support required; WHEREAS municipalities are uniquely positioned to operationalize key aspects of the Calls for Justice, particularly in their roles as first responders and social service and housing providers; WHEREAS many municipalities have taken steps towards Truth and Reconciliation, including but not limited to adopting and implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (with particular attention given to Articles 7 and 22), supporting Indigenous data sovereignty, developing gender-based violence strategies that reflect the Calls for Justice, forming MMIWG-specific working groups, and co-developing community safety and housing initiatives with Indigenous communities; WHEREAS municipalities require more federal leadership and collaboration to ensure nationwide guidance, expediting advancing the Calls to Justice at all levels of government, and ensuring that all First Nations, Métis, Inuit and urban Indigenous people have access to the support needed to address violence against Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people; RESOLVED, that the Federation of Canadian Municipalities calls on the federal government to urgently accelerate the implementation of the MMIWG Calls for Justice, including through dedicated and adequate MMIWG funding to Indigenous rights-holders and governments working to address violence against Indigenous, women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people; RESOLVED, that the Federation of Canadian Municipalities calls on the federal to take a leadership role in improving coordination across all levels of government and jurisdictions towards implementing the MMIWG Calls for Justice; RESOLVED, that the Federation of Canadian Municipalities call on the federal government to ensure that MMIWG funding is open to distinction-based governments and organizations as well as urban Indigenous organizations, to ensure that programs and services are accessible to all that need the support; and RESOLVED, that the Federation of Canadian Municipalities urges the federal government to work with FCM and municipalities to advance the Calls to Justice in areas including but not limited to: - Emergency services, policing and public safety, including anti-Indigenous racism in emergency services and policing; - Infrastructure, transit and transportation; - Affordable housing and homelessness response; and - Transparent local reporting on progress on MMIWG, disaggregated Indigenous-lead data collection and public accountability mechanisms."

On the agenda

As the city filed it

In April 2022, City Council adopted the Reconciliation Action Plan (the Plan) to guide future discussions and Council recommendations that advance truth, justice, and Reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, inspired by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action, the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous People, and the City's Commitments to Indigenous Peoples . The Plan includes 28 actions and 141 sub-actions to guide City staff.

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Over the past three years, the Plan has guided City divisions, agencies, and corporations to take unprecedented and bold steps toward Reconciliation with Indigenous communities. The City has seen the most impactful outcomes when initiatives are rooted in strong community partnerships and a commitment to co-creating [1] solutions with Indigenous communities. This report reflects on the first four years of implementation, highlighting progress, challenges, and opportunities. It showcases strong and authentic collaborations between City divisions and Indigenous communities that created programs anchored by the principles of self-determination and co-creation, offering transformative support for urban Indigenous people. The report also acknowledges key lessons learned in the engagement, design, implementation and monitoring of the Plan which has led some community partners to view their collaborations with City divisions as separate from the Plan. Since 2022, 103 of the 141 sub-actions have started and are in progress; 3 are completed. While internally focused work has advanced some of the actions outlined in the Plan, the City has more work to do to ensure that co-creation with urban Indigenous communities is consistent and foundational to further Reconciliation efforts. In doing so, Reconciliation efforts will be community-centred, effective and meaningful. With the recent restructure of the Community and Social Services portfolio, the Indigenous Affairs Office, along with oversight and support for the Reconciliation Action Plan now fall under the leadership of the Deputy City Manager, Community Development and Social Services. This move offers an opportunity for reflection on the City's community development approaches to Reconciliation, and to continue to rebuild trust with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities in Toronto so that the next leg of our Reconciliation journey is grounded in mutual understanding and meaningful relationships. [1] Co-created initiatives are recommended to Council for approval before implementation.

Staff recommended

The Deputy City Manager, Community Development and Social Services recommends that: 1. City Council direct the Deputy City Manager, Community Development and Social Services, to engage with Indigenous communities on the topic of the City's Reconciliation Action Plan to determine the next phase of Reconciliation priorities and report to Toronto City Council by the end of the second quarter in 2027. 2. City Council authorize the Director, Indigenous Affairs Office to negotiate and enter into agreement(s) with not-for-profit agencies and vendors as required to advance the City's Reconciliation priorities in a form acceptable to the City Solicitor and within approved budget limits until June 30, 2027.

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Considered

2025-12-02 · Economic and Community Development Committee · amended
Decision as filed
The Economic and Community Development Committee recommends that: 1. City Council direct the Deputy City Manager, Community Development and Social Services, to engage with Indigenous communities on the topic of the City's Reconciliation Action Plan to determine the next phase of Reconciliation priorities and report to Toronto City Council by the end of the second quarter in 2027. 2. City Council authorize the Director, Indigenous Affairs Office to negotiate and enter into agreement(s) with not-for-profit agencies and vendors as required to advance the City's Reconciliation priorities in a form acceptable to the City Solicitor and within approved budget limits until June 30, 2027.
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3. City Council authorize the Executive Director, Social Development, to provide one-time funding of $350,000 to the Toronto Aboriginal Support Services Council to increase organizational capacity and support for City projects. 4. City Council direct the Director, Waterfront Secretariat and the General Manager, Parks and Recreation, with the support of the Indigenous Affairs Office and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, to report to the Economic and Community Development Committee in the first quarter of 2026 on the due diligence undertaken by staff related to the name "Wonscotonach Parklands" for the Lower Don Parkland system. 5. City Council direct the Director, Waterfront Secretariat and the General Manager, Parks and Recreation, with the support of the Indigenous Affairs Office to report back on an Indigenous naming process for Coxwell Common located at 1555 Danforth Avenue. 6. City Council direct the Executive Director, Housing Development Office, to work with the Director, Waterfront Secretariat and Waterfront Toronto, to ensure that future Request for Proposal (RFP) processes for affordable housing delivery in Ookwemin Minising prioritize partnerships with non-profit and Indigenous housing providers to deliver and operate affordable rental homes. 7. City Council adopt and forward to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities the following resolution to advance the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls National Inquiry Calls to Justice: "Resolution - Advancing the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls National Inquiry Calls to Justice WHEREAS in 2019, the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls released their final report, "Reclaiming Power and Place," which included 231 Calls for Justice to address systemic violence against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people; WHEREAS the federal government's implementation of the Calls for Justice has been insufficient and lacks the urgency and accountability required to end the ongoing genocide of Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people; WHEREAS Indigenous rights-holders, governments and families of MMIWG victims continue to demand urgent action on the Calls to Justice, including directly addressing the needs of off-reserve Indigenous populations, to ensure all families and survivors get the support required; WHEREAS municipalities are uniquely positioned to operationalize key aspects of the Calls for Justice, particularly in their roles as first responders and social service and housing providers; WHEREAS many municipalities have taken steps towards Truth and Reconciliation, including but not limited to adopting and implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (with particular attention given to Articles 7 and 22), supporting Indigenous data sovereignty, developing gender-based violence strategies that reflect the Calls for Justice, forming MMIWG-specific working groups, and co-developing community safety and housing initiatives with Indigenous communities; WHEREAS municipalities require more federal leadership and collaboration to ensure nationwide guidance, expediting advancing the Calls to Justice at all levels of government, and ensuring that all First Nations, Métis, Inuit and urban Indigenous people have access to the support needed to address violence against Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people; RESOLVED, that the Federation of Canadian Municipalities calls on the federal government to urgently accelerate the implementation of the MMIWG Calls for Justice, including through dedicated and adequate MMIWG funding to Indigenous rights-holders and governments working to address violence against Indigenous, women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people; RESOLVED, that the Federation of Canadian Municipalities calls on the federal to take a leadership role in improving coordination across all levels of government and jurisdictions towards implementing the MMIWG Calls for Justice; RESOLVED, that the Federation of Canadian Municipalities call on the federal government to ensure that MMIWG funding is open to distinction-based governments and organizations as well as urban Indigenous organizations, to ensure that programs and services are accessible to all that need the support; and RESOLVED, that the Federation of Canadian Municipalities urges the federal government to work with FCM and municipalities to advance the Calls to Justice in areas including but not limited to: - Emergency services, policing and public safety, including anti-Indigenous racism in emergency services and policing; - Infrastructure, transit and transportation; - Affordable housing and homelessness response; and - Transparent local reporting on progress on MMIWG, disaggregated Indigenous-lead data collection and public accountability mechanisms."
2025-12-16 · Toronto City Council · adopted

On the record

The item as the City filed it

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