Seeking Clarity on the City of Toronto’s Application to the Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund

The Fund is a $200 million capital funding program delivered by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport (the Ministry) to revitalize existing sport and recreation infrastructure and support the construction of new facilities across the province. Stream 2 covered New Builds/Signature Builds. Under the guidelines, the City of Toronto was eligible to apply for funding under this program. The maximum grant would be capped at $10 million. What is not clear, is what project(s) the City of Toronto submitted as a priority and whether any funding was secured. The former interim Manager of Parks and Recreation said that the City received notice from the Province of Ontario that when the City's application was received, funds from the infrastructure program had already been distributed and the budget was spent. The City of Toronto would receive NO funding. However, a member of cabinet and the Member of Provincial Parliament for York Centre has said that Toronto in fact did receive funds. Residents and elected officials in York Centre were led to believe that the funding priority was the Downsview Community Centre because of its link to advancing housing construction on the Downsview lands. The design and build of the Downsview Community Centre are closely linked to development aspirations on the Downsview Lands. These lands will house approximately 115,000 residents in the coming decades-or about 54,000 units, of which 10 to 20 percent will be affordable. Certain stages in community centre design and build are linked to the building of housing. Downsview residents have been advocating for this community centre for over 25 years. Here are my questions: - Did the City of Toronto apply for funding under Ontario's Community Sport and Recreation Fund? - If yes, which project(s) were identified by the City for funding? - Which project(s) at the City of Toronto received funding? - If no application was submitted, please provide reasons why an application was not submitted. - If no funding was received, please provide the reasons why the City of Toronto received no funding.