Economic and Community Development Committee
The full agenda, as filed
All 9 items in the clerk’s order. Each carries the city’s own words: the staff recommendation, what the body decided, and its status. Nothing below is written by us.
EC29.1adopted
Jane Finch Initiative - Ideas Report and Community Development Plan Phase 2
The Jane Finch Initiative is a resident-informed project to plan for the future of the Jane and Finch area (Neighbourhood 24 - Black Creek and Neighbourhood 25 - Glenfield-Jane Heights). The Initiative involves the development of two integrated plans - a Secondary Plan and a Community Development Plan - both intended to support residents, local groups and businesses are supported as the area changes over time, including with the opening of the Finch West Light Rail Transit line. This report provides an update from staff in the Social Development, Finance and Administration and Economic Development and Culture Divisions. It responds to City Council's direction to report with a draft Jane Finch Initiative Community Development Plan and a summary of community input received by the fourth quarter of 2021. Due to COVID-19 and its impacts on both community members and City staffing requirements, the Phase 1 engagement process was slowed to ensure meaningful participation. It is now complete. This report summarizes this first round of community engagement and outlines a series of directions to guide the next phase of work to develop a Community Development Plan for the study area. Phase 2 will continue to prioritize extensive engagement to ensure the development of a community centered plan. An additional staff report, Jane and Finch Initiative: Ideas Report and Phase 2 Directions, prepared by the City Planning Division and is to be included on the agenda of Etobicoke and York Community Council at its meeting on April 19, 2022. That report speaks to the development of the Secondary Plan and urban design guidelines. It is the intention of staff that these two reports be considered together by City Council if forwarded with recommendation by the respective Committee and Community Council. The Jane Finch Initiative Ideas Report (Attachment 3) is attached to both reports and speaks to the initiative as a whole, combining project background and directions to be pursued related to both land use and community development, and informed by community engagement. A summary of the Community Development Plan themes and proposed actions is included as Attachment 1. Over the course of 2021, through a first round of engagement, community members shared their thoughts, concerns and aspirations for the future of the neighbourhood. A record of these community conversations is contained in the Jane Finch Initiative Phase 1 Engagement Summary Report (Attachment 2) prepared by the City's engagement partner, the Jane Finch Community and Family Centre.
The Economic and Community Development Committee recommends that: 1. City Council request the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration and the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, to use the Jane Finch Initiative Ideas Report, found in Attachment 3 to the report (April 12, 2022) from the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture and the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration, as a guide for a second phase of community engagement. 2. City Council request the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration and the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, to report back with a proposed Jane Finch Community Development Plan and associated resource requirements to be considered in the 2024 operating budget process, guided by the Jane Finch Initiative Ideas Report and input from ongoing community consultation, by the third quarter of 2023.
Staff recommendation as filed
The Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration and the Interim General Manager, Economic Development and Culture recommend that: 1. City Council request the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration and the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture to use the Jane Finch Initiative Ideas Report, found in Attachment 3 to this report, as a guide for a second phase of community engagement. 2. City Council request the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration and the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture to report back with a proposed Jane Finch Community Development Plan and associated resource requirements to be considered in the 2024 operating budget process, guided by the Jane Finch Initiative Ideas Report and input from ongoing community consultation, by the third quarter of 2023.
EC29.2adopted
Changes to the Upper Village Business Improvement Area Board of Management
The purpose of this report is to make changes to the Upper Village Business Improvement Area Board of Management, in accordance with the requirements of City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 19, Business Improvement Areas. The Upper Village Business Improvement Area falls within two Community Council boundaries.
The Economic and Community Development Committee recommends that: 1. City Council, in accordance with the City's Public Appointments Policy, appoint the following nominees to the Business Improvement Area Boards of Management set out below at the pleasure of Council, and for a term expiring at the end of the term of Council or as soon thereafter as successors are appointed: Upper Village: Nigel Charles Trina Silano 2. City Council remove the following directors from the Business Improvement Area Boards of Management set out below: Upper Village: Ismail Khalaf
Staff recommendation as filed
The Interim General Manager, Economic Development and Culture recommends that: 1. City Council, in accordance with the City's Public Appointments Policy, appoint the following nominees to the Business Improvement Area Boards of Management set out below at the pleasure of Council, and for a term expiring at the end of the term of Council or as soon thereafter as successors are appointed: Upper Village: Nigel Charles Trina Silano 2. City Council remove the following directors from the Business Improvement Area Boards of Management set out below: Upper Village: Ismail Khalaf
EC29.3adopted
Selected Grants and Community Service Partnerships Extensions
Throughout the pandemic, not-for-profit organizations, grassroots and resident-led groups have assumed vital leadership roles in responding to the urgent and often exacerbated needs of Torontonians who are vulnerable. As a key funder of groups and organizations across Toronto, Social Development, Finance and Administration provided over $65 million in 2020 and 2021 to support the social service sector through ongoing and emergency grant programs. In responding to the emerging situation brought forth by the pandemic, Social Development, Finance and Administration prioritized providing stable support for long-term funded groups while also targeting new and enhanced investments to address the City's reconciliation and equity goals and commitments to support already marginalized communities experiencing disproportionate impacts from the pandemic. The co-development of the Indigenous and Black-mandated Funding Frameworks with community leaders is representative of Social Development, Finance and Administration's commitment to a post-pandemic funding landscape that prioritizes support for Indigenous, Black-mandated and other equity-deserving groups. This report provides an update on the development of these two initiatives and details investments made to pilot approaches based on early findings of research designed to prioritize the voices of Indigenous and Black leaders. Since 2018, Social Development, Finance and Administration has been on a path to increase demonstrable impact within the 176 organizations and 327 programs funded by the Community Service Partnerships grant program. Often considered core or backbone funding for a diverse group of Toronto not-for-profit organizations, stability of funding and services for Torontonians has been prioritized since the beginning of the pandemic. As we move into a post-pandemic environment, an extended year of continued funding is recommended as City staff work with sector leaders to begin to envision what a funding portfolio reflective of the City's goals and priorities will look like moving forward into the mid-2020's. Finally, this report provides an overview of all grants approved with delegated authority since November 2020. These grants include those implemented to support the delivery of emergency programs to support marginalized Torontonians during the COVID-19 pandemic, grants to support the delivery of mental health services to those in neighbourhoods hardest hit by the pandemic, grants to support communities as they heal in the aftermath of violent incidents, as well as those designed to support youth and resident leaders to implement initiatives to support their communities.
The Economic and Community Development Committee recommends that: 1. City Council delegate authority to the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration, to allocate Community Service Partnerships funding until the end of the grant cycle in December 31, 2026. 2. City Council request the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration, to report annually to the Economic and Community Development Committee on the grants approved through Recommendation 1 above.
Staff recommendation as filed
The Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration recommends that: 1. City Council delegate authority to the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration to allocate Community Service Partnerships funding until the end of the grant cycle in December 31, 2026. 2. City Council request the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration to report annually to the Economic and Community Development Committee on the grants approved through Recommendation 1.
EC29.4adopted
Renewing Participation in the Community Data Program
The Community Data Program is a national partnership of municipalities and non-profit, community-based organizations that collectively acquire and provide access to sociodemographic, disaggregated, place-based data. This partnership is a primary source of disaggregated, neighbourhood-level Census data for the City and is necessary to enable sound social and community planning at a local level. The previous partnership agreement, which expired in 2021, was made with the Canadian Council on Social Development, which has ceased operations. This report seeks Council authorization to enter into a new partnership agreement with Canadian Community Economic Development Network, as the new host organization, to continue participation in the Community Data Program.
The Economic and Community Development Committee recommends that: 1. City Council authorize the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration, to enter into a community-based partnership with the Canadian Community Economic Development Network to participate in the Community Data Program, with the City of Toronto serving as the lead organization for participating community organizations in Toronto.
Staff recommendation as filed
The Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration recommends that: 1. City Council authorize the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration to enter into a community-based partnership with the Canadian Community Economic Development Network to participate in the Community Data Program, with the City of Toronto serving as the lead organization for participating community organizations in Toronto.
EC29.5adopted
Toronto Action Plan to Confront Anti-Black Racism - Year Three Update
Ongoing manifestations of anti-Black racism result in real and significant impacts on the lives of Black residents. To respond to these impacts, on December 5, 2017, City Council unanimously adopted the Toronto Action Plan to Confront Anti-Black Racism. A five-year plan with 80 actions and 22 recommendations, the Action Plan drives transformational systems change to address the pervasive legacy of anti-Black racism in City policies, systems, and institutions. This report provides an update on the progress to deliver the Action Plan with a focus on the 21 actions prioritized in the Year Three Work Plan, running from June 2020 to December 2021. Since its implementation in 2018, 60 percent of Action Plan recommendations and actions have been implemented, with more than $25.8 million cumulatively invested by the City of Toronto to dismantle barriers and increase access to opportunities for Black communities. Year Three activities continued to propel significant culture change with more than 50 percent of all City staff being trained on addressing anti-Black racism, including 9,294 senior leaders, managers and frontline staff. There has also been increased representation of Black staff, community, and business leaders at important City decision-making tables, including the establishment of the Black Scientists Task Force on Vaccine Equity to guide the implementation of an equitable COVID-19 response, and combat misinformation related to vaccination. The City also established the Confronting Anti-Black Racism Advisory Committee, the first intergovernmental anti-Black racism advisory body to be embedded into the municipal governance process in Canada. Year Three also launched of a number of impactful initiatives that increased Black leadership, community capacity and organizational resilience, including the City's first Black Youth Fellowship program, the ground-breaking Toronto Black Food Sovereignty Plan and the piloting of the Black-mandated Funding Framework. Year Three activities also catalyzed broader City action to tackle the living legacies of anti-Black racism through large-scale, long-term interdivisional projects, including the kick-off of the Recognition Review and renaming of Dundas Street, and the Little Jamaica and Jane-Finch Initiatives. Notwithstanding the positive influence of Year Three actions, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on Toronto's diverse Black communities. Black residents were overrepresented in not only the rates of COVID-19 infection, but also in exposure to the cascading impacts of the pandemic overall. COVID-19 has heightened the effects of long-standing structural inequities faced by people of African descent, both increasing the urgency for action, and the continued need for ongoing investments to effectively bolster emergency support in times of crisis. The Year Four Work Plan, identified actions to be fulfilled by multiple City divisions and responds to the disproportionate impacts of the pandemic, while also strategically aligning the remaining Action Plan deliverables with broader City initiatives and emerging community priorities. Year Four introduces and builds long-term legacy initiatives of the Action Plan that will be stewarded by the Confronting Anti-Black Racism Unit. Enclosed in this report you will find the following: - An overview of the impacts of COVID-19 on Black communities and the important City interventions and responses to advance recovery and rebuild in African, Caribbean, and Black communities. - A progress update on the Year Three (June 2020 to December 2021) Work Plan Deliverables. - The Year Four Work Plan (January to December 2022) Priorities, including an outline of the legacy, training and evaluation initiatives, and an update on the Black Food Sovereignty Plan and the Black-mandated Funding Framework. - The Partnership and Accountability Circle report, which highlights feedback on the implementation of Year Three actions to inform future activities and work in Year Four.
The Economic and Community Development Committee recommends that: 1. City Council request the City Manager, in collaboration with the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration, the General Manager, Children's Services, and other relevant divisions and agencies, to engage with the Province to advance actions from the Toronto Action Plan to Confront Anti-Black Racism related to education (Actions 1.2, 3.1), child welfare (Actions 2.3, 3.2, 3.3), and alternatives to policing (Actions 16.7, 18.3) that will require intergovernmental cooperation from the Toronto Action Plan to Confront Anti-Black Racism.
Staff recommendation as filed
The Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration recommends that: 1. City Council request the City Manager, in collaboration with the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration, the General Manager, Children's Services and other relevant divisions and agencies, to engage with the Province to advance actions from the Toronto Action Plan to Confront Anti-Black Racism related to education (Actions 1.2, 3.1), child welfare (Actions 2.3, 3.2, 3.3), and alternatives to policing (Actions 16.7, 18.3) that will require intergovernmental cooperation from the Toronto Action Plan to Confront Anti-Black Racism.
EC29.6adopted
Feasibility of Establishing a Food Security Relief Fund
This report responds to City Council direction to consider the development of a relief fund to facilitate grants for food security to community service organizations serving the Downtown East and West to enhance emergency support food infrastructure for the precariously housed and people with complex service needs. This report provides an overview of the state of food insecurity in Toronto and the initiatives that the City undertook to fund emergency food security supports during the current pandemic. Finally, the report outlines how the City will be incorporating the learnings from these initiatives into the development of the 2023-2026 Poverty Reduction Strategy Action Plan, including ways to support the For Public Benefit sector to advance initiatives that advance food security and equity.
The Economic and Community Development Committee received the report (April 11, 2022) from the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration, for information.
Staff recommendation as filed
The Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration recommends that: 1. The Economic and Community Development Committee receives the report for information.
EC29.7amended
This report responds to the various fireworks related City Council directives received from May through July 2021. The report also provides updates on actions taken to mitigate unpermitted/illegal fireworks use, public education initiatives undertaken during the 2021 warm weather season, and plans for the 2022 warm weather season. In recent years, there has been an increase in unpermitted/illegal consumer fireworks use and emergency incidents related to fireworks in Toronto, especially in parks, public spaces, and waterfront areas. In response, City Council directed staff to review the feasibility of restricting both the retail sale and use of consumer fireworks by the public. Staff in Municipal Licensing and Standards and Toronto Fire Services reviewed the feasibility of a range of possible options to support the safe and compliant use and sale of consumer fireworks, to enhance public safety, and to reduce nuisance impacts on residents. The options reviewed and considered included implementing no additional restrictions, implementing partial restrictions, and implementing the most prohibitive restrictions. The report provides a recommended approach, which includes working with the Province of Ontario to establish regulations for consumer fireworks under the Ontario Fire Code, as well as describes some of the other options explored. As Council direction was to review consumer fireworks restrictions, staff did not evaluate any options to restrict professional fireworks displays or pyrotechnics currently permitted under Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 466, Fireworks. This report responds to outstanding City Council directives around fireworks including requests for staff to: - review fireworks vendor permit fees; - explore policies to revoke temporary vendor permits linked to unpermitted/illegal firework use; - monitor and evaluate complaints data including location and time of day; - explore the feasibility of introducing new fireworks fines under City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 591, Noise; - explore the feasibility and efficacy of an online fireworks vendor certification and employee training education program. As part of this work, staff completed a jurisdictional scan, gathered feedback from the public and industry stakeholders, and procured a third-party vendor to conduct demographically representative public opinion research and focus groups to better understand residents' experiences, priorities, and concerns about the public sale and use of consumer fireworks. This report recommends amendments to City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 441 Fees and Charges, Chapter 466, Fireworks, and Chapter 608, Parks to: - prevent the possession and use of fireworks in City parks or other public spaces, unless specific municipal authorization is granted; - establish a time limit of no later than 11:00 p.m. for the discharge of consumer fireworks in relation to the designated days of Victoria Day, and Canada Day; - to update legislative references, fee descriptions and municipal code definitions so that the wording of the City's Municipal Code corresponds to Federal regulations to improve readability and clarity. This report was developed in consultation with Parks, Forestry and Recreation, Economic Development and Culture, Solid Waste Management Services, and Strategic Communications.
The Economic and Community Development Committee recommends that: 1. City Council direct the Fire Chief and General Manager, Toronto Fire Services, in consultation with the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards and the City Solicitor, to request the Province of Ontario to implement the necessary amendments to the Ontario Fire Code to appropriately and effectively regulate consumer fireworks, thereby enhancing public safety and enabling a more effective enforcement framework. 2. City Council direct the Fire Chief and General Manager, Toronto Fire Services, in consultation with the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, to further explore the feasibility of an education/training system for the use of consumer fireworks in Toronto and report back on implementation considerations to the appropriate Committee in late 2023. 3. City Council amend City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 441, Fees and Charges Chapter 466, Fireworks, and Chapter 608, Parks in accordance with the draft by-law included in Attachment 1 to the report (April 14, 2022) from the Fire Chief and General Manager, Toronto Fire Services and the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, to prevent the possession and use of fireworks in City Parks or other public spaces, unless specific municipal authorization is granted; establish a time limit of no later than 11:00pm for the discharge of consumer fireworks on the designated days of Victoria Day, and Canada Day; and to update legislative references, fee descriptions and municipal code definitions so that the wording of the City's Municipal Code correspond to Federal regulations to improve readability and clarity. 4. City Council direct the Fire Chief and General Manager, Toronto Fire Services and the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, to consult with permanent fireworks vendors on the feasibility of restricting permanent vendors from selling consumer fireworks year-round, and report back on potential by-law amendments and implementation considerations in late 2023. 5. City Council direct the City Solicitor to prepare the necessary bill(s) required to give effect to Council's decision and to make any necessary minor substantive or stylistic refinements as may be identified by the City Solicitor. 6. City Council direct the Fire Chief and General Manager, Toronto Fire Services, and the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, to review the feasibility of expanding the allocation of Designated Fireworks Dates contained within Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 466, Fireworks, such as Lunar New Year and Diwali, as informed by the outcomes of Recommendation 1 and report back in late 2023 in conjunction with the report described in Recommendation 4 above.
Staff recommendation as filed
The Fire Chief and General Manager, Toronto Fire Services and the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards recommend that: 1. City Council direct the Fire Chief and General Manager, Toronto Fire Services, in consultation with the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards and the City Solicitor, to request the Province of Ontario to implement the necessary amendments to the Ontario Fire Code to appropriately and effectively regulate consumer fireworks, thereby enhancing public safety and enabling a more effective enforcement framework. 2. City Council direct the Fire Chief and General Manager, Toronto Fire Services, in consultation with the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards to further explore the feasibility of an education/training system for the use of consumer fireworks in Toronto and report back on implementation considerations to the appropriate Committee in late 2023. 3. City Council amend City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 441, Fees and Charges Chapter 466, Fireworks, and Chapter 608, Parks in accordance with the draft by-law included in Attachment 1 to the report to prevent the possession and use of fireworks in City Parks or other public spaces, unless specific municipal authorization is granted; establish a time limit of no later than 11:00pm for the discharge of consumer fireworks on the designated days of Victoria Day, and Canada Day; and to update legislative references, fee descriptions and municipal code definitions so that the wording of the City's Municipal Code correspond to Federal regulations to improve readability and clarity. 4. City Council direct the Fire Chief and General Manager, Toronto Fire Services and the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards to consult with permanent fireworks vendors on the feasibility of restricting permanent vendors from selling consumer fireworks year-round, and report back on potential by-law amendments and implementation considerations in late 2023. 5. City Council direct the City Solicitor to prepare the necessary bill(s) required to give effect to Council's decision and to make any necessary minor substantive or stylistic refinements as may be identified by the City Solicitor.
EC29.8adopted
Commercial Property Ownership Mechanisms in Little Jamaica
At its meeting on April 1, 2022, the Confronting Anti-Black Racism Advisory Committee considered Item CR6.3 and made recommendation to City Council.
The Economic and Community Development Committee recommends that: 1. City Council direct the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration and the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, in consultation with the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management, the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat, other appropriate City divisions, and the Chief Executive Officer, CreateTO, to explore using community land trusts to support the economic and social wellbeing of Black communities, including commercial, housing, and food land trusts, to support Black businesses and community organizations in Toronto neighbourhoods with a population made up of at least 10 to 15 percent Black residents.
Staff recommendation as filed
The Confronting Anti-Black Racism Advisory Committee recommends that: 1. City Council direct the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration and the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, in consultation with the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management, the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat, other appropriate City divisions, and the Chief Executive Officer, CreateTO, to explore using community land trusts to support the economic and social wellbeing of Black communities, including commercial, housing, and food land trusts, to support Black businesses and community organizations in Toronto neighbourhoods with a population made up of at least 10 to 15 percent Black residents.
EC29.9adopted
At its meeting on April 4, 2022, the Film, Television and Digital Media Advisory Board considered Item FB11.1 and made recommendations to the Economic and Community Development Committee.
The Economic and Community Development Committee: 1. Requested the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, and the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management, in consultation with the Chair and the Co-Chair of the Film, Television and Digital Media Board, and the Directors Guild of Canada, to report to the June 6, 2022 meeting of the Toronto Film, Television and Digital Media Board on any changes necessary to existing contracts for filming on city sites that would facilitate easier access and expedite the process; such report to include the list of current city properties that are being used for film purposes as well as those that have been requested but not currently permitted.
Staff recommendation as filed
The Film, Television and Digital Media Advisory Board recommends that: 1. The Economic and Community Development Committee request the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, and the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management, in consultation with the Chair and the Co-Chair of the Film, Television and Digital Media Board and the Directors Guild of Canada, report to June 6, 2022 meeting of the Toronto Film, Television and Digital Media Board on any changes necessary to existing contracts for filming on city sites that would facilitate easier access and expedite the process; such report to include the list of current city properties that are being used for film purposes as well as those that have been requested but not currently permitted.