Item - 2019.EX11.12

The Executive Committee:

1.  Received the report (November 27, 2019) from the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration for information.

This report provides a status update on the implementation of the Rexdale – Casino Woodbine Community Benefits Agreement. The report indicates that targets are on track to be met.

Adopted by City Council in 2018, the Rexdale – Casino Woodbine Community Benefits Agreement establishes a range of conditions on One Toronto Gaming, a partnership between Great Canadian Gaming Corporation and Brookfield Business Partners L.P., which is leading the expansion of gaming at Casino Woodbine. One Toronto Gaming is required to achieve a range of social and economic outcomes, including: i) local and social hiring for both casino operations and construction-related employment, ii) supply chain diversity, iii) maintenance of responsible gambling measures, iv) community access to the event venue, and v) a $5 million contribution to the City of Toronto to create a child care centre that will benefit Casino Woodbine's employees and local residents.

The requirements and associated targets in the Rexdale – Casino Woodbine Community Benefits Agreement are on track to being met. Highlights are summarized below.

Child Care Centre – One Toronto Gaming has provided the City with the required $5 million contribution for a child care centre. City staff continue to look for a suitable location for a child care centre.
 

- Local and Social Hires – Between February 1, 2018 and August 1, 2019, there were 1,150 new hires as a result of expanded gaming, of which 72 per cent are local and/or social hires (target is 40 per cent). Sixty per cent of total employees are employed full-time.

 
- Supply Chain Diversity – Progress is being made toward achieving an annual target of 10 per cent for social and local procurement.

- Responsible Gambling Measures and Mitigation of Negative Impacts of Expanded Gaming – Requirements are being met.

- Monitoring, Reporting and Governance – The governance framework has been established with three accountability and monitoring committees, which meet quarterly: i) the Community Steering Committee (convened by City of Toronto), ii) the Casino Woodbine Responsible Gambling Oversight Committee (convened by Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation), and iii) the Employment and Labour Market Advisory Working Group (convened by One Toronto Gaming).

A public website is maintained providing quarterly updates.
 

Through the City of Toronto – Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation Municipal Contribution Agreement, the City of Toronto receives a share of gaming revenue. In 2018, the City received $19.2 million, and from January 1 to September 30, 2019, the City received $20.5 million, due to gaming at Casino Woodbine.

The Rexdale – Casino Woodbine Community Benefits Agreement is the City's first community benefits agreement. To achieve the targets and ensure its success, the involvement of diverse stakeholders is required. The City acknowledges there is joint accountability for the Agreement and its targets. Many of the processes and mechanisms upon which community benefits agreements rely are still being developed and refined. The experience of the first year of implementation of the Rexdale – Casino Woodbine Community Benefits Agreement indicates that community benefits agreements can offer significant opportunities, however infrastructure, processes and resources are required to maximize those opportunities.