Item - 2020.EX16.7

The Executive Committee recommends that:

1. City Council authorize the hosting of the 2023 Federation of Canadian Municipalities Conference and Trade Show and City Council direct the City Manager to negotiate and execute any required agreements with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor.

2. City Council authorize the use of the 'Corporate Conference Reserve' for the purposes of hosting the Federation of Canadian Municipalities 2023 Annual Conference and Trade Show.

3. City Council direct the City Manager to report back on the costs and the City's required financial contributions for the Federation of Canadian Municipalities 2023 Annual Conference and Trade Show once the format of the conference is known and as part of a future budget process.

4. City Council request the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Board of Directors, in consultation with recent host cities, to review the scope and cost of the annual conference to host cities to identify possible expenditure reductions and significant increases to the revenue generation capacity of the conference including through additional sponsorship sales with the goal of reducing any host city's net contribution, in recognition of the impact of the fiscal pressures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2016 the City of Toronto was selected by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities as the host city of the 2020 Federation of Canadian Municipalities Annual Conference and Trade Show. The 2020 event was cancelled on March 25, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Federation of Canadian Municipalities has offered the City of Toronto the ability to host the conference in 2023, and now requires a City Council resolution to move forward.

This report outlines anticipated 2023 host city obligations and related financial implications and seeks authority to enter into agreements with Federation of Canadian Municipalities to host the 2023 conference. The Federation of Canadian Municipalities conference is the largest gathering of municipal officials in Canada providing an opportunity to showcase the City of Toronto as Federation of Canadian Municipalities' largest member.

Given the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 and its impact on traditional in-person conference formats at this point in time the format of the 2023 conference is still not confirmed. Federation of Canadian Municipalities is working on identifying format options ranging from full in-person to fully virtual which would impact the role and responsibilities of the host city, and the related financial and logistical implications.