Item - 2020.MM14.8

City Council on January 29, 2020, adopted the following:

1.  City Council direct the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, in consultation with the Church-Wellesley Village Business Improvement Area, other Business Improvement Areas, Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas and the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to develop immediate and long-term recommendations to support the retention and growth of independently owned and operated LGBTQ2S+ small businesses and cultural space.

2.  City Council direct the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture to report back with the recommendations requested in Part 1 above to the May 6, 2020 meeting of the Economic and Community Development Committee.

3.  City Council direct the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, as part of the report requested in Part 2 above, to conduct a comprehensive review of all existing City of Toronto programs and include recommendations that can further enhance optimal conditions for LGBTQ2S+ small businesses and cultural spaces to succeed and thrive including the feasibility of creating a LGBTQ2S+ Small Business and Cultural Space Retention Program.

4.  City Council request the Province of Ontario to introduce rent control legislation for commercial units to protect small to medium-sized businesses from unfair and drastic increases to their rent.