Item - 2021.EC24.5

The Economic and Community Development Committee recommends that:

1.  City Council authorize the following new Film Permit Fees commencing on April 1, 2022 and amend City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 441, Fees and Charges to reflect these new fees:

The City of Toronto's Film, Television and Digital Media Office (Film Office) is seeking to introduce fees to its current film permit structure (for location shoots on City-owned and operated properties and streets) starting in 2022. The film industry contributes over $2.2 billion annually to Toronto's economy and employs over 35,000 Torontonians. In the next five years, production studio space is expected to grow by 63 percent, increasing the footprint and presence of the industry in Toronto. This unprecedented growth requires appropriate human and financial resources within the Film Office to deliver its services, appropriately support and grow the industry, and foster opportunities for employment. Resources are required to adequately scale workforce development activities tied to equity and poverty reduction strategies and sustainable job creation and to deliver high customer service levels and community engagement, while meeting industry expectations that the revenues from fees will be reinvested in costs related to sectoral growth. The purpose of this report is to seek approval for the proposed new fee structure, including the division, sharing and reinvestment of revenue, and to amend Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 441, Fees and Charges to include the new fees for 2022.