Minutes Confirmed on September 23, 2021

Executive Committee

Meeting No.:
25
Contact:
Cathrine Regan, Committee Administrator
Meeting Date:
Tuesday, July 6, 2021

Phone:
416-392-4666
Start Time:
9:30 AM
E-mail:
exc@toronto.ca
Location:
Video Conference
Chair:
Mayor John Tory

This meeting of the Executive Committee was held by electronic means and the proceedings of the Executive Committee were conducted publicly. 

 

These measures were necessary to comply with physical distancing requirements and as civic buildings were closed to the public.

EX25.1 - Recognition Review Project Update and Response to the Dundas Street Renaming Petition

(Submitted for City Council Consideration on July 14, 2021)
Decision Type:
ACTION
Status:
Amended
Wards:
All

Committee Recommendations

The Executive Committee recommends that:  

 

1. City Council direct the City Manager to initiate a public engagement process to seek input on the draft City of Toronto Principles for Commemoration in the Public Realm, included as Attachment 1 to the report (June 18, 2021) from the City Manager and to report back to the Executive Committee with recommendations for a new framework and implementation plan to guide how the City commemorates public figures and events in street and place names, monuments and other civic assets by the second quarter of 2022.

 

2. City Council direct the City Manager to convene a Community Advisory Committee made up of Black and Indigenous leaders and representatives from the diverse communities represented along Dundas Street to develop and seek community input on potential new names for Dundas Street and other City-owned assets bearing the Dundas name, and report back to the Executive Committee with recommended names by the second quarter of 2022.

 

3. Subject to the adoption of Recommendation 2 above, City Council direct the City Manager to develop a transition plan to support Dundas Street residents and businesses impacted by the name change, and include this plan as part of the report to the Executive Committee in the second quarter of 2022.

 

4. Subject to the adoption of Recommendation 2 above, City Council direct impacted City divisions and agencies to include costs related to renaming Dundas Street as part of their 2022 and 2023 Budget submissions.

 

5. City Council direct the City Manager to explore options to reduce the cost of renaming streets and civic assets and include the results in the upcoming new framework and implementation plan.

 

6. City Council authorize the Chief Engineer and Executive Director, Engineering and Construction Services, in consultation with Ward Councillors and other City divisions and agencies as appropriate, to process applications for new street names received between October 1, 2020 and July 15, 2021, despite the previous moratorium on naming or renaming of streets and other civic properties, in order to test the practical application of the draft City of Toronto Principles for Commemoration in the Public Realm, included as Attachment 1 to the report (June 18, 2021) from the City Manager.

 

7. City Council authorize the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, in consultation with the Director, Indigenous Affairs Office and the City Librarian, to investigate options for naming the community recreation centre to be located at 100 Ethennonnhawahstihnen' Lane, in alignment with draft City of Toronto Principles for Commemoration in the Public Realm in Attachment 1 to the report (June 18, 2021) from the City Manager , and in coordination with the Toronto Public Library's process for naming the new on-site library branch, despite the previous moratorium on naming or renaming of streets and other civic properties, and to recommend a name to the North York Community Council by the fourth quarter of 2021. 

 

8. City Council approve the name "Freemon Redmon Circle" to identify the proposed public street at 971-979 Warden Avenue.

Origin

(June 18, 2021) Report from the City Manager

Summary

In June 2020, City Council received a petition signed by close to 14,000 individuals calling for Dundas Street[1] to be renamed, citing its namesake Henry Dundas' role in delaying the abolition of the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Subsequently, in September 2020, City Council approved a consultation and research plan to explore four potential options for responding to the petition: doing nothing (which was not recommended by staff); maintaining the street names with additional interpretation; maintaining the street names but changing the names of other civic assets bearing Dundas' name; and a full renaming of the streets and civic assets carrying the Dundas name.

 

The petition has led to a broader review of how the City commemorates public figures and events in place names, monuments and other civic assets, with Council directing the City Manager to develop an overall commemorative framework for the City, including guiding principles for naming/renaming and other forms of commemoration. To better reflect this expanded scope, the project is now called the Recognition Review.

 

A key objective of the Recognition Review is to examine and respond to how systemic racism and discrimination may be embedded in place names and City assets. Public commemorations – including monuments, plaques, and the naming of streets, parks and other civic properties – reflect community values through how we choose to collectively honour the past and shape the future. The City of Toronto communicates a core value through its motto, "Diversity Our Strength". However, most commemorations in Toronto represent the stories of white settler males in positions of power. This historic imbalance has meant that other stories – including those of Indigenous Peoples, Black communities, racialized communities, women, 2SLGBTQ+ persons, and other equity-deserving groups – are underrepresented in the public realm. Developing a new commemorative framework to address this imbalance will have a positive long-term impact for the City by building the foundation for a stronger, more inclusive Toronto through an intentional, equitable and community-centred approach to consultation, naming and commemoration.

 

To begin this work, staff have developed draft guiding principles for a new commemorative framework (included in Attachment 1) to encourage greater equity and inclusion in place-making, promote a broader understanding of history and its legacy within communities, and confront the legacy of colonialism and systemic racism. This report recommends that staff seek public feedback on these principles, and test the practical application of the principles to name selected new streets and civic assets in the coming months while the moratorium on further naming and renaming of City properties previously directed by Council remains in place. A recommendation for the first street to be named in alignment with the draft principles is included as part of this report. This report recommends assigning the name "Freemon Redmon Circle" to a new public street at 971-979 Warden Avenue, which requires a name prior to occupancy on August 1, 2021. A new corporate framework for commemoration in the public realm, incorporating the guiding principles, updates to related policies and programs, and considerations for implementation will be recommended to Council in Q2 2022.

 

Responding to the Dundas Street petition is a foundational step in the Recognition Review. Following the September report to Council, City staff engaged an independent firm with extensive experience working with equity-deserving communities to develop a public consultation plan for the project. As part of this preparatory work, the City and its consultants hosted discovery sessions with Black and Indigenous community leaders, Business Improvement Areas (BIAs) located along Dundas Street, and Black business owners and entrepreneurs across Toronto to seek feedback on the proposed options for responding to the petition and strategies for engaging the broader public. Staff also met with Dundas Street resident associations as part of this initial work. In addition, City staff conducted an extensive review of academic research on Dundas' role in abolition and over 400 global case studies on the evolution of commemoration and naming policies.

 

Based on feedback from discovery sessions with Black and Indigenous community leaders and business groups, the findings of peer-reviewed academic research, and trends in global case studies, it is very clear that engaging the public on any option other than a full renaming of Dundas Street and civic assets runs counter to the commitments Council has made to equity, reconciliation and inclusion. The continued commemoration of Henry Dundas – who is described in peer-reviewed academic research as having played an instrumental role in delaying the abolition of the slave trade – is in direct conflict with the values of equity and inclusion that the City of Toronto upholds. Taking steps to right wrongs, challenge systemic institutionalized racism, and build a more inclusive Toronto is more important than ever. Addressing the historical legacy of Dundas Street is one of these steps.

 

This report therefore recommends that Council support a process to rename Dundas Street and other civic assets bearing Dundas' name, with guidance from a Community Advisory Committee made up of Black and Indigenous residents and business owners. The Advisory Committee will develop a shortlist of potential names with community input as part of a commitment to healing, and recommend new names for Dundas Street and other civic assets for consideration by City Council by Q2 2022. It is estimated that the new names for the street and civic assets could be put in place approximately one year after their approval by Council.

 

A key component of this work will be the development of a transition plan to support impacted residents and businesses. Dundas Street is home to over 97,000 residents and 4,500 businesses. The transition plan will include strategies to make the change as easy as possible for these residents and businesses, such as automatic mail forwarding arranged by Canada Post; working with search engines to update online results for businesses; and identifying specific supports for vulnerable residents. Most address changes can be made at no cost, though businesses could incur additional expenses to update materials such as letterhead, and approximately 60 businesses with Dundas in their name may incur further costs related to re-branding and signage should they choose to change their names as well. Businesses within BIAs that update their exterior signage to reflect a name change could be eligible for funding through the existing Commercial Façade Improvement Program, which covers up to 50% of eligible expenses.

 

The petition to rename Dundas Street has been the most prominent example of public calls for change about how we commemorate historic figures and events in Toronto. However, other commemorative street names, place names and monuments have also been critiqued for honouring subjects that are no longer considered to be reflective of the city's contemporary values. Staff are aware of approximately 60 other street names, primarily small local roads, which could require further examination, including at least 12 streets named after slave owners. While the previously-approved moratorium on further naming/renaming of streets and removal of monuments remains in place, the City has an opportunity to consider an approach to addressing questions related to existing place names and monuments that will examine each asset individually with an historic review, community input and opportunities to educate and celebrate Toronto's commitments to equity for all. The new commemorative framework, to be presented to Council in 2022, will help guide the City’s decision-making on the range of potential responses, and will detail resource implications for reviewing existing assets.

 
[1] For the purposes of this report, "Dundas Street" refers to Dundas Street (East and West), Old Dundas Street (a local road east and west of the Humber River, south of Dundas Street West), and Dundas Square (a local road south of Yonge-Dundas Square).

Background Information

(June 18, 2021) Report from the City Manager on Recognition Review Project Update and Response to the Dundas Street Renaming Petition
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168523.pdf
Attachment 1 - Draft City of Toronto Principles for Commemoration in the Public Realm
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168524.pdf
Attachment 2 - Proposed Engagement Strategies for Commemorative Principles
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168525.pdf
Attachment 3 - Naming of a New Public Street at 971-979 Warden Avenue
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168526.pdf
Attachment 4 - Overview of Proposed Naming Process
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168527.pdf
Attachment 5 - Proposed Timing of Public Engagement Processes
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168528.pdf

Communications

(March 28, 2021) E-mail from Anapaula Oliveira (EX.Main)
(April 26, 2021) E-mail from Greg Sheehan (EX.Main)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/comm/communicationfile-133373.pdf
(June 15, 2021) E-mail from Spencer A. Sandor (EX.Main)
(June 28, 2021) E-mail from Alan Coles (EX.Supp)
(June 28, 2021) E-mail from Emoke Szekeres (EX.Supp)
(June 29, 2021) E-mail from Walter Morgan (EX.Supp)
(June 29, 2021) E-mail from Katherine E. McGuire (EX.Supp)
(June 30, 2021) E-mail from David S. Crawford (EX.Supp)
(July 1, 2021) E-mail from Debra Banks (EX.Supp)
(July 1, 2021) Letter from Dr. Ralph J Daley, President, Grange Community Association Inc. (EX.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/comm/communicationfile-134237.pdf
(July 1, 2021) E-mail from Sam (EX.Supp)
(July 1, 2021) E-mail from Derek Pinder (EX.Supp)
(July 1, 2021) E-mail from Max Allen, President, Grangetown Condominiums at Village by the Grange (EX.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/comm/communicationfile-134240.pdf
(July 2, 2021) E-mail from Joanne Smith (EX.Supp)
(July 2, 2021) E-mail from Sarah Harris (EX.Supp)
(July 2, 2021) E-mail from John De Marco (EX.Supp)
(July 2, 2021) E-mail from A. Mazzucco (EX.Supp)
(July 3, 2021) E-mail from D. Sands (EX.Supp)
(July 4, 2021) E-mail from Rosalind McLean (EX.Supp)
(July 4, 2021) E-mail from Anthony Nolan (EX.Supp)
(July 4, 2021) E-mail from Carol Chung (EX.Supp)
(June 30, 2021) E-mail from Rafal Zacharski (EX.Supp)
(July 5, 2021) E-mail from Elenore Chesnutt (EX.Supp)
(July 5, 2021) E-mail from Rad Popovic (EX.Supp)
(July 2, 2021) Letter from Nadine Spencer, President, Black Business and Professional Association (EX.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/comm/communicationfile-134344.pdf
(July 5, 2021) E-mail from Leslie Katz (EX.New)
(July 5, 2021) E-mail from Lanrick Bennett Jr (EX.New)
(July 5, 2021) E-mail from Audra Williams (EX.New)
(July 5, 2021) Letter from Michelle Munk, Teacher, Toronto District School Board (EX.New)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/comm/communicationfile-134367.pdf
(July 5, 2021) E-mail from John Ralston Saul (EX.New)
(July 5, 2021) Letter from Andrew Lochhead (EX.New)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/comm/communicationfile-134369.pdf
(July 5, 2021) Letter from Michelle Daigle, Assistant Professor, Geography and Planning and Centre for Indigenous Studies, University of Toronto (EX.New)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/comm/communicationfile-134372.pdf
(July 5, 2021) Letter from The Rt. Hon. Adrienne Clarkson (EX.New)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/comm/communicationfile-134373.pdf
(July 5, 2021) Letter from Nura Yunus, Stakeholder Member, Partnership and Accountability Circle Member (EX.New)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/comm/communicationfile-134394.pdf
(July 5, 2021) E-mail from Kay Karbownik (EX.New)
(July 5, 2021) E-mail from Q. Tutton (EX.New)
(July 5, 2021) E-mail from Maarten Sluyter, Secretary, Little Portugal on Dundas BIA (EX.New)
(July 5, 2021) E-mail from Lily Shigetomi (EX.New)
(July 5, 2021) Submission from Melanie Newton (EX.New)
(July 5, 2021) Letter from Adaoma Patterson, President, Jamaican Canadian Association (EX.New)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/comm/communicationfile-134402.pdf
(July 6, 2021) E-mail from Paulo F. Santos (EX.New)

Speakers

Anthony Nolan
Justice Faith Betty, Co-Chair of the City of Toronto's Confronting Anti-Black Racism
Andrew Lochhead, Let’s Rename Dundas Street Petition
Melanie J. Newton, University of Toronto
Ravi Joshi
Lon Palmer
Doug Carroll
The Rt. Hon. Adrienne Clarkson
John De Marco
Dr. Heidi Bohaker, Department of History, University of Toronto
Rosalind McLean
Dr. Stephen Mullen, Scottish History, School of Humanities
Miranda Black, Ryerson University
Dori Tunstall, Ontario College of Art and Design
Max Allen, Grangetown Condominiums at Village by the Grange
Michelle Munk, École Queen Alexandra Middle School
John Ralston Saul

Motions

1 - Motion to Amend Item moved by Mayor John Tory (Carried)

That:

 

1. The Executive Committee amend Recommendation 2 by adding the words "and representatives from the diverse communities represented along Dundas Street" so that it now reads:

 

2. City Council direct the City Manager to convene a Community Advisory Committee made up of Black and Indigenous leaders and representatives from the diverse communities represented along Dundas Street to develop and seek community input on potential new names for Dundas Street and other City-owned assets bearing the Dundas name, and report back to Executive Committee with recommended names by the second quarter of 2022.

 

2. City Council direct the City Manager to explore options to reduce the cost of renaming streets and civic assets and include the results in the upcoming new framework and implementation plan.


Motion to Adopt Item as Amended moved by Mayor John Tory (Carried)

Vote (Adopt Item as Amended) Jul-06-2021

Result: Carried Majority Required - EX25.1 - Adopt the Item as amended
Total members that voted Yes: 6 Members that voted Yes are Paul Ainslie, Ana Bailão, Gary Crawford, Jennifer McKelvie, Michael Thompson, John Tory (Chair)
Total members that voted No: 0 Members that voted No are
Total members that were Absent: 2 Members that were absent are Denzil Minnan-Wong, James Pasternak

EX25.2 - COVID-19 Recovery July 2021 Update

(Submitted for City Council Consideration on July 14, 2021)
Decision Type:
ACTION
Status:
Adopted
Wards:
All

Committee Recommendations

The Executive Committee recommends that:

 

1.  City Council authorize the City Manager and/or any other relevant City Official, in consultation with the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, to apply for and receive funding, and negotiate, enter into and execute any agreements required in respect of such funding, including any amendments and extensions thereto, with either the Government of Canada, the Province of Ontario and their respective agencies, until the first scheduled City Council meeting after September 1, 2021, in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor.

Origin

(June 21, 2021) Report from the City Manager

Summary

This report is the ninth COVID-19 response and recovery update from the City Manager since April 2020, when the City was in the early weeks of the global COVID-19 pandemic. As the number of COVID-19 cases is currently in decline, and the City continues to work to ensure that all residents are vaccinated, attention is shifting to reopening plans and longer-term recovery strategies.

 

Over the past 16 months, the City has progressed from holding only emergency sessions of City Council, closing all but critical services, and a single public health message – stay home – to a return to a full Council and Committee cycle enabled by technology, the creation of new and remote services, and robust COVID-19 information, guidance and supports to the public and businesses through repeated surges of COVID-19.

 

The City’s priorities remain on both short-term response and sustainable recovery. City staff are continuing to identify and plan for emerging strategic issues related to re-opening. As we move forward, the City must consider how to scale and roll back emergency responses such as mass vaccination clinics, and how best to learn from and apply the many lessons from the pandemic to the City’s future decisions.

 

"Building back better also means learning from the past and starting sustainable improvements that make a difference for future generations. Our recovery efforts must take a long-term view towards building the city we want for those who will call Toronto home decades from now." 

                        City Manager’s October 2020 Towards Recovery report

 

The pandemic remains a global health crisis. In Toronto, its immediate impacts continue to be felt along with a growing understanding of potential longer-term effects. COVID-19 is not solved for Toronto until it is resolved elsewhere as well. The stress, concern and grief faced by many residents affected by COVID-19 in our City, as well as for those with loved ones living in other countries who are experiencing critical rates of infections, limited access to vaccines and significant loss of life, will have lasting impacts and require years of recovery here in Toronto.

 

In all of the past eight City Manager’s response and recovery updates, the first sections have highlighted COVID-19 case counts, Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) and public health updates. These omnibus-type reports also included information and recommendations from across all City Divisions to City Council for their consideration.

 

This report marks a change in that approach. Over the past several months, divisions have applied a COVID-19 lens to their work and included response, recovery and rebuilding information in their reports to Council, rather than relying solely on the City Manager’s updates to bring forward recommendations to City Council. This and future updates from the City Manager will focus on new information and recommendations that are not otherwise routed through an appropriate Standing Committee or Community Council and are cross-cutting or whole-of government in nature, for City Council’s consideration.

 

This report also provides:

- COVID-19 impact indicators the City will monitor as we move towards recovery;
- Updates on re-opening Toronto;
- An update on the City’s intergovernmental actions; and
- Information on the launch of RecoveryTO, a series of new webpages that will provide a snapshot of the previous four months, curating highlights from City Council decisions, staff reports, data, dashboards, and media announcements on the City’s recovery actions.

Background Information

(June 21, 2021) Report from the City Manager on COVID-19 Recovery July 2021 Update
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168546.pdf

Motions

Motion to Adopt Item moved by Councillor Michael Thompson (Carried)

EX25.3 - Recommended Tax Design and Steps to Implement a Vacant Home Tax in Toronto

(Submitted for City Council Consideration on July 14, 2021)
Decision Type:
ACTION
Status:
Adopted
Wards:
All

Committee Recommendations

The Executive Committee recommends that:

 

1. City Council approve in principle the proposed tax design features set out in Attachment 1 to the report (June 21, 2021) from the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer and the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat.

 

2. City Council direct the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer and Executive Director Housing Secretariat to:

 

a. undertake public consultation and receive written comments from all stakeholders on the proposed tax design; and

 

b. report back during the fourth quarter of 2021 with the findings from consultations and any modifications to a finalized tax design and an enabling tax by-law for City Council consideration for implementation on January 1, 2022.

Origin

(June 21, 2021) Report from the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer and the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat

Summary

City Council, at its meeting of December 16-18, 2020, considered the report EX19.3: Policy Analysis, Potential Design and Possible Implementation of a Vacant Home Tax in Toronto, which provided research and analysis on this form of policy tool as well as potential design issues and implementation steps for an effective and efficient vacant home tax program designed to improve housing affordability and availability in Toronto.

 

The direction from City Council was to develop key tax design features and administrative structures to support a vacant home tax (VHT) program and to report back with a recommended taxation design for a vacant home tax by the end of the second quarter of 2021 for implementation commencing in the 2022 taxation year.  Council also directed that a report back address the public policy rationale for the tax and annual reporting requirements to measure the effectiveness of the tax, principal residence exemptions and the protection of snowbirds, the potential allocation of net tax revenues towards affordable housing initiatives, and coordination with other City property standards programs.

 

This report responds to the Council request and presents key tax design principles to be considered as part of a future tax by-law, including annual declaration responsibility of all homeowners, key definitions of vacant homes, principal residence exemptions, other exempting conditions, administrative matters, tax rate, and general information regarding audit and enforcement functions, complaints and appeals process, offences and penalties and annual reporting requirements.

 

The report also recommends that such design principles be presented for public and stakeholder consultation during third quarter of 2021.  A further report with findings from the consultations plus any tax design modifications, along with a tax by-law, would then be presented to Council for consideration during the fourth quarter of 2021.  The proposed by-law would become effective on January 1, 2022, with the first annual property declarations in respect of the 2022 taxation being due in 2023.

Background Information

(June 21, 2021) Report from the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer and the Executive Director Housing Secretariat on Recommended Tax Design and Steps to Implement a Vacant Home Tax in Toronto
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168674.pdf

Communications

(December 18, 2020) Letter from J. Campbell (EX.Main)
(July 5, 2021) Letter from Mauro Ritacca submitted a letter from Kevin Crigger, President, Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (EX.New)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/comm/communicationfile-134387.pdf
(July 5, 2021) E-mail from Harold B. Smith (EX.New)
(July 6, 2021) E-mail from Mark Webb (EX.New)

Speakers

Emily Johnson

Motions

Motion to Adopt Item moved by Councillor Ana Bailão (Carried)

EX25.4 - SafeTO: Toronto's Ten-Year Community Safety and Well-Being Plan

(Submitted for City Council Consideration on July 14, 2021)
Decision Type:
ACTION
Status:
Adopted
Wards:
All

Committee Recommendations

The Executive Committee recommends that:  

 

1. City Council adopt SafeTO: Toronto’s Ten-Year Community Safety and Well-Being Plan as outlined in Appendix A to the report (June 21, 2021) from the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration.

 

2. City Council request the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration to report to the December 7, 2021 meeting of the Executive Committee with the SafeTO Implementation Plan.

 

3. City Council forward the SafeTO report to the Boards of Directors of Toronto Community Housing Corporation, Toronto Public Library and Toronto Transit Commission, and the Toronto Police Services Board and City Council request the Boards adopt the SafeTO Plan through a Board resolution and partner with the City on the SafeTO Implementation Plan.

 

4. City Council forward the SafeTO report to the Toronto District School Board, the Toronto Catholic District School Board, le Conseil scolaire de District catholique MonAvenir and le Conseil scolaire Viamonde for their consideration of the SafeTO Plan in service planning and to partner with the City on the SafeTO Implementation Plan.

 

5. City Council forward the SafeTO report to Native Child and Family Services of Toronto, Children's Aid Society of Toronto, Catholic Children's Aid Society of Toronto and Jewish Family and Child Service for their consideration in service planning as part of the provincially-mandated Child Welfare redesign, and to partner with the City on the SafeTO Implementation Plan.

 

6. City Council forward the SafeTO report to the following Provincial Ministries for their consideration: Ministry of the Solicitor General, Ministry of the Attorney General, Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Long-Term Care, Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Ministry of Education, and the Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility.

 

7. City Council forward the SafeTO report to the following Federal Departments for their consideration: Department of Justice Canada, Department for Women and Gender Equality, Public Safety Canada, Public Health Agency of Canada, and Indigenous Services Canada.

 

8. City Council request the City Manager to share the results of the Sunnybrook Breaking the Cycle of Violence with Empathy (BRAVE) Program with the Ministry of Health and City Council request the Province of Ontario to provide funding to support the continued operation of the BRAVE Program and the creation of a St. Michael's Hospital violence intervention program.

Origin

(June 21, 2021) Report from the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration

Summary

Under the Ontario Police Services Act, all municipalities are mandated to prepare and adopt a Community Safety and Well-Being Plan by July 2021. A provincial framework has been developed to guide municipalities in our planning to broaden our understanding of safety and centre the well-being of individuals, families and communities through long-term strategic actions that ensure community safety and well-being. The root causes of community violence, trauma and injustice are complex. A traditional enforcement approach cannot be the only response, nor the default response to building a safer city. Growing evidence calls for proactive, multi-sector responses guided by a unified vision and a set of agreed upon priorities. This shift being called for by provincial legislation mirrors what City staff have heard from community leaders, advocates and academics over many years. SafeTO is our response.

 

SafeTO is a comprehensive Ten-Year Community Safety and Well-Being Plan that reimagines core elements of community safety and well-being in order to shift our paradigm from a reliance on reactive emergency response to a culture of proactive prevention. SafeTO inspires us to think differently, work collaboratively across sectors, community and governments, and to do better to bring about a safe Toronto that promotes and celebrates the well-being and resilience of all residents.

 

Toronto has a legacy of taking bold action to address complex challenges. In recent years, Toronto City Council has committed to a 20-year plan to transform how the City addresses poverty through TO Prosperity: Toronto Poverty Reduction Strategy; has endorsed the Toronto Action Plan to Confront Anti-Black Racism to acknowledge and uproot anti-Black racism from our systems and structures; and has put into action policing reform measures to create a new community-led Community Crisis Support Service to reimagine how our systems respond to mental health crises. SafeTO provides City Council with another opportunity to think boldly and act differently to advance community safety and well-being in Toronto by:

 

-Expanding the definition of community safety beyond crime or policing to include well-being,
-Redefining what trauma means and deepening the ability of the City and its partners to be informed by it and respond to it,
-Enhancing our ability to act early and advance preventative approaches,
-Developing innovative mechanisms to use multi-sector data to inform decision making and integrate investments,
-Implementing an effective multi-sector governance structure that brings our critical partners into coordinated leadership and action, and
-Committing to a long-term vision of community safety and well-being and a comprehensive plan to realize it.
 

For Toronto to make the shift envisioned by the Province, the majority of community safety investments need to be focused on developing and/or enhancing programs that focus on social development, prevention, and intervention through multi-sector collaboration to reduce the reliance on reactive emergency response. The City cannot make this shift alone. For the City to be successful, a whole-of-governments approach consisting of effective partnerships with and investments from other orders of government is critical.

 

SafeTO will drive 26 priority actions across seven strategic goals: Reduce Vulnerability; Reduce Violence; Advance Truth and Reconciliation; Promote Healing and Justice; Invest in People; Invest in Neighbourhoods; and Drive Collaboration and Accountability. SafeTO provides a roadmap for how the City and social systems that serve Torontonians, such as community services, healthcare systems, education systems, justice systems, police and business, can work collaboratively across different sectors and across governments to support community safety and well-being.

 

In the process of developing SafeTO, the City has already started to apply a broader, multi-sector approach to prevent and interrupt escalating violence this summer. In the spring, Social Development, Finance and Administration Division, the Toronto Police Service and the Toronto Police Service Board, Toronto Community Housing, Toronto Public Health, Toronto Transit Commission, the Toronto District School Board, and the Toronto Catholic District School Board formed the Executive Leadership Table with the support of the Office of the Mayor to collaboratively develop a Short-term Community Safety Pilot to leverage and integrate community safety efforts across organizations for better impact on the reduction of gun violence through the summer months. Lessons learned through this collaborative work will be used to inform the SafeTO Implementation Plan which will be brought back for Council consideration in December 2021.

Background Information

(June 21, 2021) Report from the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration on SafeTO: Toronto's Ten-Year Community Safety and Well-Being Plan
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168550.pdf
Appendix A - SafeTO: Toronto's Ten-Year Community Safety and Well-Being Plan
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168551.pdf
Appendix B - SafeTO Goals and Priority Actions
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168552.pdf
Appendix C - SafeTO Community Consultation Summary
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168553.pdf
Appendix D - Safe TO: Roadmap to become a Trauma-Informed City
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168554.pdf

Communications

(June 29, 2021) E-mail from Shaykh Imran Ally (EX.Supp)

Speakers

Dr. Laura Rosella, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto
Brandy Tanenbaum, Tory Trauma Program, Centre for Injury Prevention
Lieran Docherty, Woman Abuse Council of Toronto

Motions

Motion to Adopt Item moved by Councillor Michael Thompson (Carried)

EX25.5 - Update on Metrolinx Transit Expansion Projects - Second Quarter 2021

Decision Type:
ACTION
Status:
Adopted
Wards:
All

Committee Decision

The Executive Committee received the report (June 21, 2021) from the Executive Director, Transit Expansion Office and the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning for information.

Origin

(June 21, 2021) Report from the Executive Director, Transit Expansion Office and the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning

Summary

The purpose of this report is to provide a status update on Metrolinx-led transit expansion projects currently underway in Toronto, with a focus on the Subway Program (i.e., Ontario Line, Scarborough Subway Extension, Yonge North Subway Extension, and Eglinton Crosstown West Extension), SmartTrack Stations Program, and Durham-Scarborough Bus Rapid Transit. In particular, this report provides information that addresses several Council directives related to the Ontario Line and the Bloor-Lansdowne SmartTrack Station.

 

City staff are involved in the planning, design, and implementation of Metrolinx transit expansion programs through activities such as reviewing technical drawings, developing required legal agreements, reviewing construction management and traffic management plans, and planning approvals, among many other activities. City staff will continue to provide updates to Council on these multi-billion dollar transit expansion investments as they develop.

Background Information

(June 21, 2021) Report from the Executive Director, Transit Expansion Office and the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning on Update on Metrolinx Transit Expansion Projects - Second Quarter 2021
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168614.pdf
Attachment 1 - Metrolinx correspondence regarding Ontario Line Environmental Assessment and Hybrid Option, dated June 8, 2021
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168615.pdf
Attachment 2 - Metrolinx correspondence regarding Ontario Line Maintenance and Storage Facility Site Selection Study and Next Steps, dated June 14, 2021
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168616.pdf

Communications

(July 2, 2021) E-mail from R. Iain McLeod, President, Glen Andrew Community Association (EX.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/comm/communicationfile-134277.pdf
(July 3, 2021) Letter from David Anderson, President, and Douglas Phillips, Chair, Highland Creek Community Association (EX.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/comm/communicationfile-134305.pdf
(July 5, 2021) E-mail from Rosemary Waterston, on behalf of the Lakeshore East Community Advisory Committee (EX.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/comm/communicationfile-134332.pdf
(July 5, 2021) E-mail from Rob Hatton (EX.New)
(July 5, 2021) Submission from Mark Richardson, Technical Lead, HousingNowTO (EX.New)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/comm/communicationfile-134400.pdf
(July 6, 2021) Letter from Peter Palframan, Committee to Keep The Subway on Yonge (EX.New)
(July 6, 2021) E-mail from Aamir Sukhera (EX.New)

Speakers

Tony Whitaker
Peter Palframan, Committee to Keep The Subway on Yonge
Robert Hatton
Eon Song
Mark Richardson, HousingNowTO.com
Maggi Redmonds, Save Jimmie Simpson
Rebecca Wood
Councillor Jaye Robinson
Councillor Paula Fletcher

Motions

Motion to Adopt Item moved by Councillor Gary Crawford (Carried)

EX25.6 - City of Toronto Investment Report for the Year 2020

(Submitted for City Council Consideration on July 14, 2021)
Decision Type:
ACTION
Status:
Adopted
Wards:
All

Committee Recommendations

The Executive Committee recommends that:

 

1.  City Council receive the report (June 18, 2021) from the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer for information.

Origin

(June 18, 2021) Report from the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

Summary

The purpose of this report is to provide the following information:

 

1.  Performance of the Funds for the year 2020

2.  General Market Update and Benchmark Performance

 

The City's General Group of Funds ("General Fund") that holds the City's working capital and the amounts designated for the City's reserves and reserve funds earned:

- $180.4 million for the year of 2020 (3.0% annualized rate of return)
 

The City's Sinking Fund portfolio that holds funds for future debt repayments earned:

- $39.3 million for the year 2020 (2.4% annualized rate of return)
 

Since January 1, 2018, the City's long-term investments have been managed by the Toronto Investment Board under a new Council adopted Investment Policy which is based on the prudent investor standard.

 

In total, there are now four fixed income managers and four global equity managers engaged in managing the long-term investments under the Toronto Investment Board.  The final two global equity investment managers were funded in 2020. Both fixed income and equity investment classes are fully funded in accordance with the target asset mix in the Investment Policy with 70 percent allocated to fixed income and 20 percent to global equities.  As at December 31, 2020, approximately 90 percent of both the Sinking Fund and the Long Term Fund were managed by external fund managers with the remaining 10 percent to be allocated to Real Assets.  The Toronto Investment Board continues to evaluate opportunities in the Real Asset category.

 

Performance of the long-term investment portfolios in 2020 were in line with expectations on an earned income basis and did exceptionally well on a market value basis.  It should be noted that performance of these funds are measured on a four year moving average basis in accordance with the Investment Policy.  Subsequent to year-end, the Toronto Investment Board was reviewing options for ways to enhance return in this low-interest environment.  More information on this review will be provided in the next semi-annual report to City Council.

 

Short term cash balances, which are part of the Short Term Fund managed by staff, finished 2020 at above average levels.  This was primarily due to the COVID pandemic and the uncertainty around several revenue sources.  A sharp decline in short term interest rates due to changes by the Bank of Canada resulted in returns below expectations in 2020.  We expect these short term interest rates to return to pre-COVID levels once the pandemic nears an end.   

 

All funds managed are compliant with the Council-approved Investment Policy.

 

The Toronto Investment Board is in the process of hiring a third-party data provider in order to monitor and report on whether or not external investment firms hired by the City are compliant with the terms of the Investment Policy governing Environmental, Social, and Governance Factors.  It is expected this information and data regarding climate change risk from these reviews be available for the next investment report due in December, and will continue to be reported to City Council on a semi-annual basis.

Background Information

(June 18, 2021) Report from the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer on City of Toronto Investment Report for the Year 2020
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168422.pdf
Attachment 1 - Background on the Funds
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168423.pdf
Attachment 2 - Record of Transactions in City of Toronto Debentures
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168424.pdf
Attachment 3 - Breakdown of the Portfolios by Sectors and by Credit Ratings
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168425.pdf

Motions

Motion to Adopt Item moved by Councillor Jennifer McKelvie (Carried)

EX25.7 - Annual Report on City's Loan and Loan Guarantee Portfolios

(Submitted for City Council Consideration on July 14, 2021)
Decision Type:
ACTION
Status:
Adopted
Wards:
All

Committee Recommendations

The Executive Committee recommends that:

 

1. City Council approve the renewal of the following:

 

a. the line of credit guarantee issued by the City on behalf of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra to its lender in the amount of $5,000,000 (inclusive of all interest payable by the Toronto Symphony Orchestra) for a three-year period commencing on November 1, 2021 and ending October 31, 2024; and

 

b. the capital loan issued by the City on behalf of the Lakeshore Arena Corporation in the amount of $4,047,660 (interest payments only) for a further one-year period commencing on November 1, 2021 and ending October 31, 2022.

Origin

(June 18, 2021) Report from the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

Summary

This report provides an annual update on the City's loan and loan guarantee portfolios for the year ending in 2020.

 

The City currently guarantees three operating lines of credit and eight capital loan guarantees under Council approved policies for line of credit and loan guarantees for cultural and community-based organizations.  In addition to the guarantees, the City currently has outstanding a total of seven direct loans:  six to City agencies and corporations, plus one to an external organization.  All loans and guarantees are in good standing as at the 2020 year end.

 

The effects of COVID-19 and related closure of many of the not-for-profit and City agency venues associated with these loans and guarantees occurred in  the 2020 calendar year and continue to the date of this report.  The City has monitored the status of these loans and guarantees.  As at December 31, 2020, some of the loans have been permitted to defer required payments by lenders due to lack of sufficient cash flow due to COVID related business closures.  Allowable deferred payments are not considered a default on the loan. 

 

Currently at this point in 2021, these loans remain in good standing. The entities subject to this report have been staying current for the most part by adjusting operations to contain costs and through the receipt of financial assistance measures such as federal and provincial support programs and/or lender authorized payment deferrals, or by accessing associated existing debt service reserves and a line of credit to fund loan payments.

 

The City will continue to monitor and bring forward any necessary actions for Council consideration that may arise from any future loan servicing deficiencies.  At this time COVID closures still exist, however no immediate actions surrounding any changes in loan terms are required.  This does not however preclude that future actions may become necessary to ensure the long term viability of loan servicing under these loans and guarantees should any conditions change such as the provision of financial supports and/or potential re-opening revenue streams.  Such reporting will occur as necessary.

 

This report recommends extending a line of credit guarantee with a not-for profit performing arts group for an additional three year term as well as extending the loan term for a City loan to a City services corporation for an additional one year term.

Background Information

(June 18, 2021) Report from the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer on Annual Report on City's Loan and Loan Guarantee Portfolios
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168411.pdf

Motions

Motion to Adopt Item moved by Councillor Gary Crawford (Carried)

EX25.8 - Toronto Public Library's 2021 Operating Budget Variance Update and the Feasibility of Reinvesting into Further New and Enhanced Initiatives

(Submitted for City Council Consideration on July 14, 2021)
Decision Type:
ACTION
Status:
Adopted
Wards:
All

Committee Recommendations

The Executive Committee recommends that:

 

1. City Council receive the report (June 18, 2021) from the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer for information.

Origin

(June 18, 2021) Report from the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

Summary

This report responds to City Council direction during the 2021 Budget process to provide an update, in consultation with the City Librarian, on the impacts of COVID-19 on the Toronto Public Library's 2021 Operating Budget variance, and an assessment of the financial implications of proposed investment in further new and enhanced initiatives, funded by the Toronto Public Library's 2021 Operating Budget variance.                                             

 

This report appends a letter from the City Librarian, Toronto Public Library (TPL), regarding TPL Operating Budget Monitoring Report as of March 31, 2021 and the proposed investment of their 2021 operating underspending on two new and enhanced initiatives, namely Digital Literacy for Seniors and/or Community Librarian Outreach, adopted by the Toronto Public Library Board at its meeting on May 25, 2021.

 

For the period ended March 31, 2021, TPL reported a year-to-date one-time favourable operating variance of $2.575 million net, mainly due to the impact of COVID-19 on library operations. To implement the above new and enhanced initiatives in late summer 2021, provided that public health measures permit implementation, an amount of $0.459 million would be required in 2021 that would not be available were it not for experienced one-time underspending in other initiatives.

 

The financial impacts in 2022 will increase to $1.090 million based on a combination of the full year costs associated with these initiatives, along with one-time reallocation of funds available in 2021. As a result, implementation of these initiatives in 2021 creates an added budget pressure within the Toronto Public Library of $1.090 million in 2022 requiring Council consideration of enhanced funding through the 2022 Budget process.

Background Information

(June 18, 2021) Report from the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer on Toronto Public Library's 2021 Operating Budget Variance Update and the Feasibility of Reinvesting into Further New and Enhanced Initiatives
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168407.pdf
Attachment 1 - Toronto Public Library Operating Budget Monitoring Report - March 31, 2021
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168408.pdf

Motions

Motion to Adopt Item moved by Councillor Gary Crawford (Carried)

EX25.9 - Build Toronto - Annual General Meeting and 2020 Audited Consolidated Financial Statements

(Submitted for City Council Consideration on July 14, 2021)
Decision Type:
ACTION
Status:
Adopted
Wards:
All

Committee Recommendations

The Executive Committee recommends that:

 

1. City Council treat that portion of the City Council meeting at which the report (June 21, 2021) from the City Manager and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer is considered as the Annual General Meeting of the Shareholder for Build Toronto by:

 

a. receiving the Letter to the Shareholder from the CreateTO's Chair of the Board of Directors and President and Chief Executive Officer dated April 30, 2021 transmitting the "CreateTO 2020 Highlights", and the "Build Toronto 2020 Audited Consolidated Financial Statements", forming Attachments 1 and 2 to the report (June 21, 2021) from the City Manager and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer; and

 

b. appointing KPMG LLP as the Auditor of Build Toronto for fiscal year 2021.

 

2. City Council receive the "Build Toronto 2020 Financial Impacts of COVID-19 ", forming Attachment 3 to the report (June 21, 2021) from the City Manager and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer.

 

3. City Council direct the City Clerk to forward a copy of the "Build Toronto 2020 Audited Consolidated Financial Statements", forming Attachment 2 to the report (June 21, 2021) from the City Manager and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, to the Audit Committee for information.

Origin

(June 21, 2021) Report from the City Manager and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

Summary

This report transmits materials submitted by the Board of Directors of Build Toronto (BT) to the City and recommends actions necessary to comply with the requirements of the Business Corporations Act, Ontario (OBCA) for holding the Annual General Meeting of the Shareholder of Build Toronto, including receipt of its Annual Report and Audited Consolidated Financial Statements (Statements) for 2020 and appointment of the auditor for 2021.

 

Build Toronto's 2020 Statements were audited by KPMG LLP and received an unqualified opinion stating that the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Build Toronto as at December 31, 2020, and its consolidated financial performance for the year then ended in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). Limited review and analysis was performed by City staff.

 

The report also responds to City Council's request to report the impact of COVID-19 on the 2020 financial statements as well as any modifications to programs and initiatives to address the pandemic.

Background Information

(June 21, 2021) Report from the City Manager and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer on Build Toronto - Annual General Meeting and 2020 Audited Consolidated Financial Statements
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168516.pdf
Attachment 1 - CreateTO 2020 Highlights
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168517.pdf
Attachment 2 - Build Toronto 2020 Audited Annual Financial Statements
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168518.pdf
Attachment 3 - Build Toronto 2020 Financial Impacts of COVID-19
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168519.pdf

Motions

Motion to Adopt Item moved by Councillor Paul Ainslie (Carried)

EX25.10 - Casa Loma Corporation - Annual General Meeting and 2020 Audited Financial Statements

(Submitted for City Council Consideration on July 14, 2021)
Decision Type:
ACTION
Status:
Adopted
Wards:
All

Committee Recommendations

The Executive Committee recommends that:

 

1. City Council treat that portion of the City Council meeting at which the report (June 21, 2021) from the City Manager and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer is considered as the Annual General Meeting of the Shareholder for Casa Loma Corporation by:

 

a. receiving the "Casa Loma Corporation 2020 Annual Report, and the "Casa Loma Corporation 2020 Audited Financial Statements", forming Attachments 1 and 2 to the report (June 21, 2021) from the City Manager and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer; and

 

b. appointing Welch LLP as the Auditor of Casa Loma Corporation for fiscal year 2021 and authorizing the Board of Directors of Casa Loma Corporation to fix the remuneration of the Auditor.

 

2. City Council receive the "Casa Loma Corporation 2020 Financial Impacts of COVID-19 ", forming Attachment 3 to the report (June 21, 2021) from the City Manager and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer.

 

3. City Council direct the City Clerk to forward a copy of the "Casa Loma 2020 Audited Annual Financial Statements", forming Attachment 2 to the report (June 21, 2021) from the City Manager and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, to the Audit Committee for information.

Origin

(June 21, 2021) Report from the City Manager and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

Summary

This report transmits materials submitted by the Board of Directors of Casa Loma to the City and recommends actions necessary to comply with the requirements of the Business Corporations Act, Ontario (OBCA) for holding the Annual General Meeting of the Shareholder Casa Loma Corporation, including receipt of its Annual Report and Audited Financial Statements (Statements) for 2020 and appointment of the auditor for 2021.

 

Casa Loma's 2020 Statements were audited by Welch LPP and received an unqualified opinion stating that the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Casa Loma as at December 31, 2020, and its results of operations for the year then ended in accordance with Canadian public sector accounting standards. Limited review and analysis was performed by City staff.

 

The report also responds to City Council's request to report the impact of COVID19 on the 2020 financial statements as well as any modifications to programs and initiatives to address the pandemic.

Background Information

(June 21, 2021) Report from the City Manager and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer on Casa Loma Corporation - Annual General Meeting and 2020 Audited Financial Statements
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168478.pdf
Attachment 1 - Casa Loma Corporation 2020 Annual Report
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168479.pdf
Attachment 2 - Casa Loma Corporation 2020 Audited Financial Statements
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168480.pdf
Attachment 3 - Casa Loma Corporation 2020 Financial Impacts of COVID-19
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168482.pdf

Motions

Motion to Adopt Item moved by Councillor James Pasternak (Carried)

EX25.11 - Lakeshore Arena Corporation - Annual General Meeting and 2020 Audited Financial Statements

(Submitted for City Council Consideration on July 14, 2021)
Decision Type:
ACTION
Status:
Adopted
Wards:
All

Committee Recommendations

The Executive Committee recommends that:

 

1. City Council treat that portion of the City Council meeting at which the report (June 21, 2021) from the City Manager and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer is considered as the Annual General Meeting of the Shareholder for Lakeshore by:

 

a. receiving the "Lakeshore Arena Corporation 2020 Annual Report", and the "Lakeshore Arena Corporation 2020 Audited Financial Statements", forming Attachments 1 and 2 to the report (June 21, 2021) from the City Manager and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer;

 

b. appointing Welch LPP as the Auditor of Lakeshore Arena Corporation for fiscal year 2021, and authorizing the Board of Directors of Lakeshore to fix the remuneration of the Auditor;

 

c. receiving the "Lakeshore Arena Corporation Executive Compensation Disclosure 2020", forming Attachment 3 to the report (June 21, 2021) from the City Manager and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer; and

 

d. receiving the "Lakeshore Arena - 2020 Financial Impacts of COVID-19", forming Attachment 4 to the report (June 21, 2021) from the City Manager and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer.

 

2. City Council direct the City Clerk to forward a copy of the "Lakeshore Arena Corporation 2020 Audited Financial Statements", forming Attachment 2 to the report (June 21, 2021) from the City Manager and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, to the Audit Committee for information.

Origin

(June 21, 2021) Report from the City Manager and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

Summary

This report transmits materials submitted by the Board of Directors of Lakeshore Arena Corporation (LAC) to the City and recommends actions necessary to comply with the requirements of the Business Corporations Act, Ontario (OBCA) for holding the Annual General Meeting of the Shareholder of LAC, including receipt of its Annual Report and Audited Financial Statements (Statements) for 2020 and appointment of the auditor for 2021. Limited review and analysis was performed by City staff.

 

LAC's 2020 Statements were audited by Welch LPP and received an unqualified opinion stating that the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the LAC as at December 31, 2020, and its results of operations for the year then ended in accordance with Canadian public sector accounting standards.  However, the Shareholder is directed to Note 2 of the Statements, indicating that LAC had a net debt of $30.5M at 2020 year end, along with recognizing an operating deficit of $1.3M and negative operating cash flows of $0.5M for year-end 2020, not being in compliance with certain financial and non-financial covenants on its debt obligations and not meeting its debt obligation subsequent to year end; although the auditor's opinion was not modified, management has indicated that material uncertainty exists regarding LAC as a going concern, given its dependency on the City of Toronto for continued cash-flow support.

 

This report contains recommendations for receipt at the Annual General Meeting of the Shareholder of information disclosing the individual compensation of executive officers employed by LAC in 2020.

 

The report also responds to City Council's request to report the impact of COVID-19 on the 2020 financial statements as well as any modifications to programs and initiatives to address the pandemic.

Background Information

(June 21, 2021) Report from the City Manager and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer on Lakeshore Arena Corporation - Annual General Meeting and 2020 Audited Financial Statements
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168416.pdf
Attachment 1 - Lakeshore Arena Corporation 2020 Annual Report
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168417.pdf
Attachment 2 - Lakeshore Arena Corporation 2020 Audited Annual Financial Statements
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168418.pdf
Attachment 3 - Lakeshore Arena Corporation Executive Compensation Disclosure 2020
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168419.pdf
Attachment 4 - Lakeshore Arena Corporation - 2020 Financial Impacts of COVID-19
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168420.pdf

Motions

Motion to Adopt Item moved by Councillor Jennifer McKelvie (Carried)

EX25.12 - Toronto Community Housing Corporation - Annual General Meeting and 2020 Audited Consolidated Financial Statements

(Submitted for City Council Consideration on July 14, 2021)
Decision Type:
ACTION
Status:
Amended
Wards:
All

Committee Recommendations

The Executive Committee recommends that:

 

1. City Council treat that portion of the City Council meeting at which the report (June 21, 2021) from the City Manager and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer is considered as the Annual General Meeting of the Shareholder for Toronto Community Housing Corporation by:

 

a. receiving the Letter to the Shareholder from the Toronto Community Housing Corporation's Chair of the Board of Directors and President and Chief Executive Officer dated April 30, 2021 transmitting the "Toronto Community Housing Corporation 2020 Annual Report, "Additional Information" (including Executive Compensation Disclosure), the "2020-2021 Strategic Priorities", and the "2019-2022 Strategic Plan", forming Attachments 1 and 2 to the report (June 21, 2021) from the City Manager and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer;

 

b. receiving the "Toronto Community Housing Corporation 2020 Audited Consolidated Financial Statements", forming Attachment 3 to the report (June 21, 2021) from the City Manager and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer;

           

c. appointing KPMG LLP as the Auditor of Toronto Community Housing Corporation for fiscal year 2021, and authorizing the Board of Directors of Toronto Community Housing Corporation to set the fee of the Auditor; and

 

d. receiving the Toronto Community Housing Corporation's executive compensation disclosure included in "Additional Information" of Attachment 1 to the report (June 21, 2021) from the City Manager and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer.

 

2. City Council receive the "Toronto Community Housing Corporation 2020 Financial Impacts of COVID-19 ", forming Attachment 4 to the report (June 21, 2021) from the City Manager and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer.

 

3. City Council direct the City Clerk to forward a copy of the "Toronto Community Housing Corporation 2020 Audited Consolidated Financial Statements", forming Attachment 3 to the report (June 21, 2021) from the City Manager and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, to the Audit Committee for information.

 

4. City Council amend Section 6.1, Composition of the Board, of the Updated Shareholder Direction for the Toronto Community Housing Corporation in Attachment 5 to the report (June 21, 2021) from the City Manager and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer to add one public member to the Board of Directors as a Tenant representative, so that the composition of the Toronto Community Housing Corporation Board of Directors will be 13 members composed of:

 

a. 10 public members, 3 of whom shall be Tenants; and

 

b. 3 Members of Council, one of whom shall be the Mayor or the Mayor's designate, as appointed by City Council.

 

5. City Council, as Shareholder, approve the shareholder direction to the Toronto Community Housing Corporation attached as Attachment 5 to the report (June 21, 2021) from the City Manager and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, as amended by Part 4 above, subject to such editorial amendments as may be required to satisfy the City Solicitor and authorize the Deputy City Manager, Community and Social Services to sign such direction on behalf of the City.

Origin

(June 21, 2021) Report from the City Manager and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

Summary

This report transmits materials submitted by the Board of Directors of Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) to the City and recommends the actions necessary to comply with the requirements of the Business Corporations Act, Ontario (OBCA) for holding the Annual General Meeting of the Shareholder of TCHC, including receipt of its Annual Report and Audited Consolidated Financial Statements (Statements) for 2020 and appointment of the auditor for 2021.

 

TCHC's 2020 Statements were audited by KPMG LLP and received an unqualified opinion stating that the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the TCHC as at December 31, 2020, and its results of operations for the year then ended in accordance with Canadian public sector accounting standards. Limited review and analysis was performed by City staff.

 

The report also responds to City Council's request to report the impact of COVID19 on the 2020 financial statements as well as any modifications to programs and initiatives to address the pandemic, as well as reports on individual compensation of executive officers as requested by the Shareholder.

 

Finally, this report provides an updated Shareholder Direction to TCHC as directed, and to reflect prior Council decisions and priorities.

Background Information

(June 21, 2021) Report from the City Manager and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer on Toronto Community Housing Corporation - Annual General Meeting and 2020 Audited Consolidated Financial Statements
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168505.pdf
Attachment 1 - Letter to the Shareholder from the Toronto Community Housing Corporation's Chair of the Board of Directors and President and Chief Executive Officer dated April 30, 2021 transmitting the Toronto Community Housing Corporation 2020 Annual Report, Additional Information (including Executive Compensation Disclosure), the TCHC 2020-2021 Strategic Priorities, and the TCHC 2019-2022 Strategic Plan.
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168506.pdf
Attachment 2 - Toronto Community Housing Corporation 2020 Annual Report
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168507.pdf
Attachment 3 - Toronto Community Housing Corporation 2020 Audited Annual Financial Statements
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168508.pdf
Attachment 4 - Toronto Community Housing Corporation 2020 Financial Impacts of COVID-19
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168509.pdf
Attachment 5 - Updated Shareholder Direction to Toronto Community Housing Corporation
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168510.pdf

Motions

1 - Motion to Amend Item moved by Councillor Ana Bailão (Carried)

That Executive Committee recommend that:

 

1. City Council amend Section 6.1, Composition of the Board, of the Updated Shareholder Direction for the Toronto Community Housing Corporation in Attachment 5 to the report (June 21, 2021) from the City Manager and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer to add one public member to the Board of Directors as a Tenant representative, so that the composition of the Toronto Community Housing Corporation Board of Directors will be 13 members composed of:

 

a. 10 public members, 3 of whom shall be Tenants; and

 

b. 3 Members of Council, one of whom shall be the Mayor or the Mayor's designate, as appointed by City Council.


Motion to Adopt Item as Amended moved by Mayor John Tory (Carried)

12a - Toronto Community Housing Corporation -Annual General Meeting and 2020 Audited Consolidated Financial Statements

(Submitted for City Council Consideration on July 14, 2021)
Origin
(June 21, 2021) Letter from the General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, Toronto Community Housing Corporation
Summary

I am writing in relation to the above noted matter, at the direction of the Board of Directors of Toronto Community Housing Corporation (the "Board") following its meeting of June 15, 2021.

 

At that meeting, the Board directed staff to request that City Council consider, in the context of its current review of its Shareholder Direction to TCHC (the "Shareholder Direction"), the following amendment to Section 6.1:

 

6.1 Composition of the Board

The Board will be composed of 12 13 Directors, comprised of 9 10 Public Members, 2 3 of whom shall be Tenants, and 3 members of Council, one of whom shall be the Mayor or the Mayor’s designate, as appointed by Council.

 

and initiate corresponding amendments to other sections of the Shareholder Direction in light of this change.

 

In December 2018, City Council reduced, by one, the appointment of Council Members to the Board and amended the Shareholder Direction. The effect of this decision was to reduce the size of the Board, from 13 to 12. In light of the City’s direction, as reflected in the current amendments proposed to the Shareholder Direction, that TCHC should work from a Tenant-centred perspective, the Board is requesting that Council consider returning the Board to its original 13 member complement with the addition of a Public Member who, because they are a TCHC Tenant, can better inform the Board’s understanding of that perspective.

 

Based on my discussions with City staff, I understand that a review of the size of the Board did not fall within the scope of their review of the City’s Shareholder Direction in connection with this matter. As a result, I appreciate that the Board’s request in this regard should be presented as a request to amend the size of the Board of Directors, as described above, which, if approved, would result in a corresponding amendment to the Shareholder Direction. I would submit that this is consistent with the Board’s request, as described above.

Background Information
(June 21, 2021) Letter from the General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, Toronto Community Housing Corporation
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168536.pdf

EX25.13 - Toronto Hydro Corporation - Annual General Meeting and 2020 Audited Financial Statements

(Submitted for City Council Consideration on July 14, 2021)
Decision Type:
ACTION
Status:
Amended
Wards:
All

Confidential Attachment - The security of property belonging to the City of Toronto or Toronto Hydro Corporation and personal matters about an identifiable person.

Committee Recommendations

The Executive Committee recommends that: 

 

1. City Council treat the portion of the City Council meeting at which the report (June 21, 2021) from the City Manager and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer is being considered as the Annual General Meeting of the Shareholder for Toronto Hydro Corporation, by:

 

a. approving the "Resolution of the Sole Shareholder Re-appointing Auditor" in Attachment 1 Appendix A to the report (June 21, 2021) from the City Manager and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer in order to re-appoint KPMG LLP as the auditor for Toronto Hydro Corporation for 2021 until the close of the next annual meeting of the Shareholder, or until a successor is appointed, at such remuneration as may be fixed by the Corporation's Board;

 

b. receiving the "Toronto Hydro Corporation 2020 Annual Report," "Toronto Hydro Corporation 2020 Annual Financial Report and Audited Consolidated Financial Statements," "Toronto Hydro Corporation Annual Information Form 2020," "Toronto Hydro Corporation Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer Certifications of Annual Filings 2020," "Toronto Hydro Corporation First Quarter Financial Report 2021," and the "Toronto Hydro Corporation Statement of Board Remuneration and Expenses 2020," forming Attachments 2a, 2b, 3, 5, 10 and 11 respectively to the report (June 21, 2021) from the City Manager and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer;

 

c. receiving the "Toronto Hydro Corporation Environmental Performance Report 2020," "2020 Toronto Hydro Environmental, Social Responsibility and Governance Report," and "2020 Toronto Hydro Environmental, Social Responsibility and Governance Metrics," forming Attachments 4a, 4b and 4c respectively to the report (June 21, 2021) from the City Manager and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer;

 

d. receiving the "Toronto Hydro Corporation Shareholder Report 2020, including Non-Consolidated Financial Statements 2020 and 2019," "Toronto Hydro-Electric System Limited Financial Statements 2020 and 2019," and "Toronto Hydro Energy Services Inc. Financial Statements 2020 and 2019," forming Confidential Attachments 7, 8 and 9 respectively to the report (June 21, 2021) from the City Manager and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer; and

 

e. receiving the two-part report "Toronto Hydro Corporation Executive Compensation Disclosure 2020" forming Attachment 6a and Confidential Attachment 6b to the report (June 21, 2021) from the City Manager and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer.

 

2. City Council direct that Confidential Attachments 7, 8 and 9 the report (June 21, 2021) from the City Manager and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer remain confidential in their entirety due to the security of the property of the City and securities requirements arising from Toronto Hydro Corporation's status as an offering corporation under the Business Corporations Act, (Ontario) R.S.O. 1990, c.B.16, Toronto Hydro Corporation's status as a reporting issuer under the Securities Act, (Ontario) R.S.O. 1990, c.S.5, and the application by the Ontario Securities Commission of National Instrument 51-102.

 

3. City Council direct that Confidential Attachment 6b the report (June 21, 2021) from the City Manager and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer remain confidential in its entirety as it deals with personal information about identifiable individuals.

 

4. City Council direct the City Clerk to forward a copy of the "Toronto Hydro Corporation Consolidated Financial Statements December 31, 2020 and 2019," included as part of Attachment 2b to the report (June 21, 2021) from the City Manager and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, to the Audit Committee for information.

 

5. City Council receive the "Financial Impact of COVID-19 on Toronto Hydro Corporation's 2020 Year-End Results", forming Attachment 12 to the report (June 21, 2021) from the City Manager and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer.

Decision Advice and Other Information

The Executive Committee directed the City Manager, in consultation with the City Solicitor, to report to the July 14 and 15, 2021 meeting of City Council with:

 

a.  an update regarding previous directions concerning executive compensation and bonusing for Toronto Hydro, including:

 

i. recommendations on an appropriate salary and compensation cap, which will limit compensation, for all new executives hired by the Corporation; and

 

ii. opportunities respecting the provisions of currently existing contracts, to bring compensation in line with other City policies; and

 

b.  recommendations to ensure that those previous directions are implemented to the fullest extent possible.

Origin

(June 21, 2021) Report from the City Manager and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

Summary

This report transmits materials submitted to the City by the Board of Directors of the Toronto Hydro Corporation (THC). City staff have performed limited review and analysis.

 

This report contains recommendations for actions necessary to comply with the requirements of the Business Corporations Act, (Ontario) R.S.O. 1990, c.B.16 (OBCA) for holding the Annual General Meeting of the Shareholder of Toronto Hydro Corporation including receipt of Toronto Hydro Corporation's audited annual consolidated financial statements (Statements) for 2020 and appointment of the auditor for Toronto Hydro Corporation for 2021.

 

Toronto Hydro Corporation's 2020 Statements were audited by KPMG LLP and received an unqualified opinion stating that the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the THC financial position as at December 31, 2020 and the 2020 results of operations.  The THCs financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). Limited review and analysis was performed by City staff.

 

This report contains recommendations for receipt at the Annual General Meeting of the Shareholder of information disclosing the individual compensation of executive officers employed by Toronto Hydro Corporation in 2020.

 

The report also responds to City Council's request to report the impact of COVID-19 on the 2020 financial statements, as well as any modifications to programs and initiatives to address the pandemic.

Background Information

(June 21, 2021) Report from the City Manager and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer on Toronto Hydro Corporation - Annual General Meeting and 2020 Audited Financial Statements
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168447.pdf
Attachment 1 - Toronto Hydro Corporation Report on the 2021 Annual Shareholder Meeting
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168448.pdf
Attachment 1 Appendix A - Resolution of the Shareholder Re-appointing Auditor
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168449.pdf
Attachment 2a - Toronto Hydro Corporation 2020 Annual Report
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168450.pdf
Attachment 2b - Toronto Hydro Corporation 2020 Annual Financial Report and Consolidated Financial Statements
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168451.pdf
Attachment 3 - Toronto Hydro Corporation Annual Information Form 2020
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168452.pdf
Attachment 4a - Toronto Hydro Corporation Environmental Performance Report 2020
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168453.pdf
Attachment 4b - Toronto Hydro Corporation 2020 Environmental, Social Responsibility and Governance Report
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168454.pdf
Attachment 4c - Toronto Hydro Corporation 2020 Environmental, Social Responsibility and Governance Metrics
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168455.pdf
Attachment 5 - Toronto Hydro Corporation Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer Certification of Annual Filings 2020
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168456.pdf
Attachment 6a - Toronto Hydro Corporation Executive Compensation Disclosure 2020 (Part 1, Named Executive Officers)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168457.pdf
Confidential Attachment 6b
Confidential Attachment 7
Confidential Attachment 8
Confidential Attachment 9
Attachment 10 - Toronto Hydro Corporation First Quarter Financial Report 2021
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168462.pdf
Attachment 11 - Toronto Hydro Corporation Statement of Board Remuneration and Expenses 2020
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168463.pdf
Attachment 12 - Financial Impact of COVID-19 on Toronto Hydro Corporation's 2020 Year-End Results
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168464.pdf

Motions

1 - Motion to Amend Item (Additional) moved by Mayor John Tory (Carried)

That the Executive Committee direct the City Manager, in consultation with the City Solicitor, to report to the July 14 and 15, 2021 meeting of City Council with:

 

a.  an update regarding previous directions concerning executive compensation and bonusing for Toronto Hydro, including:

 

i. recommendations on an appropriate salary and compensation cap, which will limit compensation, for all new executives hired by the Corporation; and

 

ii. opportunities respecting the provisions of currently existing contracts, to bring compensation in line with other City policies; and

 

b.  recommendations to ensure that those previous directions are implemented to the fullest extent possible.


Motion to Adopt Item as Amended moved by Mayor John Tory (Carried)

EX25.14 - Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre - Annual General Meeting and 2020 Audited Financial Statements

(Submitted for City Council Consideration on July 14, 2021)
Decision Type:
ACTION
Status:
Adopted
Wards:
All

Committee Recommendations

The Executive Committee recommends that:

 

1. City Council, in its capacity as one of the Shareholders of Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre Inc. adopt and authorize the City Manager to sign the Resolutions of the Shareholders attached as Attachment 1 to the report (June 21, 2021) from the City Manager and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer on behalf of the City that:

           

a. Financial Statements

 

The "Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre Inc. 2020 Annual Report, and the "Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre Inc. 2020 Audited Annual Financial Statements", including the auditor's report dated March 26, 2021, forming Attachment 2 and 3 to the report (June 21, 2021) from the City Manager and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer are received.

 

b. Appointment of Auditors

 

Welch LLP are appointed as the Auditor of Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre Inc. for fiscal year 2021, and until the close of the next annual meeting of the Shareholders or until their successors are duly appointed, and the Board of Directors of Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre Inc. authorized to fix the remuneration of the Auditor.

 

c. Confirmation of Proceedings

 

All by-laws, contracts, acts, proceedings, appointments, elections and payments of any director or officer of Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre Inc. that were enacted, made, done or taken since the last annual meeting of Shareholders of Toronto Pan Am Sport Centre Inc. are approved, ratified, sanctioned and confirmed.

 

2. City Council adopt and authorize the City Manager to sign the Resolutions of Shareholders forming Attachment 4 to the report (June 21, 2021) from the City Manager and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer:

 

a. ratifying and approving the 2021 Operating and Capital Budgets of Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre Inc. attached as Schedules A and B to Attachment 4 to the report (June 21, 2021) from the City Manager and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer; and

 

b. authorizing any two directors or officers to carry out the provisions of the resolutions passed by the Shareholders of Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre.

 

3. City Council receive the "Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre 2020 Financial Impacts of COVID-19 ", forming Attachment 5 to the report (June 21, 2021) from the City Manager and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer.

 

4. City Council direct the City Clerk to forward a copy of the "Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre 2020 Audited Annual Financial Statements", forming Attachment 3 to the report (June 21, 2021) from the City Manager and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, to the Audit Committee for information.

Origin

(June 21, 2021) Report from the City Manager and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

Summary

This report transmits materials submitted by the Board of Directors of the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre (TPASC) to the City and recommends actions necessary to comply with the requirements of the Business Corporations Act, Ontario (OBCA) for holding the Annual General Meeting of the Shareholder of Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre Inc., including receipt of its Annual Report and Audited Financial Statements (Statements) for 2020 and appointment of the auditor for 2021. Limited review and analysis was performed by City staff.

 

This report contains recommendations to approve the 2021 operating and capital budgets of TPASC approved by the TPASC board of directors. Section 5.05(a) of the Unanimous Shareholders’ Agreement of the Corporation as of December 18, 2013 provides that the annual operating and capital budgets shall be considered and approved by the Board and subject to approval by the Shareholders of the Corporation. The City and the Governing Council of The University of Toronto are the two Shareholders of TPASC.

 

The requirements of the OBCA regarding the annual general meeting and the requirements of the Unanimous Shareholders’ Agreement regarding approval of the annual operating and capital budgets are being satisfied by written joint resolutions of the Shareholders, as provided in this report.  

 

The OBCA provides that a resolution in writing signed by all the Shareholders entitled to vote on that resolution at a meeting of the Shareholders is as valid as if it had been passed at a meeting of the Shareholders; and a resolution in writing dealing with all matters required by the OBCA to be dealt with at an annual meeting of Shareholders, and signed by all the Shareholders entitled to vote at that meeting, satisfies all the requirements of the OBCA relating to that meeting of Shareholders.

 

TPASC's 2020 Statements were audited by Welch LPP and received an unqualified opinion stating that the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the TCHC as at December 31, 2020, and its results of operations, for the year then ended, in accordance with Canadian public sector accounting standards.

 

The report also responds to City Council's request to report the impact of COVID-19 on the 2020 financial statements as well as any modifications to programs and initiatives to address the pandemic.

Background Information

(June 21, 2021) Report from the City Manager and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasure on Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre - Annual General Meeting and 2020 Audited Financial Statements
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168489.pdf
Attachment 1 - Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre Inc. Resolutions of Shareholders - Financial Statements, Appointment of Auditors, Confirmation of Proceedings
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168490.pdf
Attachment 2 - Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre Inc. 2020 Annual Report
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168491.pdf
Attachment 3 - Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre Inc. 2020 Audited Annual Financial Statements
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168492.pdf
Attachment 4 - Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre Inc. Resolutions of Shareholders - Approval of Budgets, Schedule A - Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre Inc., 2021 Operating Budget and Schedule B - Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre Inc., 2021 Capital Budget
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168493.pdf
Attachment 5 - Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre 2020 Financial Impacts of COVID-19
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168494.pdf

Motions

Motion to Adopt Item moved by Councillor James Pasternak (Carried)

EX25.15 - Toronto Port Lands Company - Annual General Meeting and 2020 Audited Financial Statements

(Submitted for City Council Consideration on July 14, 2021)
Decision Type:
ACTION
Status:
Adopted
Wards:
All

Committee Recommendations

The Executive Committee recommends that:

 

1. City Council treat that portion of the City Council meeting at which the report (June 21, 2021) from the City Manager and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer is considered as the Annual General Meeting of the Shareholder for Toronto Port Lands Company by:

 

a. receiving the "CreateTO 2020 Highlights Report", and the "Toronto Port Lands 2020 Audited Consolidated Financial Statements", forming Attachments 1 and 2 to the report (June 21, 2021) from the City Manager and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer; and

 

b. appointing KPMG LLP as the Auditor of Toronto Economic Development Corporation (operating under the name Toronto Port Lands Company) for fiscal year 2021.

 

2. City Council receive the "Toronto Port Lands Company 2020 Financial Impacts of COVID-19 ", forming Attachment 3 to the report (June 21, 2021) from the City Manager and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer.

 

3. City Council direct the City Clerk to forward a copy of the "Toronto Port Lands 2020 Audited Consolidated Financial Statements", forming Attachment 2 to the report (June 21, 2021) from the City Manager and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, to the Audit Committee for information.

Origin

(June 21, 2021) Report from the City Manager and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

Summary

This report transmits materials submitted by the Board of Directors of the Toronto Port Lands Company (TPLC) to the City and recommends actions necessary to comply with the requirements of the Business Corporations Act, Ontario (OBCA) for holding the Annual General Meeting of the Shareholder of Toronto Economic Development Corporation (TEDCO), operating as the Toronto Port Lands Company (TPLC), including receipt of its Annual Report and Audited Consolidated Financial Statements (Statements) for 2020 and appointment of the auditor for 2021.

 

TPLC's 2020 Statements were audited by KPMG LLP and received an unqualified opinion stating that the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of TPLC as at December 31, 2020, and its consolidated financial performance for the year then ended in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards, (IFRS). Limited review and analysis was performed by City staff.

 

The report also responds to City Council's request to report the impact of COVID-19 on the 2020 financial statements as well as any modifications to programs and initiatives to address the pandemic.  

Background Information

(June 21, 2021) Report from the City Manager and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer on Toronto Port Lands Company - Annual General Meeting and 2020 Audited Financial Statements
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168512.pdf
Attachment 1 - CreateTO 2020 Highlights
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168513.pdf
Attachment 2 - Toronto Port Lands Company 2020 Audited Annual Financial Statements
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168514.pdf
Attachment 3 - Toronto Port Lands Company 2020 Financial Impacts of COVID-19
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168515.pdf

Motions

Motion to Adopt Item moved by Councillor Ana Bailão (Carried)

EX25.16 - Comparison of Campaign Spending Limits in Ontario Municipal, Provincial and Federal Elections

Decision Type:
ACTION
Status:
Adopted
Wards:
All

Committee Decision

The Executive Committee received the report (June 18, 2021) from the City Clerk for information.

Origin

(June 18, 2021) Report from the City Clerk

Summary

This report provides a comparison of campaign spending limits in Toronto-area wards/electoral districts across City of Toronto municipal elections, Ontario provincial elections, and Canada federal elections.

 

It also examines the use of the Elections Ontario's voter's list in the 2018 City of Toronto general election and concludes that small increases in candidate spending limits resulted from the increased accuracy of the voter's list.

Background Information

(June 18, 2021) Report from the City Clerk on Comparison of Campaign Spending Limits in Ontario Municipal, Provincial and Federal Elections
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168404.pdf

Motions

Motion to Adopt Item moved by Councillor Paul Ainslie (Carried)

EX25.17 - Filling Vacancies in Aboriginal Affairs Advisory Committee Membership

Decision Type:
ACTION
Status:
Referred
Wards:
All

Committee Decision

The Executive Committee referred Item EX25.17 back to the Director, Indigenous Affairs Office for further consideration.

Origin

(June 21, 2021) Report from the Director, Indigenous Affairs Office

Summary

This report provides an overview of the discussions of the Aboriginal Affairs Advisory Committee at its previous meetings on filling vacancies of Committee membership.

Background Information

(June 21, 2021) Report from the Director, Indigenous Affairs Office on Filling Vacancies in Aboriginal Affairs Advisory Committee Membership
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168520.pdf

Communications

(July 6, 2021) E-mail from Miguel Avila-Velarde (EX.New)

Speakers

Miguel Avila

Motions

Motion to Refer Item moved by Mayor John Tory (Carried)

That the Executive Committee refer the Item back to the Director, Indigenous Affairs Office for further consideration.

EX25.18 - 2021 Heads and Beds Levy on Institutions

(Submitted for City Council Consideration on July 14, 2021)
Decision Type:
ACTION
Status:
Amended
Wards:
All

Committee Recommendations

The Executive Committee recommends that:

 

1. City Council authorize the levy and collection of amounts for the 2021 taxation year on colleges and universities, public hospitals, and correctional facilities as authorized by Section 285 of the City of Toronto Act, 2006 and City Council direct that the maximum prescribed amount of $75 be applied per provincially rated hospital bed, full time student, or resident place as prescribed by Ontario Regulation 121/07.

 

2.  City Council forward the Item to the Premier of Ontario and the Ontario Minister of Finance and request the Province to increase the $75.00 levy annually by the rate of inflation.

 

3.  City Council forward the Item to the Association of Municipalities of Ontario and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.

Origin

(June 18, 2021) Report from the Controller

Summary

This report requests Council authority to adopt a by-law to levy amounts for the 2021 taxation year for colleges and universities, public hospitals, and correctional facilities (the "institutions"), estimated at approximately $19.2 million (annual "Heads and Beds" levy).

 

If the rates had been increased to reflect increases in the Consumer Price Index in each year from 1987 to 2021 (such that the 2021 rate would be $156.33 for each full time student, provincially rated bed, or resident place), an additional $20.8 million in tax revenue would be received in 2021.

Background Information

(June 18, 2021) Report from the Controller on 2021 Heads and Beds Levy on Institutions
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168436.pdf
Attachment 1 - Letter dated June 22, 2021 from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Municipal Programs and Analytics Branch, regarding the capacity of institutions information to be used for the 2021 payments in lieu calculations
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168562.pdf
Attachment 2 - Summary of Heads and Beds Levy on Institutions, 2018 - 2021
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168563.pdf

Motions

1 - Motion to Amend Item (Additional) moved by Councillor Paul Ainslie (Carried)

That:

 

1.  City Council forward the Item to the Premier of Ontario and the Ontario Minister of Finance and request the Province to increase the $75.00 levy annually by the rate of inflation.

 

2.  City Council forward the Item to the Association of Municipalities of Ontario and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.


Motion to Adopt Item as Amended moved by Mayor John Tory (Carried)

EX25.19 - 2021 Levy on Railway Roadways and Rights-of-Way and on Power Utility Transmission and Distribution Corridors

(Submitted for City Council Consideration on July 14, 2021)
Decision Type:
ACTION
Status:
Amended
Wards:
All

Committee Recommendations

The Executive Committee recommends that:

 

1. City Council authorize the levy and collection of taxes for the 2021 taxation year on railway roadways and rights-of-way and on land used as transmission or distribution corridors owned by power utilities, in accordance with subsection 280 (1) of the City of Toronto Act, 2006 and subsection 257.7 (1) of the Education Act.

 

2. City Council receive Attachment 2: Acreage and Tonnage Taxation Systems to the report (June 3, 2021) from the Controller for information.

 

3. City Council request the Province of Ontario to explore the impact of national railways converting to a tonnage-based levy system, as opposed to the current rate per acreage system in the Province of Ontario, to determine any benefits to municipalities.

 

4. City Council forward the Item to the Ontario Good Roads Association, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities for their information.

Origin

(June 3, 2021) Report from the Controller

Summary

This report seeks Council authority for the introduction of the by-law necessary to levy and collect taxes for the 2021 taxation year on railway roadways and rights-of-way and on land used as transmission or distribution corridors owned by power utilities, totalling approximately $7.05 million in taxation revenue, of which the municipal share is $6.54 million and the provincial education share is $0.51 million.

 

The 2021 levy has decreased from the 2020 levy total of $7.1 million (with a $6.6 million municipal share and a provincial education share of $0.5 million) due to a reduction in the 2021 total acreage subject to this levy. For 2021, the property tax rates for railway rights-of-way and hydro corridors remain unchanged from 2020.

 

Taxation of railway lands varies across Canada, with some provinces utilizing a per-acre rate for railway lands, and most western provinces using tonnage per linear kilometre rates.  In Ontario, per-acre rates are not increased annually.  From 2005 to 2016 railway rates remained static, followed by modest rate increases in 2017 and again in 2018, with no rate increases since.  If railway and hydro rates had been indexed to inflation to reflect increases in the Consumer Price Index in each year since 2005, an additional $2.2M would be generated from the levy in 2021, including an increased in the municipal portion of revenues of approximately $1 million. 

Background Information

(June 3, 2021) Report and Attachments 1 and 2 from the Controller on 2021 Levy on Railway Roadways and Rights-of-Way and on Power Utility Transmission and Distribution Corridors
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168446.pdf

Motions

1 - Motion to Amend Item (Additional) moved by Councillor Paul Ainslie (Carried)

That:

 

1. City Council request the Province of Ontario to explore the impact of national railways converting to a tonnage-based levy system, as opposed to the current rate per acreage system in the Province of Ontario, to determine any benefits to municipalities.

 

2. City Council forward the Item to the Ontario Good Roads Association, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities for their information.


Motion to Adopt Item as Amended moved by Mayor John Tory (Carried)

EX25.20 - Operating Variance Report for the Year Ended December 31, 2020

(Submitted for City Council Consideration on July 14, 2021)
Decision Type:
ACTION
Status:
Amended
Wards:
All

Committee Recommendations

The Executive Committee recommends that:

 

1. City Council approve the recommended adjustments as detailed in Table 4 in the Financial Impact statement, titled Recommended Adjustments - Tax and Rate Supported Programs and Agencies, in the report (June 16, 2021) from the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer.

That the Executive Committee recommend that:

 

2.  City Council approve the $18.0 million in proceeds from the sale of 70 Parliament Street, as a contribution to the Land Acquisition Reserve Fund.

Origin

(June 17, 2021) Letter from the Budget Committee

Summary

The purpose of this report is to provide Council with the City of Toronto's Operating Variance results for the year ended December 31, 2020 and City's financial position before and after receiving Safe Restart Agreement funding.

 

Since March of 2020, the City of Toronto, consistent with other major Canadian and Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area municipalities have been experiencing significant financial impacts, both in the form of added costs and significant revenue losses as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

COVID-19 related financial impacts totalled $1.635 billion in 2020 for the City of Toronto, prior to offsets achieved through a series of implemented mitigation strategies that focus on spending and workforce restraints and various in-year funding programs ($558.5 million) and COVID-19 funding support from the Government of Canada and Province of Ontario in the form of Safe Restart Agreement and added Reaching Home funding totalling a combined $1.077 billion in COVID-19 support funding applied to 2020, reducing the 2020 year-end shortfall to $0.

 

- COVID-19 related financial impacts predominantly reflect revenue losses, which account for approximately 77 percent of total COVID impacts.

 

- Mitigation strategies coupled with non-Safe Restart Agreement/Reaching Home funding generated $558.5 million in in total 2020 offsets to COVID-19 impacts, with the majority of offsets achieved through workforce restraints, spending constraints and cost avoidance.

 

- Workforce restraints including redeployment of staff to critical and essential service areas; implementing emergency and seasonal / part-time staff layoffs; the implementation of a hiring slowdown; and savings generated from labour negotiations.

 

- Spending restraints such as reducing discretionary spending; and reviewing all services for criticality (prioritize critical, essential and priority services).

 

- Cost avoidance arising from expenditure management and tracking and forecasting COVID-19 related savings


- Total Safe Restart Agreement and added Reaching Home funding the City of Toronto received and recognized in year 2020 is $1.076 billion, comprised of the following:

 

- Municipal Transit Funding Phase 1 and 2 - $639.8 million allocated to Toronto proportionately based on ridership.

 

- Municipal Operating Funding Phase 1 and 2 - $257.6 million allocated to Toronto proportionately based on households.

 

- Social Services Relief Fund Phase 1 and 2 - $150.1 million allocated to Toronto in addition to the $14.7 million for Reaching Home and $14.3 million for Public Health.
 

The table below details the 2020 City-wide COVID-19 related financial impacts; offsets from mitigation strategies and COVID-19 support funding; and the resulting financial position reflected in year-end reporting.

 

Table 1 - 2020 COVID-19 Financial Impacts, Offsets and Support Funding

 

Description

$Millions

 

 

COVID-19 Impacts

 

 

Savings / Offsets / Other Funding

Fed / Prov SRA / RH COVID-19 Funding

2020 Net Impacts

 

 

City Tax Supported Programs

1,569.0

(558.5)

(1,010.5)

0.0

Toronto Parking Authority

56.1

 

(56.1)

0.0

Toronto Community Housing

9.9

 

(9.9)

0.0

2020 Year-End Total

1,635.0

(558.5)

(1,076.5)

0.0

 

Tax Supported Programs:

 

The following table summarizes the year-end COVID-19 financial Impacts; offset from mitigations strategies and Federal/Provincial COVID-19 support funding; and the resulting balanced financial position of the City's Tax Supported Operations for year ended December 31, 2020.

 

Table 2 - Tax Supported Operating Variance Summary

 

Variance ($M)

Favourable / (Unfavourable)

 

2020 Year-End

 

Budget

Actual

Var

City Operations

2,458.4

2,542.0

(83.6)

Agencies

2,166.6

2,777.5

(610.9)

Corporate Accounts

(200.6)

(50.7)

(149.8)

Total Variance *

4,424.5

5,268.8

(844.3)

     Less Toronto Building and City Planning

     (Legislated / Council Directed)

16.1

61.1

(44.9)

     COVID-19 Related Incurred Obligations /

     Deferred Costs

 

187.3

(187.3)

Total Adjusted Variance

(Prior to Fed/Prov Safe Restart Agreement / Reaching Home Funding)

4,440.6

5,517.2

(1,076.5)

     Safe Restart Funding – Transit Operations

 

(639.8) 

   639.8 

     Safe Restart Funding – Municipal Operations

 

(257.6) 

257.6

     Social Services Relief Fund / Reaching Home –

     Shelters

 

(164.8)

164.8

     Safe Restart Funding – Public Health

 

(14.3)

14.3

Adjusted Variance

4,440.6

4,440.6

0

 

*Note to Table 2:

 

- The Total Variance excludes Safe Restart Agreement/Reaching Home funding, which are reflected later in the table.   

 

- Appendix A of this report includes the combined $179 million in COVID-19 funding for Shelter, Support and Housing Administration and Public Health within their divisional results.

 

- Expenses related to distribution of COVID-19 support funding to offset Toronto Community Housing Corporation and Toronto Parking Authority impacts are reflected in Corporate Accounts.

 

As noted in Table 1 above, for the year ended December 31, 2020 Tax Supported Operations experienced an adjusted unfavourable net variance of $1.077 billion prior to Safe Restart Funding. This is mainly driven by COVID-19 related cost and revenue impacts experienced beginning mid-March onwards, including:

 

- Toronto Transit Commission - Conventional Service ($634.8 million unfavourable net) primarily due to significant loss of ridership revenue from the impact of COVID-19. Ridership losses peaked at 88 percent below budget in late April. With a resurgence of COVID-19 cases in the fall, ridership retracted back to 35 percent of budget in October, and with the implementation of the grey lockdown fell to 30 percent of budget in December. Revenue losses were partially offset by the implementation of cost containment strategies and matching service capacity to demand.

 

- Seniors Services and Long-Term Care: ($7.0 million unfavourable net) primarily due to increased salary and benefits and non-payroll expenditures for infection prevention and control measures including additional Personal Protective Equipment and cleaning supplies related to the COVID-19 response.
 

- Corporate Accounts ($149.8 million unfavourable net) primarily due to the impact of COVID-19 resulted in losses in multiple revenue streams for the City including, Municipal Accommodation Tax, Parking Tag Enforcement, and Casino Woodbine.
 

- The above unfavorable net variances were partially offset by various expense savings from across the City's divisions and agencies as part of the expense mitigation strategies previously discussed.

 
- The remaining $1.077 billion shortfall was addressed through Federal and Provincial funding support in the form of Safe Restart Agreement and added Reaching Home funding directed toward experienced COVID-19 financial impacts.

 

Rate Supported Programs:

 

Rate Supported Programs reported a favourable year-end variance of $20.5 million. The favourable variance is attributed to lower than budgeted expenditures from Toronto Water, which is partially offset from lower than planned revenue in Toronto Parking Authority due to the impact of COVID-19.

 

Rate Supported Programs are funded entirely by the user fees that are used to pay for the services provided and the infrastructure to deliver them. Solid Waste Management Services and Toronto Water's respective year-end surpluses, if any, must be transferred to the Wastewater and Water Stabilization Reserves and Waste Management Reserve Fund, respectively, to finance capital investments and ongoing capital repairs and maintenance.

 

Table 3 - Rate Supported Net Variance Summary ($ Millions)

 

Variance ($M)

Favourable / (Unfavourable)

2020 Year-End

 

Budget

Actual

Variance

Solid Waste Management Services

0.0

(7.1)

7.1

Toronto Parking Authority

(70.1)

(14.0)

(56.1)

Toronto Water

0.0

(69.5)

69.5

Total Variance

(70.1)

(90.6)

20.5

 

Background Information

(June 17, 2021) Letter from the Budget Committee on Operating Variance Report for the Year Ended December 31, 2020
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168401.pdf
(June 16, 2021) Revised Report and Appendices A to D from the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer on Operating Variance Report for the Year Ended December 31, 2020
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168632.pdf

Motions

1 - Motion to Amend Item moved by Councillor Jennifer McKelvie (Carried)

That the Executive Committee recommend that:

 

1.  City Council approve the $18.0 million in proceeds from the sale of 70 Parliament Street, as a contribution to the Land Acquisition Reserve Fund.


Motion to Adopt Item as Amended moved by Mayor John Tory (Carried)

20a - Toronto Transit Commission - Financial Update for the Period Ended December 31, 2020 and Major Projects Update

(Submitted for City Council Consideration on July 14, 2021)
Origin
(April 15, 2021) Letter from the Toronto Transit Commission
Summary

At its meeting on April 14, 2021, the TTC Board considered the attached report titled "Financial Update for the Period Ended December 31, 2020 and Major Projects Update" and adopted the recommendations in the report, as follows:

 

It is recommended that the TTC Board:

 

1. Request City Council to approve the $18.0 million in proceeds from the sale of 70Parliament Street, as a contribution to the TTC Land Acquisition Reserve Fund.

 

The recommendation of the Toronto Transit Commission Board as set out above is submitted for City Council approval.

Background Information
(April 15, 2021) Letter from the Toronto Transit Commission on Toronto Transit Commission - Financial Update for the Period Ended December 31, 2020 and Major Projects Update
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168421.pdf
(April 14, 2021) Report from the Toronto Transit Commission Chief Financial Officer on Toronto Transit Commission - Financial Update for the Period Ended December 31, 2020 and Major Projects Update
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168426.pdf

EX25.21 - Capital Variance Report for the Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2020

(Submitted for City Council Consideration on July 14, 2021)
Decision Type:
ACTION
Status:
Adopted
Wards:
All

Committee Recommendations

The Executive Committee recommends that:

 

1. City Council receive the report (June 10, 2021) from the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer for information.

Origin

(June 17, 2021) Letter from the Budget Committee

Summary

The purpose of this report is to provide City Council with the City of Toronto capital spending for the twelve month period ended December 31, 2020.

 

As illustrated in Table 1 below, City's 2020 actual capital expenditure was $3.666 billion or 73.2 percent of the 2020 capital budget of $5.006 billion for the period ended December 31, 2020.

 

- Tax Supported Programs and Agencies reported capital expenditures of $2.503 billion representing 68.8 percent of their collective 2020 approved Capital Budget of $3.638 billion.


- Rate Supported Programs reported capital expenditures of $1.164 billion, representing 85.1 percent of their collective 2020 approved Capital Budget of $1.368 billion.

 

Table 1 - Capital Variance Summary

 

Table 1

Corporate Capital Variance Summary

for the Period   Ended December 31, 2020

 

2020 Approved Budget*

2020 Actual Expenditures

 

$M

$M

%

City Operations

2,278

1,483

65.1%

Agencies

1,360

1,020

75.0%

Tax Supported

3,638

2,503

68.8%

Rate Supported Programs:

1,368

1,164

85.1%

TOTAL

5,006

3,666

73.2%

 

* Note: Includes 2019 carry forward funding and 2020 in-year adjustments

 

While further efforts to improve capital spending continue, divisional and agency improvements in capital planning along with refinements in capital budgeting have resulted in improved capital spend rates in 2020.

 

- 2020 spending rates on Tax supported (68.8 percent) and Rate supported (85.1 percent) are both greater than the 5 year historical average spend rates of 60.2 percent and 77.5 percent respectively.


- These improvements were achieved in 2020 despite the impact that COVID-19 had on capital delivery.  At the onset of COVID-19, due to the uncertainty of pandemic related financial impacts and the amount of financial assistance to be provided from other levels of government, delivery was slowed for capital projects funded by Capital from Current to enable potential funding offsets to experienced COVID-19 financial impacts.
 

Moving forward, the City will continue to plan annual capital projects in line with both affordability and achievability, based on the historical actual capacity. The strategy is expected to improve capital spend rate in future years; enabling funding capacity otherwise going unspent to be directed to capital priorities.

Background Information

(June 17, 2021) Letter from the Budget Committee on Capital Variance Report for the Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2020
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168406.pdf
(June 10, 2021) Revised Report from the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer on Capital Variance Report for the Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2020
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168633.pdf
Appendix 1 - 2020 Capital Variance Summary for the Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2020
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168634.pdf
Appendix 2A - 2020 Year End Full Project Closure
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168635.pdf
Appendix 2B - 2020 Year End Partial Project Closure
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168636.pdf
Appendix 3 - 2020 Year End Major Capital Projects
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168646.pdf
Appendix 4 - 2020 Year End Capital Variance Dashboard by Program and Agency
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168647.pdf

Motions

Motion to Adopt Item moved by Councillor Gary Crawford (Carried)

EX25.22 - Operating Variance Report for the Four Months Ended April 30, 2021

(Submitted for City Council Consideration on July 14, 2021)
Decision Type:
ACTION
Status:
Adopted
Wards:
All

Committee Recommendations

The Executive Committee recommends that:

 

1. City Council approve the budget adjustments and any associated complement changes detailed in Appendix D to the report (June 16, 2021) from the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, to amend the 2021 Approved Operating Budget, such adjustments to have no impact on the 2021 Approved Net Operating Budget of the City.

Origin

(June 17, 2021) Letter from the Budget Committee

Summary

The purpose of this report is to provide City Council with the Operating Variance for the four months ended April 30, 2021 as well as projections to year-end. This report also requests City Council's approval for amendments to the 2021 Approved Operating Budget that have no impact on the City's 2021 Approved Net Operating Budget.

 

Since March of 2020, the City of Toronto has been experiencing significant financial impacts, both in the form of added costs and significant revenue losses as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

COVID-19 related financial impacts are projected to total $1.596 billion for the City of Toronto's 2021 Operating Budget. 2021 COVID-19 funding support from the Government of Canada and Province of Ontario in the form of Safe Restart Agreement, added Reaching Home funding and other funding programs total $1.477 billion in combined COVID-19 support funding, reducing the 2021 year-end funding shortfall to $119.8 million.

 

Table 1 below details the anticipated 2021 City-wide COVID-19 related financial impacts against secured and assured COVID-19 support funding; and the resulting financial position that is reflected in the year-end variance projections:

   

Table 1 - 2021 Projected COVID-19 Financial Impacts

 

Category ($M)

Impacts

Funding

Net Impacts

(Funding)

  Transit

796.4

721.9

 

  Municipal*

459.7

467.2

 

  Shelter

281.3

228.5

 

  Public Health**

59.0

59.0

 

City Tax Supported Programs

1,596.4

1,476.6

119.8

 

* Includes Toronto Community Housing Corporation impact of $37.5M

** Excludes immunization costs

 

While the City is currently reporting a 2021 budgeted funding shortfall of $119.8 million, 92.5 percent of budgeted 2021 COVID-19 impacts have secured funding support from the Federal and Provincial governments through the first four months of the year and staff continue to expect that 2021 COVID-19 impacts will be fully funded by year-end.

 

In addition to the COVID-19 related budgeted funding shortfall, staff are also reporting on a projected year-end unfavourable variance of an additional $114.7 million comprised of the following elements:

 

- Unanticipated COVID-19 related impacts attributed to the third wave of COVID-19/variant restrictions; and additional mass immunization costs incurred by Toronto Fire projected to total $16.3 million, including costs for efforts to vaccinate people experiencing homelessness, for which provincial reimbursement will be sought consistent with funding assurances received from the Province related to vaccination costs.

 

Tax Supported Programs:

 

The following table summarizes the anticipated year-end financial position of the City's Tax Supported Operations as of April 30, 2021 and the projection at year-end. This is driven through a combination of a COVID funding shortfall of $119.8 million and additional pressures of predominantly revenue losses of $114.7 million that is projected for 2021, resulting in an unfavourable projected variance of $234.5 million at year-end for tax supported programs.

 

Table 2 - Tax Supported Operating Variance Summary

 

Variance ($M)

Favourable / (Unfavourable)

2021 April YTD

 

 

2021 Year-End Projection

 

 

 

Budget

Actual

Var

Budget

Actual

Var

Tax Supported Operating Variance Summary

City Operations

821.4

740.9

80.5

2,831.4

2,798.7

32.7

Agencies

1,023.7

1,010.7

13.0

3,051.3

3,068.1

(16.9)

Corporate Accounts

(730.7)

(256.7)

(474.0)

(1,393.5)

(1,164.5)

(229.0)

Total Variance

1,114.4

1,494.9

(380.5)

4,489.2

4,702.3

(213.1)

Less Toronto Building

5.3

9.2

(3.9)

16.1

37.5

(21.4)

Total Variance-Excluding Toronto Building

1,119.7

1,504.1

(384.4)

4,505.3

4,739.8

(234.5)

Percentage of Gross Budget

 

 

-11.5 percent

 

 

-1.9 percent

 

Note - Rate supported programs and Toronto Community Housing variance information is not reflected in the table above, which details Tax Supported Programs only.

 

Four Month Year-to-Date and Projected Year-End Spending Results:

 

As noted in Table 2 above, for the four months ended April 30, 2021 Tax Supported Operations experienced an unfavourable net variance of $380.5 million or 11.5 percent of planned expenditures. This is mainly driven by the timing of receiving COVID-19 related Federal and Provincial funding and higher than anticipated COVID-19 impacts through the first four months of 2021. The impact on the year-to-date results are reflected in the following areas:

 

- Non-Program Revenues: An unfavourable year-to-date net variance of $477.0 million due to the remaining COVID-19 related funding shortfall as well as lower than planned revenues for Interest and Investment Earnings, Parking Tag Revenues and Casino Woodbine. A portion of this variance is also attributed to funding being secured and reflected in divisional results as opposed to Non-Program, where it had originally been budgeted. (e.g. SSHA variance detailed below)

 

- Shelter Support and Housing Administration: A favourable year to date net variance of $34.9 million primarily attributable to the inclusion of Shelter Support and Housing Administration specific COVID-19 related funding within Shelter Support and Housing Administration actuals, which has been expected and budgeted within Non-Program Revenues given total funding had not yet been secured at time of budget approval.

 

- Toronto Transit Commission – Conventional: A favourable year to date net variance of $8.0 million is mainly attributable to continued expenditure management resulting in deferred hiring and material purchases wherever possible. This was partially offset by underachieved revenue due to the impact of COVID-19 on ridership revenue. As of the week of April 26, revenue ridership is 26 percent of normal pre-pandemic levels.

 

For year-end, the City is projecting an unfavourable variance of $234.5 million or 1.9 percent of the 2021 Gross Operating Budget, adjusted for Toronto Building. The unfavourable variance is primarily driven by the following:

 

- $119.8 million – Remaining 2021 COVID-19 funding shortfall, where all but 7.5 percent of budgeted COVID-19 have secured Federal and Provincial funding support or received assurances towards cost reimbursement.

 

- $98.4 million – Greater than anticipated COVID-19 financial impacts, primarily within budgeted revenues such as corporate revenues (i.e. Investment Earnings and Parking Tags) and user fees (i.e. Zoo and Exhibition Place) resulting from required public health measures resulting from the third wave / COVID variants.


- $16.3 million - Additional mass immunization costs incurred by Toronto Fire.  Toronto Fire will be working with Public Health to seek reimbursement from the Province on immunization costs consistent with provincial funding assurances.

 

Rate Supported Programs:

 

Rate Supported Programs reported a favourable year-to-date variance of $32.7 million. The favourable variance is attributed to lower than budgeted expenditures from Toronto Water and Solid Waste Management Services which is partially offset from lower than planned revenue in Toronto Parking Authority. At year-end, a favourable projected variance is anticipated to be $14.7 million, again primarily driven by lower than budgeted expenditures from Toronto Water and Solid Waste Management Services by partially offset by Toronto Parking Authority.

 

Rate Supported Programs are funded entirely by the user fees that are used to pay for the services provided and the infrastructure to deliver them. Solid Waste Management Services and Toronto Water's respective year-end surpluses, if any, must be transferred to the Wastewater and Water Stabilization Reserves and Waste Management Reserve Fund, respectively, to finance capital investments and ongoing capital repairs and maintenance.

 

Table 3 - Rate Supported Operating Variance Summary

 

Variance ($M)

Favourable / (Unfavourable)

2021 April YTD

2021 Year-End Projection

 

Budget

Actual

Var

Budget

Actual

Var

Solid Waste Management Services

(7.2)

(28.5)

21.3

0.0

(4.2)

4.2

Toronto Parking Authority

4.6

6.1

(1.5)

2.2

7.6

(5.4)

Toronto Water

(61.5)

(74.4)

12.8

0.0

(15.8)

15.8

Total Variance

(64.1)

(96.8)

32.7

2.2

(12.4)

14.7

Background Information

(June 17, 2021) Letter from the Budget Committee on Operating Variance Report for the Four Months Ended April 30, 2021
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168410.pdf
(June 16, 2021) Revised Report and Appendices A to E from the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer on Operating Variance Report for the Four Months Ended April 30, 2021
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168648.pdf

Motions

Motion to Adopt Item moved by Councillor Gary Crawford (Carried)

EX25.23 - Capital Variance Report for the Four Months Ended April 30, 2021

(Submitted for City Council Consideration on July 14, 2021)
Decision Type:
ACTION
Status:
Adopted
Wards:
All

Committee Recommendations

The Executive Committee recommends that:

 

1. City Council approve in-year budget adjustments to the 2021-2030 Approved Capital Budget and Plan as detailed in Appendix 4 to the report (June 15, 2021) from the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer.

Origin

(June 17, 2021) Letter from the Budget Committee

Summary

The purpose of this report is to provide City Council with the City of Toronto capital spending for the four month period ended April 30, 2021, as well as projected expenditures to December 31, 2021. Furthermore, this report seeks Council's approval for in-year budget adjustments to the 2021 Approved Capital Budget and Plan.

 

As illustrated in Table 1 below, City's 2021 capital expenditure was $688 million or 13.0% of the 2021 capital budget of $5.305 billion for the period ended April 30, 2021 and is projecting to expend $4.415 billion or 83.2% by December 31, 2021.

 

Table 1: Capital Variance Summary

 

Table 1

Corporate Capital Variance Summary

for the Period Ended April 30, 2021

 

2021 Approved Budget*

2021 4M Actual Expenditures

2021 Projected YE Expenditures

 

$M

$M

%

$M

%

City Operations

2,186

280

12.8%

1,726

79.0%

Agencies

1,640

217

13.2%

1,410

86.0%

Tax Supported

3,826

497

13.0%

3,137

82.0%

Rate Supported Programs:

1,479

191

12.9%

1,279

86.4%

TOTAL

5,305

688

13.0%

4,415

83.2%

 

*Note: Includes 2020 carry forward funding

 

The Capital spending pattern for the first four month typically ranges between 5% and 22% of the total Council Approved Capital Budget, with the 2021 experience of 13%. Total City projected spend of 83.2% by year-end is comprised of a Tax Supported Programs spending rate of 82.0% and a Rate Supported Programs spending rate of 86.4%.

 

Moving forward, the City will continue to plan annual capital projects in line with both affordability and achievability, based on the historical actual capacity. The strategy is expected to build on improvements experienced in 2020 and also improve capital spend rate in future years; enabling funding capacity otherwise going unspent to be directed to capital priorities.

Background Information

(June 17, 2021) Letter from the Budget Committee on Capital Variance Report for the Four Months Ended April 30, 2021
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168412.pdf
(June 15, 2021) Report from the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer on Capital Variance for the Four Months Ended April 30, 2021
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168657.pdf
Appendix 1 - 2021 Capital Variance and Projection Summary for the Four Months Ended April 30, 2021
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168649.pdf
Appendix 2A - 2021 4M Capital Projects Recommended for Full Closure
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168650.pdf
Appendix 2B - 2021 4M Capital Projects Recommended for Partial Closure
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168651.pdf
Appendix 3 - 2021 4M Major Capital Projects
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168652.pdf
Appendix 4 - In-Year Adjustments for the Four Months Ended April 30, 2021
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168653.pdf
Appendix 5 - 2021 4M Capital Variance Dashboard by Program and Agency
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168654.pdf

Motions

Motion to Adopt Item moved by Councillor Gary Crawford (Carried)

EX25.24 - Planning Act (Section 42) Reserve Funds Statement, 2016-2019

(Submitted for City Council Consideration on July 14, 2021)
Decision Type:
ACTION
Status:
Adopted
Wards:
All

Committee Recommendations

The Executive Committee recommends that:

 

1. City Council receive the report (June 1, 2021) from the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation for information.

Origin

(June 17, 2021) Letter from the Budget Committee

Summary

This report provides a financial statement of Planning Act (Section 42) reserve funds for the fiscal years 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.  It documents contributions, spending and financial activity associated with cash-in-lieu of parkland dedication payments secured through Section 42, and satisfies the requirement for a public report on these matters.

 

Section 42 of the Planning Act allows municipalities to require that land be conveyed for parkland as a condition of development or redevelopment. If Council deems lands to be unsuitable for parks, municipalities may accept cash-in-lieu of parkland equal to the value of the land that would otherwise be conveyed.  Cash-in-lieu is received[1] and held in reserve funds for the purpose of parkland acquisition or development.

 

Cash-in-lieu of parkland dedication is a fundamental funding tool for the City. On average, it accounts for roughly 30 per cent of Parks, Forestry and Recreation's annual capital budget and is the predominant source of funding for the City's parkland acquisition program.

 

Bill 108 (More Homes, More Choice Act), introduced by the Province in May 2019, created uncertainty around the status of the parkland dedication provisions in the Planning Act.  With the enactment of the COVID-19 Recovery Act, 2020 (Bill 197) on July 21 2020, the Province confirmed that the authorities granted through Section 42, including the ability to collect cash-in-lieu of parkland dedication, will continue to be available to municipalities. 

 

Since 2016, the Planning Act has required municipalities to report on the status of Section 42 reserve funds. On September 18, 2020, Ontario Regulation 509/20 came into force, establishing an ongoing requirement for annual public reporting on Planning Act reserve fund activity. Staff will report on the status of Section 42 reserve funds for 2020 and 2021, and will then report annually according to the requirements of the new regulation, in consideration of annual reserve fund reporting processes.

 

[1] "Funds received" refers to funds that are available to be spent by the City.  It does not include collections under protest, which are held in a separate account and are not spent by the City until the matters are resolved.

Background Information

(June 17, 2021) Letter from the Budget Committee on Planning Act (Section 42) Reserve Funds Statement, 2016-2019
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168413.pdf
(June 1, 2021) Report and Attachment 1 from the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation on Planning Act (Section 42) Reserve Funds Statement, 2016-2019
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168663.pdf
Attachment 2 - Summary of Cash-in-lieu Received, 2016-2019, First 5 Percent and Above 5 Percent
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168664.pdf
Attachment 3 - Summary of Cash-in-lieu Expenditures, 2016-2019, First 5 Percent and Above 5 Percent
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168665.pdf
Attachment 4a - Expenditures from First 5 Percent Cash-in-lieu Reserve Funds, Breakdown by Project (Parkland Acquisition)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168667.pdf
Attachment 4b - Expenditures from First 5 Percent Cash-in-lieu Reserve Funds, Breakdown by Project (Parkland Development)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168668.pdf
Attachment 5 - Expenditures from Above 5 Percent Cash-in-lieu Reserve Funds, Breakdown by Project
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168669.pdf
Attachment 6 - Financial Activity, 2016-2019, First 5 Percent Reserve Funds
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168670.pdf
Attachment 7 - Financial Activity, 2016-2019, Above 5 Percent Reserve Fund
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168672.pdf

Motions

Motion to Adopt Item moved by Councillor Gary Crawford (Carried)

EX25.25 - Planning Act (Section 37 and Section 45) Reserve Funds Statement, 2019

(Submitted for City Council Consideration on July 14, 2021)
Decision Type:
ACTION
Status:
Adopted
Wards:
All

Committee Recommendations

The Executive Committee recommends that:

 

1. City Council receive the report (June 3, 2021) from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning for information.

Origin

(June 17, 2021) Letter from the Budget Committee

Summary

This report provides a financial statement of the Planning Act (Section 37 and Section 45) reserve funds for the 2019 fiscal year. The report details the contributions received from developers; interest earned; and transfers for capital expenditures for the period of January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019. In addition, the report summarizes the Section 37 community benefits secured through site-specific zoning by-laws and Section 45 community benefits secured through Committee of Adjustment decisions during this time period.


The attachments to the report provide additional transaction details and reserve fund balances by ward as of December 31, 2019.

 

With the enactment of the Bills 108 and 197, the Province enacted provisions to replace Section 37 Density Bonusing with a new Community Benefits Charge. On September 18, 2020 the province enacted a new regulation, Ontario Regulation 509/20, which prescribes reporting requirements with respect to the new Community Benefits Charge with amended reporting requirements. Staff will continue to report on the status of Section 37 reserve funds annually according to the requirements of the new regulation, in consideration of annual reserve fund reporting processes.

Background Information

(June 17, 2021) Letter from the Budget Committee on Planning Act (Section 37 and Section 45) Reserve Funds Statement, 2019
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168415.pdf
(June 3, 2021) Report and Attachments 1 to 4 from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning on Planning Act (Section 37 and Section 45) Reserve Funds Statement, 2019
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168673.pdf

Motions

Motion to Adopt Item moved by Councillor Gary Crawford (Carried)

25a - Planning Act (Section 37 and Section 45) Reserve Funds Statement, 2019

(Submitted for City Council Consideration on July 14, 2021)
Origin
(June 25, 2021) Report from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning
Summary

The purpose of this report is to correct the Financial Impact Section of the report entitled, Planning Act (Section 37 and Section 45) Reserve Funds Statement, 2019', BU32.6, adopted by the Budget Committee on June 17, 2021, to address typographic errors and the inadvertent misidentification of the ward location of a contributing development within Attachment 2.

Background Information
(June 25, 2021) Supplementary report (June 25, 2021) from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning on Planning Act (Section 37 and Section 45) Reserve Funds Statement, 2019

EX25.26 - 2021 Updated Assessment of Revenue Options

Decision Type:
ACTION
Status:
Referred
Wards:
All

Committee Decision

The Executive Committee referred Item EX25.26 back to the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer and requested the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer to:

 

a.  conduct further analysis regarding:

 

i.  the estimated economic impacts, including job creation and gross domestic product, created as a result of the investments in the City's Capital Budget due to the City Building Levy;

 

ii.  whether any of the listed revenue tools would have adverse impacts on the City's post-pandemic economic recovery, and in particular, on hard hit sectors of the City's economy, including the hospitality industry; and

 

iii. the estimated impact on sales volume of homes in the City of Toronto if the Municipal Land Transfer Tax were increased on all homes worth over $2 million, $3 million, and $4 million, respectively; and

 

b.  report back to City Council, through the Budget Committee, as part of or before the City's 2022 budget process.

Origin

(June 21, 2021) Report from the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

Summary

Toronto City Council has, over the last four terms of Council since 2006, identified and implemented a number of new revenue tools and measures, in efforts to diversify the City's revenue base, consistent with a fiscally prudent long term financial strategy.  These efforts to augment the City's revenue base and to tap new revenue sources included the Municipal Land Transfer Tax and Personal Vehicle Tax implemented in 2008, a dedicated Transit/City Building Levy in 2014 which has been increased annually since 2017, road tolls, a municipal accommodation tax for hotel and short term rental stays in 2018 and 2021 respectively, and most recently, a proposed tax on vacant residential units.

 

During 2021 Budget deliberations, and through its adoption of Item EX21.1: 2021 Property Tax Rates and Related Matters, City Council directed staff to perform an updated assessment of the revenue potential of certain new taxes permitted under the City of Toronto Act, 2006 (COTA), other new taxes not currently permitted under COTA and potential adjustments and revenue impacts related to the Municipal Land Transfer Tax.

 

This report provides an update on potential revenue options for Council's consideration, and responds to the information requests identified in EX21.1.

Background Information

(June 21, 2021) Report and Attachment 1 from the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer on 2021 Updated Assessment of Revenue Options
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-168696.pdf

Communications

(July 5, 2021) Letter from Mauro Ritacca submitted a letter from Kevin Crigger, President, Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (EX.New)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/comm/communicationfile-134399.pdf

Speakers

Kevin Crigger, Toronto Regional Real Estate Board

Motions

1 - Motion to Refer Item moved by Mayor John Tory (Carried)

That:

 

1. The Executive Committee refer the Item back to the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer and request the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer to:

 

a.  conduct further analysis regarding:

 

i.  the estimated economic impacts, including job creation and gross domestic product, created as a result of the investments in the City's Capital Budget due to the City Building Levy;

 

ii.  whether any of the listed revenue tools would have adverse impacts on the City's post-pandemic economic recovery, and in particular, on hard hit sectors of the City's economy, including the hospitality industry; and

 

iii. the estimated impact on sales volume of homes in the City of Toronto if the Municipal Land Transfer Tax were increased on all homes worth over $2 million, $3 million, and $4 million, respectively; and

 

b.  report back to City Council, through the Budget Committee, as part of or before the City's 2022 budget process.

Procedural Motions

Motion to Set Committee Rule moved by Mayor John Tory (Carried)

That speakers who have not pre-registered be allowed to register to speak until 10:00 a.m. on July 6, 2021, after which no further registration is allowed and the speakers list will be closed.


Motion to Adopt Minutes moved by Councillor Michael Thompson (Carried)

That the minutes of the Executive Committee meeting on June 1, 2021 be confirmed.


Motion to Extend the Meeting moved by Mayor John Tory (Carried)

12:24 p.m. - That the meeting be extended past the lunch recess in order to complete the Speaker's list on Item EX25.1.


Announcements

Members of the Executive Committee observed a moment of silence to honour Constable Jeffrey Northrup, dedicated member of the Toronto Police Service who tragically lost his life in the line of duty on Friday, July 2, 2021. 

 

The Chair gratefully acknowledged that the land the Executive Committee was meeting on is the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples. The Chair also acknowledged that Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 with the Mississaugas of the Credit. 

 

Where the Members of the Executive Committee listed in the attendance for this meeting participated remotely, they were counted for quorum as permitted by Section 189(4.2) of the City of Toronto Act, 2006, and City Council's Procedures.

 

Tuesday, July 6, 2021
John Tory, Chair, Executive Committee

Meeting Sessions

Session Date Session Type Start Time End Time Public or Closed Session
2021-07-06 Morning 9:36 AM 12:29 PM Public
2021-07-06 Afternoon 1:34 PM 5:04 PM Public

Attendance

Members were present for some or all of the time period indicated.
Date and Time Quorum Members
2021-07-06
9:36 AM - 12:29 PM
(Public Session)
Present Present: Paul Ainslie, Ana Bailão, Gary Crawford, Jennifer McKelvie, James Pasternak, Michael Thompson, John Tory (Chair)
Not Present: Denzil Minnan-Wong
Also present (non-members): Paula Fletcher
2021-07-06
1:34 PM - 5:04 PM
(Public Session)
Present Present: Paul Ainslie, Ana Bailão, Gary Crawford, Jennifer McKelvie, James Pasternak, Michael Thompson, John Tory (Chair)
Not Present: Denzil Minnan-Wong
Also present (non-members): Paula Fletcher, Jaye Robinson
Source: Toronto City Clerk at www.toronto.ca/council