This month, Toronto City Council will be voting on the Downsview Secondary Plan and Community Development Plan that will guide the future of a 30+ year development at Downsview.

On Tuesday, TCBN deputed and submitted a letter in full support of the Downsview Community Development Plan and eight priority areas which aligns with our vision for Downsview as a thriving, inclusive, diverse, affordable and environmentally sustainable neighbourhood for decades to come. Our letter also includes targets and expectations identified through our CBAforDownsview campaign including:

The Neighbourhood Climate Action Grants will be launching on April 22, 2024. Grants of up to $7,500 will be available for resident-led climate action projects.
The Neighbourhood Climate Action Grants aim to increase awareness and engagement on climate action at the local level by funding activities and events that:

• Reduce the emissions that contribute to climate change
• Educate and engage the public on climate change and climate action
• Advance the principles, priorities and actions of TransformTO Net Zero Strategy and the Toronto
  Strong Neighbourhoods Strategy

Please feel free to promote this opportunity widely! Applications will be accepted until June 12, 2024. Learn more and APPLY HERE.

The TCBN is encouraged by the City of Toronto’s leadership to advance a new Framework for Inclusive Economic Development, and agrees with the pressing need for a paradigm shift in the City’s approach to economic growth as economic prosperity has not been equitably shared among Toronto residents. 

According to the 2021 Canadian Census, close to 35% of Toronto residents made an after-tax income of less than $30,000 a year, whereas an estimated 10% made an income of more than $120,000. The overall average after-tax income was reported at $49,080. Census data collected every five years shows a pattern of average income levels in individual Toronto neighbourhoods moving further away, both up and down, from the overall city average.1 

The TCBN recommends that the City take into consideration the following measures as it develops its approach and Framework for Inclusive Economic Development: 

1. Acknowledgement of systemic racism and discrimination that permeates our society as a first step towards dismantling the barriers that hinder the progress of equity-deserving groups, particularly Black, Indigenous, and racialized communities in building community wealth. The disproportionate impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on these communities have highlighted the entrenched inequalities that have long existed. Disaggregated data tracking, monitoring and reporting must be a critical component of this Framework 
2. The City must be clear and intentional in setting goals and targets for what change it intends to achieve to ensure decent work and inclusive economies by: a) improving employment standards and working conditions for local residents, especially in precarious sectors of the economy b) developing tools to remove barriers to economic participation like access to capital, access to procurement opportunities, training and affordable child care c) improving the quality of life of Toronto residents through local pathways to good jobs, business opportunities and housing options across the affordability spectrum 
3. The City must acknowledge the intersections of the climate crisis, housing affordability crisis, and economic inequality, recognizing that these issues are intrinsically linked and require holistic solutions and the development of new and innovative tools/approaches. 
4. The City must identify immediate opportunities to update, monitor, report on and strengthen existing City levers like the Social Procurement Program, Community Benefits Framework, Fair Wage Policy and advocate to other levels of government to be part of the solution in strengthening the local economy, promoting and protecting good local jobs and building community wealth, equitably.

To read TCBNs full letter to the Economic and Community Development Committee please visit here. We thank City Councillor and Chair of the Economic and Community Development, Alejandra Bravo and Committee members for their deep engagement on this important item. 

Summary (from City website) 

Since 2022, the TCBN has supported the Build A Better Fairview coalition, a group of residents, community and service organizations dedicated to the responsible, equitable and sustainable development of the Fairview area. BABF is actively working with local City Councillor, Shelley Carroll to ensure Cadillac Fairview meets the community’s expectation for equitable and responsible development as part of its Fairview Mall development plan. Read the updates from the North York Community Council meeting last month, BABF’s letter and deputations from local residents here.

On March 26th, 2024

Last week, the TCBN was proud to join community, labour, transit advocacy, worker rights and migrant rights groups to advocate for a human rights approach and vision for Toronto's participation in FIFA 2026.

Thank you to Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik, Councillor Alejandra Bravo and Councillor Diane Saxe for advancing key areas including community benefits, decent work and fair wages, protecting vulnerable community members and workers, supporting local businesses, environmental leadership and legacy opportunities.

On March 9th, 2024

Last week, the City Executive Committee received an update on Toronto’s FIFA2026 Men’s World Cup planning. With six games now confirmed in Toronto, new projected costs are estimated at $380M. TCBN and allies are calling for the City to commit to good, green jobs and a human rights approach that includes living wages commitments, local and equity hiring targets for apprenticeship hours, professional and operational roles, social procurement targets and a supply chain diversity plan with public oversight and transparency. Thank you to Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik and City Councillor and Chair of the Economic and Community Development Committee, Alejandra Bravo for your continued support in championing a strong community benefits approach to FIFA2026. Read letters submitted by TCBN, Toronto & York Region Labour Council and Buy Social Canada.

Infrastructure Ontario and the provincial government are planning 14 new transit oriented communities, many of which are on public owned land, including 11 along the Ontario Line. Last month, the TCBN and community benefits ambassadors participated at public consultation meetings hosted by Infrastructure Ontario to highlight the importance of Community Benefits Agreements, affordable housing and an equitable approach through meaningful engagement with local communities for each project. Many residents and community organizations continue to raise concerns of gentrification and rising rents that are already pricing them out of their neighbourhood. Read the CBC article here 

With the four new transit projects including Ontario Line underway, TCBN remains concerned with Metrolinx and the provincial government’s silence on a Community Benefits Agreement. The TCBN continues to work with members and local organizations in impacted neighbourhoods to ensure Metrolinx upholds its commitments made to the community. In February at Queen’s Park, MPP Stephanie Bowman (Don Valley West) called on the provincial government to keep its promises to local communities like Thorncliffe Park and sign a Community Benefits Agreement.

Canada Lands Company is moving forward with its Downsview Arbo District Plan with a proposal to build 1,100 to 1,400 residential units for a total of 3,600 to 4,000 units. The current plan includes 20% affordable housing at 80% Average Market Rent for 25 years and commitments to support a Downsview community centre.

On January 24th, TCBN participated at the North York Community Council meeting and urged support for our CBA for Downsview campaign which calls for: 

• A Community Benefits Agreement with targets for apprenticeships, local and equity hiring 
• Commitments to neighbourhood improvements, environmental sustainability and investments in community infrastructure, recreation and services
• Commitments for minimum 30% affordable housing and ownership with 50% of that being deeply affordable or Rent-Geared-to-Income for 99 years

You can view the letter submitted to North York Community council here, the CLC Arbo District Plan here as well as the Zoning By-law Amendment report here.

On Jan 24th TCBN attended the City of Toronto’s Toronto East York Community Council, where Rosemarie Powell presented on the Ontario Line. TCBN continues to advocate for Metrolinx to commit to a Community Benefits Agreement as part of the estimated $18 billion Ontario Line public transit project and that all contracts include requirements for Community Benefits and Workforce Development plans that ensure local and equitable hiring targets with transparency and community oversight. Metrolinx has yet to fulfill its promise to update Ontario Line RFPs and project agreements to include community benefits.

We thank the TEYCC and Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik who supported a motion asking Metrolinx to include updates on these items in the next quarterly report.