On Wednesday, the Toronto Community Benefits Network and partners deputed at the City of Toronto Executive Committee to make recommendations on improving the City’s Community Benefits Framework which was established in 2019.

While TCBN is encouraged by the details of the staff report, which outlines key actions steps for advancing the municipal Community Benefits framework, we are disappointed that the City Executive Committee failed to address our key recommendations to require bolder steps in the implementation of its Community Benefits Framework in response to the immediacy of the economic crisis facing Black, Indgenous and other racialized people in our City. 

In January 2020, Infrastructure Ontario released the Project Agreement (redacted) with Fengate PCL Consortium for the MacDonald Block reconstruction project - a $1.536 Billion at Queens Park. 

TCBN would like to thank our labour member AMAPCEO, the union for Ontario's Professional Employees. AMAPCEO has been a leading champion to ensure that the MacDonald Block Reconstruction Project includes a Community Benefits Agreement.

Since the Winter QGM in Regent Park, the TCBN has been active in supporting the Regent Park Neighbourhood Association (RPNA) in leading a local Community Benefits Coalition of residents, community groups and organizations. The goal of the coalition is to secure a legally binding agreement with Toronto Community Housing (TCH) and selected developer that commits to both short and long term community benefits in Regent Park. After weeks of negotiations with TCH, the Coalition is excited to announce a Community Benefits Framework Agreement for Phase 4 and 5 of revitalization in Regent Park. More details to come. LEARN MORE

Canada’s Federal Government has identified infrastructure as a key component of Canada’s economic recovery from the Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. They are planning to invest over $187 Billion tax payer dollars on infrastructure projects across Canada over the next ten years. Commitment to infrastructure, employment, and improved outcomes for diverse communities must go hand in hand. ENDORSE LETTER.