October 8, 1998

To:Chairman and Members of the North York Community Council

From:Joe Halstead

Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism

Subject:Availability of Grants and Programs from Federal and Provincial Ministries for the acquisition of lands for parks and community related purposes at the northwest corner of Finch Avenue West and York Gate Boulevard

Ward 7 - Black Creek

Purpose:

As directed by North York Community Council at its meeting held on July 22, 1998, this report is to advise Council on the availability of grants and programs from identified Ministries for the acquisition of lands for parks and community related purposes at the northwest corner of Finch Avenue West and York Gate Boulevard,

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1)That the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism report back to North York Community Council at a future meeting when the final outstanding response from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing is received, only if the information received is favourable towards acquiring lands for parks and community purposes.

(2) That the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism will provide the two local Councillors with a copy of the letter from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing when it is received.

Background:

1.0Subject Lands:

The subject lands are located at the northwest corner of Finch Avenue West and York Gate Boulevard. The applicant has submitted applications to amend the zoning by-law and a plan of subdivision comprising of 220 units of freehold townhouses and apartment buildings, with a unit count of 775 units, along the Finch Avenue West frontage. A report on the above noted applications, was adopted by North York Community Council at their meeting held on Wednesday July 22, 1998.

2.0Meeting of North York Community Council July 22, 1998:

At its meeting held on July 22, 1998, North York Community Council adopted the following recommendations:

"The Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism be requested to:

(a)consult with the appropriate officials of the provincial Ministry of Natural Resources; the Ministry of Community and Social Services; and the Ministry of Citizenship, Culture and Recreation; and the appropriate officials of the federal Ministry of Canadian Heritage/Parks Canada; and

(b)report back to the Community Council meeting to be held on September 16, 1998, on grants and programs which may be available through these agencies that would enable the acquisition of these lands for parks and community related purposes."

3.0Consultation:

The Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism contacted the above noted Ministries enquiring about grants and programs for the acquisition of lands for parks and community related purposes (see attached Schedules A, B, C & D).

Staff of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism have also made follow up phone enquiries to these Ministries regarding the status of our request for information.

Comments and Discussion:

4.0Information Received:

At the time of writing this report, three Ministries contacted have formally responded in writing. Staff from the remaining Ministry verbally acknowledged receipt of our letter and have advised that they would be forwarding our request to another Ministry for response.

The Minister of Canadian Heritage / Parks Canada forwarded our response to the Office of the Secretary of State (Parks) for response. The Executive Assistant to the Secretary of State (Parks) response (see attached Schedule E) advises that the North York lands in question would not qualify for inclusion in the programs for which Parks Canada is responsible.

In a letter from the Minister of Citizenship, Culture and Recreation (see attached Schedule F), the Minister advises that the Province has not provided capital assistance for such purposes for quite a number of years, and currently has no plans to do so in the future. The Minister suggests use of the appropriate sections of the Planning Act which enable municipalities to secure parkland and facilities for community related purposes.

An official from the Ministry of Community and Social Services has verbally advised staff from this Department that they do not have any grants nor programs for the acquisition of lands for parks and community related purposes. However, they have taken the liberty of forwarding our inquiry to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing for review and a formal response. Staff have called the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing and were advised that a response is forthcoming. At the time of writing this report no written response from the Ministry has been received.

In a letter from the Minister of Natural Resources (see attached Schedule G), the Minister advises there are no grants nor funding programs available through the Ministry of Natural Resources to fund municipal parkland acquisitions.

Conclusions:

The three Ministries that have responding in writing to date, have all advised that there are no grants or programs available through their Ministries for the acquisition of lands for parks and community related purposes.

Staff from Economic Development, Culture and Tourism will continue to pursue information from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing regarding the availability of grants and programs available for the acquisition of lands for parks and community related purposes.

If the correspondence received from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing identifies grants or programs available for the acquisition of lands for parks and community related purposes, the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism will report back to North York Community Council as soon as that information is available. However, if the information received from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing advises that no grants nor programs are available for the acquisition of lands for parks and community related purposes through their Ministry, then the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism will advise the two local Councillors by providing them with a copy of the letter.

Contact Name:

Tim Park, Land Use Planner

Phone: 395-0221Fax: 395-7886

Joe Halstead

Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism

Schedules:

ALetter dated August 7, 1998 to the Honourable Sheila Copps

BLetter dated August 10, 1998 to the Honourable Isabel Bassett

CLetter dated August 10, 1998 to the Honourable Janet Ecker

DLetter dated August 10, 1998 to the Honourable John Snobolen

ELetter dated September 3, 1998 from the Office of the Secretary of State (Parks)

FLetter dated August 21, 1998 from the Honourable Isabel Bassett

GLetter dated September 16, 1998 from Honourable John Snobolen

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