Advertising on Bell Canada Telephone Booths
The Urban Environment and Development Committee recommends the adoption of the report (March 5, 1999)
from the General Manager, Transportation Services.
The Committee reports, for the information of Council, having requested the General Manager, Transportation Services to
report further to the Committee on the status of the agreements with Bell Canada and the possibility of seeking Proposal
Calls for telephones on City properties.
The Urban Environment and Development Committee submits the following report (March 5, 1999) from the
General Manager, Transportation Services:
Purpose:
To advise that Bell Canada does not wish to renew expired agreements and does not wish to proceed further with the booth
advertising program.
Financial Implications:
Subject to confirmation by the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, Bell Canada will remit payment of $196.26 to the
City to complete its obligations under the expired agreements.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that the interim agreements between Bell Canada and the former City of Etobicoke and the former
Borough of East York not be renewed and that the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer confirm that all financial
commitments of the agreements have been completed.
Background:
Prior to amalgamation, the former municipalities of Etobicoke and East York signed agreements with Bell Canada for
telephone booth advertising. The proposed term was 10 years but in both cases the Financial Advisory Board only approved
a one-year term to allow any other municipal agreements to be merged with these two at that point (December 31, 1998).
The former City of Toronto rejected advertising on Bell Canada booths. At its meeting on February 9, 1998, City Council
adopted Clause No. 5 of Report No. 1 of the Urban Environment and Development Committee which recommended that
further expansion of Bell Canada Telephone booth advertising proposal for City arterial roads be deferred until the end of
1998 to provide the opportunity to assess the reaction to the installations in Etobicoke and East York in the context of
advertising possibilities on the public road allowances.
Comments:
We are in receipt of correspondence from Bell Canada which indicates that Bell has re-evaluated the trial project and has
decided that they do not wish to proceed further at this time. They have committed to immediately restore the booths that
were retrofitted with the advertising panels to their previous condition. They will also remit to the City a payment of
$196.26 which represents the City's share of the advertising revenue in accordance with the former Etobicoke and East
York agreements.
Conclusions:
Bell Canada is not interested in pursuing telephone booth advertising at this time. The Chief Financial Officer and
Treasurer should confirm that all financial commitments of the expired agreements have been completed.
Contact Name:
David C. Kaufman
General Manager, Transportation Services
Phone: (416) 392-8431
Fax: (416) 392-4426