December 2, 1999

To: Works Committee

From: City Clerk

Subject: R2000 - 5th World Congress on Integrated Resources Management and Trade Show: June 5 to 9, 2000 - Request for Funding (Downtown - Ward 24)

Recommendation:

The Economic Development and Parks Committee concurred with the recommendations of the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism embodied in the report dated November 9, 1999; and referred the report (November 9, 1999) from the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism, to the Works Committee for consideration.

Background:

The Economic Development and Parks Committee had before it a report (November 9, 1999) from the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism, advising that the Millennium Task Force, at its meeting held on September 8, 1999, received a deputation from Mr. William Fisch, Chair of the Region of York, requesting funds to support R2000 - 5th World Congress on Integrated Resources Management and Trade Show: June 5 to 9, 2000; further advising that the Task Force requested the Department to prepare a report with funding recommendations for this project; and recommending that:

(1) the request from the organizers of the R2000 World Congress for $200,000.00 be declined with the provision that other forms of in-kind assistance may be obtained from the City of Toronto; and

(2) the appropriate City officials be authorized to take the necessary action to give effect thereto.

for City Clerk

B. Henderson/mh

C:\in\it021

c. Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism

(Report dated November 9, 1999, addressed to the

Economic Development and Parks Committee from the

Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism)

Purpose:

At its meeting on September 8, 1999, the Millennium Task Force received a deputation from William Fisch, Chair of the Region of York requesting funds to support R2000 - 5th World Congress on Integrated Resources Management and Trade Show: June 5 to 9, 2000. and requested the Department to prepare a report with funding recommendations.

Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

There are no financial implications resulting in the adoption of this report.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1) the request from the organizers of the R2000 World Congress for $200,000.00 be declined with the provision that other forms of in-kind assistance may be obtained from the City of Toronto; and

(2) the appropriate City of Toronto officials be authorized to take the necessary action to give effect thereto.

Background:

The R2000 World Congress on Integrated Resources Management and Trade Show has been held every two years since its inception in Geneva, Switzerland in 1993. The Congress will be held in Toronto at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre from June 5 to 9, 2000 and is expected to attract between 1,200 to 1,500 delegates from around the world. It will provide a platform for the discussion and presentation of resource recovery programs showcasing the latest developments in recovery, recycling and reintegration technologies and will also feature a comprehensive trade show.

The conference concept is owned and organized by a Swiss organization called PEAK Ltd. In October 1997, the Town of Markham registered the R2000 Corporation (which is organizing the Congress in partnership with PEAK Ltd.). Funding for the conference is derived from the public and private sectors. To date, funding for the Congress includes: a $100,000.00 grant from the Town of Markham; a $200,000.00 sponsorship from the Region of York; a $100,000.00 sponsorship from CSR: Corporations Supporting Recycling and $100,000.00 sponsorship from Miller Waste Ltd.

The R2000 Board of Directors consists of: Gordon Landon, Region of York Councillor, Chair of R2000; Randy Barber, Markham Councillor, Treasurer of R2000; William Fisch, Chairman of the Region of York; Damian Bassettt, President and CEO of CSR: Corporations Supporting Recycling and Leo McArthur, President of Miller Waste Ltd.

On September 8, 1999, William Fisch made a deputation to the Millennium Task Force with a request for a $200,000.00 grant to support the Congress. The Millennium Task Force endorsed the project as a Millennium Initiative and asked that Economic Development draft a report for consideration by the Economic Development Committee, with the appropriate recommendation.

Comments:

It is noteworthy that the City of Toronto has been selected as the site for The R2000 World Congress on Integrated Resources Management and Trade Show. The meetings and convention business is a key sector of the tourism industry. The City is host to more than 1,000 major conferences annually.

The role of the Economic Development Division is to work with Tourism Toronto and the community to promote and bid for conferences/congresses. The Division does not have funds available to support the execution of these events. Generally, conference and trade shows are revenue-generating enterprises for the organizers who earn income through gate admission, fees for corporate displays, seminars, registration fees, sale of merchandise, concessions and other cost recoverable activities.

Depending on the nature of the event, City departments have on occasion provided support in the form of volunteer staff, educational tours, speakers, the purchase of exhibit space, and distribution of tourism information.

The City of Toronto has in the past offered other forms of assistance, such as hosting a hospitality reception or providing event planning/logistical expertise when there has been a direct City interest in acting as host city. Both the departments of Works and Emergency Services and Economic Development, Culture and Tourism may be able to offer the conference organizers staff assistance and/or limited in kind support.

It should be noted that the City of Toronto regularly makes concerted efforts to attract major conferences and trade shows that offer significant tourism potential and will provide substantial economic impact opportunities. The upcoming World Youth Days 2002, estimated to attract up to 500,000 participants, and the International Conference on Aids 2004, are two such examples.

Conclusions:

The R2000 World Congress Conference on Integrated Resource Management and Trade Show will provide delegates and participants with an important forum to discuss issues related to recycling and renewable resources. Although the City of Toronto is unable to provide monetary support it is willing to offer logistical expertise and assistance to the conference organizers. The Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services concurs with the recommendations contained in this report.

Contact:

Mr. Rob Berry, Sector Development Officer, Telephone: (416) 392-3387, Fax: (416) 397-5332,

Email: rberry@toronto.ca