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Economic Development Committee


Meeting No. 25   Contact Merle MacDonald, Committee Administrator
Meeting Date Thursday, October 15, 2009
  Phone 416-392-7340
Start Time 9:30 AM
  E-mail edc@toronto.ca
Location Committee Room 1, City Hall
  Chair   Councillor Kyle Rae  

ED25.1

Presentation

Received 

 

Ward: All 

Sectors' Report - Part 1

Committee Decision

The Economic Development Committee received the item for information and thanked the Presenters.

Decision Advice and Other Information

The following persons made Presentations to the Committee and answered Members’ questions:

 

1.         Janet Ecker, President and CEO, Toronto Financial Services Alliance (TFSA);

 

2.         David Whitaker, President and CEO, Tourism Toronto;

 

3.         Lorne Meikle, President and Chair, The Biotechnology Initiative (TBI);

 

4.         Arlene Gould, Strategic Director, Design Industry Advisory Committee (DIAC);

 

5.         Tim Poupore, Association of Chartered Industrial Designers of Ontario (ACIDO); and

 

6.         Susan Wiggins, Association of Registered Interior Designers of Ontario (ARIDO).

Summary

Presentations from various Sectors:

 

1.         Toronto Financial Services Alliance (TFSA) – Janet Ecker, President and CEO

2.         Tourism Toronto – David Whitaker, President and CEO

3.         The Biotechnology Initiative (TBI) – Lorne Meikle, President and Chair

4.         Design Industry Advisory Committee (DIAC) - Arlene Gould, Strategic Director

5.         Greening Greater Toronto – Michael Sherman, Managing Director

 

No material available.

Background Information
Presentation by Janet Ecker
(http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2009/ed/bgrd/backgroundfile-24296.pdf)

Presentation by Lorne Meikle
(http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2009/ed/bgrd/backgroundfile-24236.pdf)

Communications
(October 15, 2009) Presentation from Janet Ecker, President and CEO, Toronto Financial Services Alliance (TFSA) (ED.New.ED25.1.1)
(October 15, 2009) Presentation from Lorne Meikle, President and Chair, The Biotechnology Initiative (TBI) (ED.New.ED25.1.2)
Speakers

Janet Ecker, President and CEO, Toronto Financial Services Alliance (TFSA) (Submission Filed)
David Whitaker, President and CEO, Tourism Toronto, Toronto Convention and Visitors Association
Lorne Meikle, President and Chair, The Biotechnology Initiative (TBI) (Submission Filed)
Arlene Gould, Strategic Director, Design Industry Advisory Committee (D.I.A.C.)
Tim Poupore, Association of Chartered Industrial Designers of Ontario (ACIDO)
Susan Wiggins, Association of Registered Interior Designers of Ontario (ARIDO)

Motions
Motion to Receive Item moved by Councillor Mark Grimes (Carried)
That the item be received for information.

ED25.2

ACTION

Adopted 

 

Ward: 16, 22 

Business Improvement Areas (BIA) Board of Management - Various Additions and Deletions

Committee Recommendations

The Economic Development Committee recommends that:

 

1.         City Council approve additions and deletions to the The Eglinton Way Business Improvement Areas Board of Management as set out in Attachment 1 of the report (September 28, 2009) from the General Manager, Economic Development, Culture and Tourism.

 

2.         City Council amend Schedule A of the Municipal Code Chapter 19, Business Improvement Areas, to reflect changes to the BIA Board of Management.

Origin
(September 28, 2009) Report from General Manager, Economic Development, Culture and Tourism
Summary

The purpose of this report is to recommend that City Council approve additions and deletions to The Eglinton Way BIA Board of Management.

Background Information
Business Improvement Areas (BIA) Board of Management - Various Additions and Deletions
(http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2009/ed/bgrd/backgroundfile-23843.pdf)

Motions
Motion to Adopt Item moved by Councillor Mark Grimes (Carried)

ED25.3

ACTION

Received 

 

Ward: All 

Presentation from Economist Benjamin Tal on September 22, 2009 - Follup up Information

Committee Decision

The Economic Development Committee received the item for information.

Origin
(October 2, 2009) Briefing Note from General Manager, Economic Development, Culture and Tourism
Summary

To complement the information it receives regularly on the Toronto economy, the Economic Development Committee periodically hears presentations from researchers and topical experts. At its meeting of September 22, 2009, the Committee heard a presentation from CIBC Senior Economist Benjamin Tal. As a close monitor of trends and leading advisor in the global financial system, Mr. Tal previously delivered a presentation to Councillors and City staff at the Ontario Investment and Trade Centre, in which he discussed economic shifts at the international, national and regional levels. He was again invited to speak before Committee to specifically address issues facing the Toronto economy.

 

This brief summarizes the issues and general recommendations discussed in Mr. Tal’s presentation and the Q&A session that followed. The presentation focussed on the challenges that the Toronto economy is facing, but offered a generally optimistic view. In particular, an unemployment rate above the national average has attracted a lot of attention, but Mr. Tal suggested that the duration of unemployment is a more important indicator. Toronto fares much better on this measure. Further, Toronto continues to attract immigrants and youth. These two groups face barriers within the labour force but their presence is a tremendous regional advantage.

Background Information
Briefing Note on Presentation from Economist Benjamin Tal
(http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2009/ed/bgrd/backgroundfile-24263.pdf)

Motions
1 - Motion to Add New Business at Committee moved by Councillor Mark Grimes (Carried)

2 - Motion to Receive Item moved by Councillor Mark Grimes (Carried)
That the item be received for information.

Procedural Motions
Motion to Adopt Minutes moved by Councillor Mark Grimes (Carried)

That the Minutes of the meeting of the Economic Development Committee held on September 22, 2009, be confirmed.

Thursday, October 15, 2009
Councillor Kyle Rae, Chair, Economic Development Committee
Meeting Sessions
Session Date Session Type Start Time End Time Public or Closed Session
2009-10-15 Morning 9:39 AM 11:34 AM Public
Attendance
Members were present for some or all of the time period indicated.
Date and Time Quorum Members
2009-10-15
9:39 AM - 11:34 AM
(Public Session)
Present Present: Bussin, Grimes, Hall, Ootes, Rae (Chair)
Not Present: Ashton
Also present (non-members): Pantalone, Parker