The authorities, roles and responsibilities of City agencies and corporations are established through a range of legislation, City bylaws, Council-adopted policies, and City Council-approved Relationship Frameworks (with City agencies) and Shareholder Directions and Declarations (to City corporations).
Key provincial legislation, City bylaws and policies applicable to agencies and corporations are listed with a summary of how they generally apply. It is the responsibility of individual agencies and corporations to review legislation, bylaws and policies in detail to confirm how they apply to their organizations.
Legislation, bylaws and policies are subject to change. Check back for updates.
The City of Toronto Act, 2006 (COTA, 2006) provides the City with authorities to establish, dissolve, delegate powers and duties and determine the governance of its agencies and corporations with certain limitations.
Key sections of COTA, 2006 regarding the City’s authorities and requirements for agencies and corporations are summarized below. Agencies and corporations should consult COTA, 2006 for definitions, provisions and their application.
In addition to COTA, 2006, key provincial legislation with general application to the City and its agencies and corporations includes:
Other provincial statutes apply to specific agencies and corporations:
When City Council adopts or amends a policy, it may require or request City agencies and corporations to comply with the Council-adopted policy or adopt their own policy.
Find links to key City policies and bylaws relevant to agencies and corporations and read the Council decisions for details on their application. It is the responsibility of individual agencies and corporations to review bylaw and policy provisions to confirm how they apply to their organizations.
| Category | Bylaw or Policy | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Accountability Officers | Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 3, Accountability Officers | Sets out authorities of the City’s Auditor General, Integrity Commissioner, Lobbyist Registrar and the City Ombudsman as they apply to City agencies and corporations. |
| Accountability Officers | Raising the Alarm: Fraud Investigation of a Vendor Providing Life Safety Inspection Services to the City of Toronto | Contains the recommendations of Auditor General’s report Raising the Alarm: Fraud Investigation of a Vendor Providing Life Safety Inspection Services to the City of Toronto, adopted by City Council in addition to 20 directions to City staff. |
| Agency Employees | Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 192, Public Service (TPS By-law) | Advances Toronto’s Public Service as a professional, impartial and ethical body and affirms City agencies as part of the broader Toronto Public Service with authority to manage their own employee affairs.
The TPS By-law sets out public service values and rights and responsibilities for City and City agency employees (as specified in the TPS By-law) regarding conflict of interest and confidentiality, political activity, disclosure of wrongdoing and reprisal protection and ethics executives. Read the Council decision to adopt TPS By-law for more details on its application. |
| Corporate Real Estate Management | Reducing Bird Deaths by Turning off Lights during Migration (IE9.10) (NEW) | Establishes the cost-saving and bird-life-saving practice of turning off unnecessary City lights during bird migration seasons.
Read the Council decision on adoption of the policy, and the memo on Reducing Bird Deaths by Turning off Lights during Migration from Patrick Matozzo, Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management. |
| Cybersecurity | AU4.1 Cyber Safety: A Robust Cybersecurity Program Needed to Mitigate Current and Emerging Threats | In October 2019, agencies and corporations were requested to provide a cyber security enterprise risk assessment to the City of Toronto Chief Technology Officer by the third quarter of 2020 and to subsequently submit an implementation plan to mitigate risks by the fourth quarter of 2020.
In addition, City Council requested the Chief Technology Officer to provide support, oversight and direction on standards, practices and policies to select agencies and corporations, with immediate effect with respect to all technology assets, goods, and services and direct, or request, those City divisions, agencies and corporations accordingly. The Office of the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) provides cybersecurity services to City Divisions and Agencies & Corporations. Contact CISO at ciso@toronto.ca |
| Cybersecurity | AU8.9 Cybersecurity Incidents at the City and its Agencies and Corporations: Integrated Incident Response Plan is Needed | In April 2021, City Council requested the Auditor General to provide presentations to City organizations, including major agencies and corporations, on the City cybersecurity reports and lessons learned.
City Council also requested the City Manager to forward the recommendations from the Auditor General to the Chief Executive Officers of major City agencies and corporations and request them to review and implement the confidential instructions that may be relevant to their respective operations. The Office of the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) provides cybersecurity services to City Divisions and Agencies & Corporations. Contact the CISO at ciso@toronto.ca |
| Environment | Climate Change Risk Management Policy (see Appendix A) | Defines roles and responsibilities in the City and its agencies and corporations for identifying and mitigating climate change risks, and mechanisms for coordinating, resourcing and prioritizing actions.
City Council directed City agencies and requested City corporations, respectively, to adopt the City’s Policy or a similar policy that is consistent with the City’s Policy. Read the Council decision to adopt the Climate Change Risk Management Policy for more details on its application. |
| Environment | Green Roof By-law | Requires and governs the construction of green roofs on new development. The By-law applies to all large (over 2,000 m2) buildings including those owned by the City and its agencies and corporations. |
| Environment | Offset Credit Policy |
The Offset Credits Policy applies only to City corporate emission sources, meaning emissions from City-owned assets like buildings and fleet vehicles. It does not apply to community-wide emission sources. The policy makes clear the Corporation’s primary objective in pursuit of net zero is reducing emissions from City-owned assets, rather than relying on offsets. The Corporation will only use offset credits to achieve net zero if emissions from City-owned assets have not been reduced to zero in 2040 and subsequent years. Consistent with the leading science on net zero, offsets credits must be for activities that permanently remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and durably store it. The Offset Credits Policy supersedes the City’s previous “Carbon Credit Policy”, which is no longer in force. |
| Environment | Toronto Green Roof Strategy and Policy | Sets out requirements for the installation of green roofs (with a coverage of at least 50% of the building footprint), where technically practical, on City facilities and those owned by City agencies and corporations. The policy must be read in conjunction with the Toronto Green Standard (TGS) Version 3 for the green roof requirements.
Read the Council decision to amend the Green Roof Policy in 2008 for details on the Policy’s application. |
| Environment | Toronto Green Standard (TGS) Version 3 | Toronto’s sustainable design requirements for new private and city-owned developments (as of May 1, 2018). TGS Version 3 includes a consolidated Standard for non-residential development by City agencies, corporations and divisions (ACDs) which incorporates Tier 2 level performance measures and includes energy efficiency requirements to achieve greenhouse gas emission reduction goals in TransformTO.
Read the Council decisions on the adoption of the TGS Version 3 and TGS Tier 2 Policy for application details. |
| Environment | TransformTO: Climate Action for a Healthy, Equitable and Prosperous Toronto | Establishes long-term low-carbon goals and guiding principles to inform decision making and business planning across the City to support climate change action. TransformTO establishes a mandate for new buildings constructed by City agencies, corporations and divisions to achieve near-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2026. Read the full TransformTO strategy.
City Council requested City agencies and corporations to align their business plans and strategies with the recommendations, goals and principles in the Policy. Read the Council decision to adopt TransformTO: Report 2 – Pathway to a Low Carbon Future for more details on the Policy’s application. |
| Ethics and Conduct | Code of Conduct Complaints Protocol | Sets out complaints procedures pertaining to board members of City agencies (including Adjudicative Boards) and corporations (as defined in the Code of Conduct). |
| Ethics and Conduct | Code of Conduct for Members of Local Boards (Restricted Definition) | Establishes standards of conduct for board members of City agencies (as defined in the Code of Conduct). Read the Council decision to amend the Code of Conduct in 2018. |
| Ethics and Conduct | Code of Conduct for Members of Adjudicative Boards | Establishes standards of conduct for board members of adjudicative boards. Read the Council decision to amend the Code of Conduct in 2018. |
| Ethics and Conduct | Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 140, Lobbying | Sets out provisions for the registration of lobbyists and public disclosure of communications with public office holders which includes board members and staff of City agencies and corporations (as defined in the Chapter). |
| Ethics and Conduct | Use of City Resources During an Election Period Policy | Establishes conditions and restrictions on the use of City facilities, resources and infrastructure during an election period in compliance with the Municipal Elections Act (MEA),1996.
City agencies are required to adopt a policy governing the use of agency resources during an election period that reflects the purpose and principles of the City’s Policy. Read Council decision on the adoption of the Policy and update to the Policy in 2018 for more details on the Policy’s application. |
| Financial | Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 71, Financial Control | Article II (ss. 71-5 to 71-9) governs operating and capital budgets, including reallocations for City programs and City agencies. Specifically, ss.71-8 C. sets out approval requirements for reallocations and transfers of approved operating budgets and ss.71-9 E. sets out approval requirements for capital budget reallocations. |
| Financial | Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 227, Reserves and Reserve Funds | Governs the establishment and use of reserves and reserve funds by City Council for City divisions, agencies and corporations. The Chapter contains schedules of Council-approved Reserves and Reserve Funds for City divisions and specific City agencies. |
| Financial | Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 441, Fees and Charges | Governs fees and charges imposed by the City and its agencies. Chapter 441 includes schedules with fees and charges for individual City agencies. |
| Financial | Loans and Loans Guarantee Policy (see Attachment 4) | Establishes a framework for the City to consider requests from its agencies and corporations for a loan request towards the financing of a project that will create or enhance a capital facility.
Read the Council decision to adopt an amended Policy in 2013 for more details on the Policy’s application. City Council amended the Policy in 2014. |
| Financial | Publishing of Senior City Staff Expenses Policy | Establishes a protocol for the City to publish its senior staff expenses on the City’s website. City agencies and corporations were requested to adopt a similar policy. Read the Council decision to adopt the Policy for more details on its application. |
| Financial | Statement of Lease Financing Policies (see Appendix A) | Sets out goals and requirements for financing leases and reporting and disclosure requirements. The Statement applies to financing leases that are entered into by City and its agencies and corporations. Read the Council decision to adopt Statement of Lease Financing Policies for details on the Policy’s application. |
| Financial | User Fee Policy (see Appendix 1) | Establishes a framework (principles, rules and procedures) for establishing user fees across City Programs and City agencies. The Policy does not apply to City corporations. Read Council decisions to adopt the User Fee Policy and Comprehensive User Fee Review in 2012. |
| Health and Safety | E-cigarettes in Toronto | Prohibits e-cigarette use from City of Toronto workplaces and recommends the same to City agencies and corporations. Read the Council decision to adopt the E-cigarettes Policy for details on its application. |
| Health and Safety | Establishment of a City-wide Fire and Life Safety Program Office (NEW) | Details the establishment of a City-wide Fire and Life Safety Program Office as part of the City’s response to the Auditor General’s Report Raising the Alarm: Fraud Investigation of a Vendor Providing Life Safety Inspection Services to the City of Toronto. |
| Human Resources – Compensation | Executive Compensation Policy at City Agencies and Corporations | Directs City agencies and corporations to develop, apply and review executive compensation policies for senior executives. Read the Council decision to adopt the Policy for more details on its application. |
| Human Resources – Compensation | Executive Compensation Reporting Policy | Requires the disclosure and reporting of executive compensation to the City by City agencies and corporations. Read the Council decision to adopt the Policy for details on its application. |
| Human Resources – Equity and Human Rights | Hate Activity Policy | Assists in the identification of a hate motivated crime or incident and identifies appropriate ways to respond to such incidents.
City agencies and corporations were requested to implement a Hate Activity Policy consistent with the City’s Policy. Read the Council decision on the adoption of the Policy for details on its application. Council amended the Policy in 2015. |
| Human Resources – Equity and Human Rights | Human Rights and Anti-Harassment/Discrimination Policy | Articulates the City’s commitment to prevent and address harassment and discrimination under the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
City agencies and corporations were requested to implement Human Rights and Anti-Harassment policies consistent with the City’s Policy. Read the Council decision on the adoption of the Policy for details on its application. Council amended the Policy in 2018. |
| Human Resources – Minimum Policy Requirements for City Agencies | Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 192, Public Service (TPS) | Article III (ss.192-9) of the TPS By-law requires City agencies (as identified in the Chapter) to establish human resources policies in the areas of absence from work, pay and benefits, hiring and promotion, health and safety and access, equity and human rights. |
| Partnerships, Sponsorships and Donations | Donations to the City of Toronto For Community Benefits Policy | Establishes guidelines, criteria and process for the acceptance by the City and its agencies of voluntary donations for community benefits. Read the Council decision to adopt the Donations Policy for details on its application. Council amended the Policy in 2012. |
| Partnerships, Sponsorships and Donations | Individual and Corporate Naming Rights Policy | Establishes a protocol for corporate and individual naming rights applicable to City divisions. The Policy applies to City divisions and requires City agencies to adopt a naming rights policy which is consistent with the City’s Policy. Read the Council decision on the Policy’s adoption for details on its application. |
| Partnerships, Sponsorships and Donations | Sponsorship Policy | Establishes a protocol to facilitate and support opportunities for sponsorship. The Policy applies to City divisions and requires City agencies to adopt a sponsorship policy consistent with the City’s policy. Read the Council decision on the Policy’s adoption for details on its application. |
| Public Access and Involvement | Public Access and Involvement Policy for City Agencies, Boards and Commissions (see Attachment 1) | Articulates City Council’s expectations for openness, providing information to the public and encouraging public accessibility to boards of City agencies. Council adopted the Policy in 2003 and some content by be superseded by subsequent legislation (e.g. COTA, 2006) and City Council-adopted policies. |
| Public Appointments | Expense and Travel Reimbursement Policy | Sets out conditions for the reimbursement of expenses of public members and members of Council appointed to boards of City agencies and other bodies. The Policy does not apply to City corporations established under the Business Corporations Act.
City agencies may choose to develop expense reimbursement policies consistent with the City’s Policy for their staff. Read the Council decision to adopt the Policy for more details on its application. |
| Public Appointments | Public Appointments Policy | Establishes requirements and processes for the City’s appointment of citizens to boards of City agencies and corporations and other bodies. Read Council decisions on the adoption of the Policy and Policy update in 2014 for more details on its application. |
| Public Appointments | Remuneration Policy | Sets out principles for the remuneration for public members of City agency and corporation boards and other bodies specified in the policy. Read the Council decision to adopt the Policy for more details on its application. |
| Purchasing and Procurement | Social Procurement Program and Policy | Incorporates supply chain diversity into City purchasing and incorporates workforce development opportunities into City Requests for Proposals and tenders. City Council requested City agencies and corporations to develop and implement similar programs and policies.
Read the Council decision on the adoption of the Policy for more details on its application. |
| Records Management | Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 217, Records (City) | Details City Council’s authority to establish or amend record retention schedules of agencies (in ss.217-5.C.(e) [1]) and authorizes the City Clerk to enter into agreements with agencies for to provide services, advice or assistance in the creation and implementation of policies relating to information and records management (in ss.217-2.B.). |
| Records Management | Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 219, Records, Corporate (Local Boards) | Sets out the Council-approved roles, responsibilities and retention for records of agencies (listed in the Chapter). |
When City Council adopts or amends a policy, it may require or request City agencies and corporations to comply with the Council-adopted policy or adopt their own policy.
The following reports may be of particular interest to City agencies and corporations: