The Toronto-Ontario Cooperation and Consultation Agreement (T-OCCA) is one of the many important initiatives that stems from the City of Toronto Act, 2006. It is the first formal agreement of its kind between a province and a municipality in Canada.
First signed in 2008, the Agreement was most recently renewed in 2019 for a four-year term, signed by the Honourable Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing and His Worship, Mayor John Tory.
The agreement is a very important step in strengthening the ongoing working relationship between the governments of Toronto and Ontario. It is founded on the principles of mutual respect and cooperation, and a shared commitment to consult one another on matters of mutual interest.
The Agreement builds on the regular day-to-day program-specific communications and relations between City divisions and their counterparts in provincial ministries.
In the Agreement, the Province and the City agree to consult on broad policy matters of mutual interest and to identify the potential significant financial or policy impacts of proposed changes in legislation, regulations, resolutions or by-laws. The two governments also agree to consult each other on proposed agreements with and initiatives involving the Government of Canada, or other governments on matters that have a direct impact on the City or Province.
T-OCCA provides a framework to guide officials from the Province and the City on their consultations, and commits our governments to two-way consultation on matters of significant policy and financial impact.
In so doing, T-OCCA fosters earlier, more consistent and substantive consultation that helps the Province and the City achieve mutual objectives and make more informed decisions.
The people of Toronto want and deserve to have all governments working in cooperation. A more cooperative and consultative working relationship assists both governments in achieving mutual objectives and in making more informed decisions affecting the quality of life of Torontonians.