The City has a committed, engaged and diverse workforce who provide services that improve the lives of residents, help build trust and confidence in local government and supports the financial sustainability of the City.
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the City has focused on:
- improving how services are delivered digitally and person-to person engagement virtually
- securing intergovernmental funding commitments
- prioritizing resources required for COVID-19 pandemic response and recovery efforts
- increasing capacity to make decisions and guide outcomes based on data, insights and engagement
Reports to Council
- Toronto City Council has adopted the Digital Infrastructure Strategic Framework, which will guide the City’s technology-related decisions to more effectively respond to opportunities and challenges in the City’s delivery of services and programs
- Toronto City Council has approved a 15 per cent property tax reduction for eligible small businesses for the 2022 tax year
- City Council approved the next implementation phase of its City-Wide Real Estate Transformation and the continued advancement of strategic real estate activities and service functions
- City’s Auditor General outlines 2022 Work Plan
- Executive Committee adopted measures related to Affordable Internet Connectivity for All – ConnectTO, to leverage municipal broadband to bring access to affordable high-speed internet for all Toronto residents and businesses, especially those who are vulnerable and underserved by digital infrastructure
- Staff reported on the City’s Workplace Modernization Program Business Case and Implementation Plan
- Toronto City Council authorized City staff to enter into a contractual agreement with PayIt Digital Government Inc. (PayIt) for the provision of digital services with payments
Search other reports to City Council for more information
Equity & Reconciliation Initiatives
- Toronto’s adopted its first Reconciliation Action Plan in April 2022, building on the City’s existing commitments to Indigenous Peoples in Toronto. The Reconciliation Action Plan sets out 28 meaningful actions to restore truth and justice, addresses the colonial practices within City policies and programs, and will impact the whole of Toronto’s government
- New North York community recreation centre and library to be named Ethennonnhawahstihnen’ in celebration of the Huron-Wendat Nation. Pronounced Etta-nonna wasti-nuh, the Wendat word means “where they had a good, beautiful life”
- The City applied an equity and reconciliation lens to the 2022 Operating Budget to identify and address barriers that may be experienced by Indigenous, Black and equity-seeking communities. All 2022 operating budget enhancements and reductions were reviewed by an external review panel which received presentations from select divisions and agencies whose proposed budget changes have equity impacts
- The Confronting Anti-Black Racism Advisory Committee is exploring the feasibility of a financial structure that may be developed to support members of the Black community to own property in Little Jamaica
- Two new City Council Advisory Committees held their first meetings: the Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Advisory Committee and the Confronting Anti-Black Racism Advisory Committee
Partnerships & Intergovernmental Updates
- The Province of Ontario, through its 2021 Fall Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review, announced $345 million in province-wide assistance to municipal public transit systems in 2021–22, to help cover shortfalls resulting from lower ridership and other transit impacts and also to cover year-over-year declines in Provincial Gas Tax revenue. Toronto’s allocation is not yet known (November 2021)
- In March 2021, the Province announced a further $350 million in Safe Restart Agreement (SRA) and Social Services Relief Fund (SSRF) funding for the City of Toronto. A series of further non-SRA/SSRF related funding has also been committed to the City for both 2020 and 2021 COVID-19 related financial impacts
- The Province provided support to large municipalities through the Audit and Accountability Fund to support initiatives related to increasing digital services, modernization, streamlining and service integration
- The Province announced an additional $307 million to help municipalities and Indigenous community partners deliver critical services, including $114 million allocated to the City of Toronto in August 2021
- In October 2021, the Province extended the application of emergency orders passed under the Reopening Ontario Act, including the “Work deployment measures for municipalities” regulation until November 16, 2021