RecoveryTO: Business & Economic Recovery

Related Announcements

• Major in-person events returning to Toronto in spring and summer 2022 (March 2022)
• Grant applications are open for the City’s new CaféTO Property Improvement Program, which is a program that provides funding to eligible owners and tenants of commercial and industrial properties in Toronto – including CaféTO program participants – to help improve the appearance and/or function of the property’s exterior spaces. The application period closes June 30, 2022 (February 2022)
• MovieMaker magazine has ranked Toronto as among the top places to live and work in the film industry for 2022. The ranking is based on several indicators, including stable and generous tax credits and governmental partnerships (January 2022)
• The CafeTO program, which has supported the continuity of over 1,200 restaurants in Toronto during the COVID-19 pandemic, will now become a permanent City program (November 2021)
• The City of Toronto has announced the successful proponent to build and operate a state-of-the-art media hub on 8.9 acres in Toronto’s Port Lands, the result of which will create significant growth in the Toronto screen production industry (November 2021)

Reports to Council

Supports for Business

• In an effort to attract global investment and increase job creation in Toronto, City Council approved staff recommendations to renew Toronto’s participation in GTA Region Investment Attraction, also known as “Toronto Global”
• Toronto City Council has approved a 15 per cent property tax reduction for eligible small businesses for the 2022 tax year
• The Status of Supports for the Retail Sector report provides an update on Toronto’s efforts to support the retail sector
• The Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning reported to Planning and Housing Committee on proposed by-laws that continue to complement the existing CaféTO program to allow expanded patios on City boulevards and rights-of way
• The CFO and Treasurer reported on an application-based property tax deferral program, those experiencing financial hardship as a result of COVID-19 are able to apply for property tax deferral
• City Council made permanent the extension of the Creative Co-location Property Tax Subclasses to live music venues and approved the requirement that landlords pass tax savings along to venue operators in order to sustain venues

Policy Reports

The Economic and Culture Recovery Advisory Group’s report, Building Back Stronger was adopted by Council in December 2020

Search other reports to City Council for more information

• Economic and Community Development Committee
• Executive Committee

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
• City examines measures to support 2SLGBTQ small businesses and cultural spaces
• Council supports Indigenous Centre for Innovation and Excellence to provide entrepreneurial resources by and for the Indigenous community
• Toronto City Council has approved the development of a Cultural Districts Program, which is designed to support community cohesion in culturally-distinct neighbourhoods, as well as protect their resources and businesses, particularly those in Indigenous and racialized communities
• City staff delivered a presentation to the Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee about accessibility in the City’s Digital Infrastructure Plan
• The Toronto Black Food Sovereignty Plan report responds to the need for immediate and comprehensive action to address the problem of food insecurity experienced by many Black Torontonians
• The Economic and Culture Recovery Advisory Group’s report, Building Back Stronger, adopted by Council in December 2020, included anti-racism and inclusion as a priority action area
• The City Manager’s Recovery update report to City Council in March 2021 reported that investments totaling $1.2 million had been made towards Toronto’s Black arts and culture community and business sector to address the systemic economic, social and cultural exclusion facing Black communities in Toronto
• The same report also highlighted the City’s advocacy for paid sick leave, lack of access to which disproportionally affects low-paid essential workers
• City Council authorized the receipt of up to $4,000,000 in funds from Toronto Council Fire Native Cultural Centre for use towards the Nathan Phillips Square Indian Residential School Survivors Restoration of Identity Project

Partnerships & Intergovernmental Updates

• The federal government announced over $14 million in new funding to help Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport recover from the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The federal government also announced $142 million in new funding to help Toronto Pearson International Airport recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and to support continued air services and important transportation infrastructure projects at the airport (March 2022)
• The Provincial government announced a $30 million investment in Ontario’s sport and recreation sector to help stabilize community-based sports organizations, as well as help offset increased costs as a result of COVID-19 and support the sector’s future recovery in communities across Ontario (March 2022)
• Government of Canada rolled out the $4 billion Digital Adoption Program for businesses
• The City of Toronto as well as multiple federal and provincial partners have launched the Business Support Campaign to help small business owners and operators connect to resources and grants offered through the City
• Government of Canada introduced the Canada Performing Arts Workers Resilience Fund, a temporary funding program that will provide $60 million to help workers in the live performance sector
• The Ministry of Health has updated its COVID-19 Screening Tool for Workplaces (Worker and employee screening) guidance document for businesses and workplaces to reflect the loosening of public health restrictions effective May 6, 2022
• The Government of Canada has introduced the Recovery Fund for Arts, Culture, Heritage and Sport Sectors, a program designed to support eligible not-for-profit organizations in the professional arts presentation sector
• The City has partnered with the Toronto Region Board of Trade to provide free COVID-19 rapid screening kits to small- and medium-sized businesses
• The Province committed $100 million to support tourism businesses that have experienced a loss of significant revenue in 2020-21 compared to 2019 (September 2021)
• The Province announced that Ontario’s Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) is cutting premium rates in 2022 by $168 million to help employers cope with the impacts of COVID-19. The Province also announced its intent to introduce legislation that, if passed, would allow for a significant portion of the WSIB’s current reserve, currently valued at $6.1 billion, to be distributed to safe employers (October 2021)
• Government of Canada continues to support arts, culture, heritage and sports sectors through COVID-19 relief programs
• The Province also has “Help for businesses in Ontario“ supports including:
  • Ontario Tourism and Travel Small Business Support Grant
  • Property Tax and energy cost rebates
  • Ontario Small Business Support Grant
  • Ontario’s Main Street Relief Grant
  • Paid infectious disease emergency leave
• The City announced it will receive $18 million from FedDev Ontario to support Toronto’s Main Street Recovery and Rebuild program, in addition to $1 million from FedDev Ontario to support the ShowLoveTO campaign (July 2021)

Data & Trends

Toronto Public Health continues to lead and guide the City’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and provide public health guidance to residents and business and key data and indicators on a regular basis.

The immediate focus of Toronto’s COVID-19 strategy is to continue to vaccinate as many residents vaccinated as possible per day, including a particular focus on hotspot areas and vaccine equity.

Find out more about vaccinations and public health information in Toronto.

Toronto’s Dashboard

Toronto’s Dashboard allows users to find information to help them assess economic trends and directions of key indicators for Toronto as a whole and for City of Toronto services.

Open Data

The Open Data Portal is the official source for Toronto open data from City Divisions and agencies, including on business, culture and tourism. It allows users to explore datasets through data visualizations, data stories, blog articles and more.

StatsCan COVID-19: A Data Perspective

Users can search Statistic Canada’s data available on a wide variety of topics, including on labour, economy, business and tourism.