The City is releasing draft materials for public input on growth funding tools and can be found under Materials for Public Input below.
Growth funding tools help new developments (or redevelopments) pay for the municipal services and infrastructure that support residents and businesses. With more than 3.65 million people projected to call Toronto home over the next thirty years, the City needs a plan to pay for our growth today and in the future. So as we grow, we’re investing in roads, transit, water and sewer systems, community centres, parks, housing, childcare and other municipal services and infrastructure.
The legislative framework provides financial tools for the City to collect funds as growth occurs on the premise that growth pays for growth. This means that new developments (or redevelopments) should help pay for the municipal services and infrastructure that support residents and businesses. It’s part of having livable, vibrant, and complete communities, not placing the financial burden on existing taxpayers.
Recently, the Ontario Government enacted through Bill 197 changes to how municipalities generate funding from development. The changes made through Bill 197 means the City must update three primary growth-related funding tools:
Collectively, these three financial tools generate approximately $750 million in revenue for the City of Toronto each year, which is used to help pay for building and improving infrastructure and services that support residents and businesses.
Read the Bill 197 and Work Plan report to Executive Committee (EX24.4) with more detailed updates on the City’s approach to legislative changes to the growth-related funding tools. For more information, please review the frequently asked questions.
The City of Toronto is undertaking a review of three of its growth funding tools: Development Charges, Community Benefits Charges, and Alternative Parkland Dedication Bylaws. The following draft studies, strategies and bylaws are now available to the public for input.
Development Charges
Community Benefit Charges
Alternative Parkland Dedication
How to submit comments:
The City will be hosting public information and consultation sessions to provide information and to receive input on:
To register for a public session, please click on one of the above dates for the Eventbrite link. To submit comments on the draft materials, please send an email to GFT@toronto.ca.
Comments on the materials can also be provided to Committee and Council in June. More information will be provided at a later date on the dates of the meeting(s) as well as how to provide feedback.
Growth funding tools (GFTs) help new developments (or redevelopments) pay for the municipal services and infrastructure that support residents and businesses. Growth funding tools are based on the principle that growth in our city pays for growth.
The City uses the revenues from these tools to pay for public spaces, clean drinking water, transit, libraries and other infrastructure and services needed to support our growing population and a thriving city and create complete and vibrant communities.
There are three types of growth funding tools:
Collectively, these three financial tools generate approximately $750 million in revenue for the City of Toronto each year, along with services or benefits provided in-kind, which have been used to help pay for building and improving infrastructure and services that support new residents and businesses.
The City of Toronto has consulted with Toronto residents, community groups, school boards, councillors, and the development industry on potential changes to its growth funding tools. Stakeholder feedback has and will continue to help the City understand what is important when it comes to creating and funding complete communities.
Engagement opportunities were tailored based on each group. Materials from past public information sessions are available here.
To date, the City completed 19 workshops, meetings and information sessions, and shared information through the project website, frequently asked questions, and through a dedicated project email: GFT@toronto.ca.
Spring/Summer 2021
Fall 2021
Winter 2022
Spring 2022
Provincial Legislation
City Bylaws and Plans
Complete communities information