Supporting our Local Businesses

City of Toronto further expands Digital Main Street program to help local businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic

Today, Mayor John Tory announced another expansion of the Digital Main Street program, as two new funding partners have joined the program and additional initiatives have been launched that will focus on helping businesses in Toronto and across Ontario embrace technology in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Today both Intuit Quickbooks and Facebook Canada are also joining Digital Main Street as funding partners. Their support will help Digital Main Street expand their small business support programs that are dedicated to providing one-on-one support to main street businesses looking to digitally transform their operations.

New zoning order allows local restaurants to use more available space for outdoor dining in Toronto

The City of Toronto, at the direction of City Council, requested and has now received a new Ministerial Zoning Order (MZO) from the Province of Ontario that will help ease zoning restrictions on outdoor patios while allowing for expanded patios on private property, including parking areas.

As part of Toronto’s CaféTO program, which expands sidewalk patios and flankages (additional frontage when a business is on a corner lot) and allows for installation of curb lane patios, Council requested that staff submit an appeal to the province for an MZO specific to Toronto to quickly allow for modest increases to the maximum size of outdoor patios, remove restrictions that could prevent an outdoor patio located in front of buildings, and provide particular consideration for non-residential properties with dedicated surface parking in front of the building (subject to necessary parking requirements).

City of Toronto launches online business licensing and permit application

The City of Toronto has launched a new online Business Licences & Permits Application so businesses can apply for new licences and permits virtually. The new application process allows business owners or operators requiring new licences or permits to fill out an application, submit documentation, and complete payment in one convenient online space.

Toronto City Council approves CaféTO plan to safely increase and quickly expand outdoor dining space for local restaurants and bars

June 29, 2020

The City of Toronto announced today that the CaféTO report, which directs the City to take quick action and make way for additional safe outdoor dining spaces for local restaurants and bars, was unanimously approved with amendments by Toronto City Council. It’s expected the first CaféTO locations will be in place on July 1.

CaféTO will ensure that accessibility and safety are not compromised while making it easier for many restaurant and bar owners to open patios, expand them and access additional space for physical distancing, in accordance with public health guidelines.

East Toronto businesses welcome rent relief, ban on commercial evictions but more support still needed

June 22, 2020 By Ali Raza, Beach Metro News

Local small business owners have some rent relief following weeks of uncertainty as Toronto councillors pushed the provincial and federal governments to act.

Commercial tenants facing difficulties with rent have some breathing room now after the province announced a moratorium on commercial evictions on June 8 – but only until Aug. 31. Meanwhile, the federal government’s Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) has its own issues, councillors said.

Toronto Public Health provides expanded guidance to help prepare more businesses and locations for a safe reopening

Toronto Public Health has expanded the number of guidance documents available to help local businesses and community organizations to prepare for safe reopening when the city receives provincial approval for Stage 2 reopening. These documents will provide guidance on adjusting operations to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

There are 13,588 cases of COVID-19 in the city, an increase of 86 cases since yesterday. There are 284 people hospitalized, with 75 in ICU. In total 11,397 people have recovered from COVID-19, an increase of 202 cases since yesterday. To date, there have been 998 COVID-19 deaths in Toronto. Case status data can be found on the City’s reporting platform at https://www.toronto.ca/home/covid-19/covid-19-latest-city-of-toronto-news/covid-19-status-of-cases-in-toronto/.

City of Toronto opens registration for CaféTO plan to safely increase outdoor dining space for local restaurants and bars

Today, Mayor John Tory announced that the City of Toronto is opening online registration for CaféTO.

A City staff report on CaféTO, scheduled for consideration at Executive Committee on June 22, proposes the City take quick action to make way for additional safe outdoor dining spaces for local restaurants and bars. A simple online registration form and guidebook for the proposed program is now available at http://www.toronto.ca/cafeTO.

Statement on Province's Commercial Eviction Ban

Since April 1^st, Main Street businesses in Toronto have been strongly urging the provincial and federal governments for commercial rent relief and a ban on commercial evictions. Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, small businesses in Toronto-Danforth, across Toronto and across Ontario have been asking for help.

Six weeks ago on April 24^th the federal government announced the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) for small business, however the portal to apply did not open until May 25^th. Small businesses were left on their own to pay rent for May and June with no relief or protection.

City of Toronto launches CaféTO plan to help create more outdoor space for local restaurants and bars

Today, Mayor John Tory launched CaféTO a quick-start program that will make it easier for restaurant and bar owners to open patios, to expand them, and to access additional space for physical distancing and for that matter revenue generation during the summer months ahead.

The program will provide more outdoor dining areas by identifying space in the public right-of-way and expediting the current application and permitting process for sidewalk cafés and parklets.

Small businesses won't survive without immediate action as many landlords not applying for CECRA

For immediate release June 4, 2020

Toronto, ON – A new survey of small business tenants and landlords across Toronto, Ottawa and Guelph shows that many landlords are not applying for the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) program, leaving many small business owners without support.

Small businesses have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, forced to either close or offer curbside pick-up or delivery only. Their revenue has decreased drastically, but they still have to pay rent. On April 24^th the federal government announced CECRA for small business. A month later, on May 25^th, the portal to apply finally opened, much too late for many.