I worked with the mayor to reduce CaféTO program fees and to phase them in over three years. This comes after restaurants voiced serious concern over city staff proposals to make the program permanent.
The initial proposals for a permanent CaféTO program that City Staff put forward caused serious concern among restaurants and cafe's in Toronto-Danforth. With businesses facing increased costs and the federal government beginning to call in the Canadian Emergency Business Account loans almost 60% of restaurants said they wouldn't participate in the program if it went forward as proposed.
At Council I worked with the Mayor on a motion that reduced the 2023 fees down to a third of what had been proposed and with a three year phase in period for the full fees. This should help keep participation in the program high. I know CaféTO was very popular and I am glad that we were able to help keep it strong. Thank you to the local Business Improvement Areas and restaurant owners who spoke up about these changes.
We considered luxury home tax rates, priority signalling for LRTs and streetcars, a maximum heat bylaw along with our next five-year climate plan and the Portlands Energy Centre.
Major items included snow clearing, Ontario Line truck safety, blue bin collection, removal of provincial tenant protections, zoning changes to allow for more residential retail and more.
We considered issues such as speed cameras, expanding the Toronto Community Crisis Service to the TTC and more, as well as several of my motions.
