News and Updates

City of Toronto unveils the Black Community COVID-19 Response Plan

Today, Mayor John Tory unveiled the City of Toronto’s Black Community COVID-19 Response Plan developed in December 2020 to provide enhanced support for Black Torontonians. The plan was developed as part of the TO Supports: Targeted Equity Action Plan and in response to data released in late 2020 that revealed the highest rates of COVID-19 cases in Toronto (26 per cent) and vaccine hesitancy experienced by Canadians (about 30 per cent) were among Black people of African and Caribbean descent.

City Council unanimously approves community safety and crisis response pilots

Toronto City Council has unanimously approved four community safety and crisis support service pilots that will test a new, non-police led approach to non-emergency, non-violent calls, including those involving persons in crisis and for wellness checks.

The pilots respond to Council's direction to staff in June 2020 for changes to policing in Toronto and for the City Manager to develop a non-police led, alternative community safety response model for calls involving Toronto residents in crisis. See: http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2020.CC22.2

Toronto has registered 2,800 Airbnbs, but some wonder what happened to thousands of others?

By Tess Kalinowski, Real Estate Reporter, Toronto Star February 1, 2021

On December 12, shortly before the city officially launched its new short-term rental licencing rules, Airbnb had 18,553 listings in Toronto. By mid-January,

City of Toronto proclaims February as Black History Month

Today, Mayor John Tory proclaimed February as Black History Month in Toronto, recognizing the history, heritage and contributions of African-Canadians in the city.

Residents are encouraged to take part in the programs the City of Toronto has planned, in addition to any virtual community-based programs and events that are taking place. To comply with current orders and regulations to help stop the spread of COVID-19, recognition and celebratory programs and events will be held virtually this year.

BRAUN: How many pot shops is too many?

January 31, 2021 By Liz Braun, Toronto Sun

While we’ve been in our COVID lockdown, things evolved in the world of legal pot.

Gone is the cannabis lottery. The rules have changed.

And the stores are multiplying.

Toronto grew from five pot shops to 40 in the first six months of 2020. According to the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, there are 1,300 pot shop applications and 269 shops had opened in the province as of Jan. 15.

City of Toronto prioritizes health and safety measures across service areas to protect residents, staff and communities from COVID-19 and variants

The City of Toronto continues to respond to COVID-19 and is proactively taking steps to address COVID-19 variants, including the U.K variant. Toronto Public Health (TPH) continues to work with congregate settings, facilities and City divisions to increase infection prevention and control measures (IPAC) to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and any variant strains.

City of Toronto Executive Committee approves bigger and better CaféTO program to help local restaurants

The City of Toronto Executive Committee today considered and approved a report that recommends an expanded CaféTO program starting this spring to help Toronto’s main street restaurants and bars during the ongoing pandemic. The report will then be considered by Toronto City Council at its next meeting from February 2 to 3.

The report includes details about the CaféTO – a quick-start pandemic response program launched last summer – and outlines key findings and outcomes along with recommendations on how to ensure the program is bigger and better this year.

City of Toronto bylaw extensions recommended to reduce COVID-19 spread

COVID-19 continues to circulate at high levels across the city. The Province of Ontario’s state of emergency and stay-at-home order remain in effect for Toronto and across the province. To limit opportunities for virus spread, Toronto's Medical Officer of Health is recommending the extension of City of Toronto COVID-19 temporary bylaws until City Council's June meeting.

City of Toronto releases first-ever Environmental, Social and Governance Report

Today, the City of Toronto released its first-ever Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report at Executive Committee. This annual report outlines how the City is focused on ESG-related opportunities and risks across strategic priorities, sustainable finance and socioeconomic outcomes.

Toronto is the first government in Canada to issue an annual ESG report to reflect its commitment and performance in each of three areas: environment, social well-being and governance. The City strives to be a leader in making positive impacts across key ESG priorities through commitment, innovation and transparency.

City of Toronto recognizes importance of mental health in ongoing fight against COVID-19

The City of Toronto continues to respond to COVID-19. Today, Mayor John Tory and Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health Dr. Eileen de Villa provided an update on the City’s measures to combat the resurgence of the virus in Toronto and reminded residents of available mental health supports.

Since the start of the pandemic there have been a total of 83,935 cases of COVID-19 in the city, an increase of 502 new cases today. There are 520 people hospitalized. In total, 74,061 people have recovered from COVID-19. To date, there have been 2,341 COVID-19 deaths in Toronto. Case status data can be found on the City’s reporting platform at www.toronto.ca/home/covid-19/covid-19-latest-city-of-toronto-news/covid-19-status-of-cases-in-toronto/.