News and Updates

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.

City of Toronto reopens outdoor sport and multi-use fields

Starting today, the City of Toronto’s outdoor sport and multi-use fields are open for team training and permits will be issued to organizations for the remainder of the 2020 summer season.

The City offers almost 700 sport fields at more than 170 locations across Toronto. With the City of Toronto moving into Stage 2 of the provincial reopening, Parks, Forestry and Recreation staff have worked to quickly open many of the City’s outdoor recreation amenities including, but not limited to, fields that serve soccer, softball, lacrosse, baseball and cricket. All 170 outdoor sport and multi-use field locations will be open by tomorrow. Permits for outdoor sports facilities and multi-use fields will resume this week. Both the types of activities and the number of people allowed on the field will be restricted to further contain the spread of COVID-19.

Automated Speed Enforcement program begins issuing speeding tickets

The City of Toronto’s 50 Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) cameras will begin issuing tickets to speeding vehicles today. If a vehicle is detected travelling in excess of the posted speed limit in an ASE-enforced area, the registered owner of the vehicle will receive a ticket regardless of who was driving.

Automated speed enforcement aims to increase road safety, reduce speeding and raise public awareness about the need to slow down and obey posted speed limits.

Update on Mandatory Masks and Face Coverings

City Council voted unanimously in favour of requiring masks or face coverings in all enclosed public places as of July 7 to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

The measure heeds advice from Toronto's Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Eileen de Villa. You can read her report online here: https://www.toronto.ca/…/report-from-medical-officer-of-he…/

Also starting today, masks or face coverings are mandatory when travelling on the TTC. To help those without a mask, the TTC will be distributing one million non-medical masks. The TTC will not be enforcing the use of masks or face coverings, and those who do not have a mask or face covering will still be permitted to board TTC vehicles. Learn more here:

City of Toronto makes masks or face coverings mandatory in enclosed public spaces

To protect the health and safety of our communities, today, Toronto City Council voted unanimously in favour of requiring masks or face coverings in all enclosed public places as of July 7 to help stop the spread of COVID-19. The measure heeds advice from the Medical Officer of Health, who recommended City Council use its authority to legislate for the protection of the health, safety and well-being of persons in Toronto to enact a temporary bylaw requiring businesses and facilities to have a policy that ensures masks or face coverings are worn by the public in the enclosed spaces under their control to prevent a resurgence of COVID-19 cases.

Report from Medical Officer of Health recommends Toronto City Council make masks and face coverings mandatory in enclosed public places

Toronto City Council will today consider reports by the Medical Officer of Health and the City Solicitor on requiring masks or face coverings in enclosed public places in Toronto. The Medical Officer of Health has recommended City Council enact a temporary bylaw effective July 7 requiring the wearing of masks or face coverings in enclosed public settings to prevent a resurgence of COVID-19 cases. The new bylaw would expire at 12:01 a.m. on the first day after the completion of the first Council meeting following summer recess (currently scheduled for September 30 and October 1, 2020), unless extended by Council.

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.

Fighting Hate in the East End forum set for June 30

June 29, 2020 By Ali Raza, Beach Metro News

Members of the public are invited to a virtual public forum to discuss the racist hate crime that occurred at a construction site at Michael Garron Hospital on June 10.

Called Fighting Hate in the East End, it’s hosted by Beaches-East York MPP Rima Berns-McGown and Toronto Danforth MPP Peter Tabuns. The forum aims to address and discuss the incident where two nooses were found at an EllisDon construction site at the hospital.

East Toronto residents reject anti-Black racism in their community

June 24, 2020 By Joanna Lavoie, Toronto.com East-end residents are coming together to show they’re united against hate following an act of anti-Black racism at Michael Garron Hospital (MGH). On Wednesday, June 10, two Black workers reportedly discovered two nooses at a construction site on the Coxwell Avenue property, which is in the midst of a major redevelopment. Contractor