CURRENT Issue:

While most other Great Lakes ports are expanding their operations in response to the huge resurgence of shipping, TIN is not aware of any plans that Toronto’s Port has to grow its facilities. Toronto’s Port cannot be duplicated elsewhere and is under threat from proposed residential re-development, film studios, park development and a planned roadway and bridge which will take away 46% of the existing dockwall needed for shipping and fragment the operation of the Port.

As an essential service to the City, the Port receives road salt, cement, aggregates, sugar and structural steel, all of which help make the City and its businesses function and are critical for maintaining and expanding municipal infrastructure. In 2021, shipping in the Port increased by 4% with more than 2-million metric tonnes of cargo handled.

Putting sensitive uses such as parks beside heavy industrial operations introduces unnecessary conflict and incompatible land uses. An example of this is the proposed $8.5-million Lookout Park to be located beside the Concrete Campus at Leslie and Commissioners streets.

Action:

TIN is advocating that the City strengthen its policies to promote, to improve and grow the Port as other cities in the Great Lakes basin are doing and to eliminate all incompatible land uses. This work is an ongoing priority.

To this end, TIN recently released a study of the Port, Understanding the Importance of the port and marine freight shipping in Toronto, which is a call to action concerning the future viability of the port.  The study identified that Toronto’s Port is undervalued as a strategic resource especially when compared to other major Port cities. Its disjointed governance structure does not support the Port’s function or its shipping industry and often makes it a challenge to secure required infrastructure maintenance. The study also identified that the planning policies contained in the Port Lands Planning Framework do not fully recognize the requirements of an operational port in their effort to balance competing interests.

Recent local article on the topic: Threading the Needle.pdf

CURRENT Issue:

Land designated for residential use is often more expensive per hectare than land designated for Employment uses only. This stems from a scarcity of employment land in Toronto and because speculative residential development can accommodate a higher land cost than a manufacturing operation or other employment only uses.

Employment land therefore faces ongoing pressure from property owners and developers seeking to re-designate their property to residential or mixed use. Once converted, these lands almost never revert back to employment uses.

The City of Toronto recognizes the importance of its employment land, as reflected in the City’s Official Plan and its support of this Plan through the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) and Toronto Local Appeal Board (TLAB). The City of Toronto’s Official Plan is currently undergoing its five-year review as well as the Municipal Comprehensive Review and approximately 150 applications have been received by the City to convert designated employment land to other uses.

Action:

TIN is monitoring the conversion requests and is engaged in the current MCR process to strengthen the planning policies that support the protection and permanence of employment lands.

CURRENT Issue:

The Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, as part of its Growth Plan Amendment, has designated some employment lands in Toronto and the Greater Golden Horseshoe as Provincially Significant Employment Zones (PSEZ) which would better help them be protected from conversion pressures. Unfortunately, about half of the employment lands in Toronto have not been designated as PSEZs and current protection for them has been reduced. The PSEZ designations may be eliminated by proposed Provincial Policy statements.

Action:

TIN has been participating in associations with the Ontario Ministries of Municipal Affairs and Housing and Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade regarding the PSEZ issue. TIN’s position on this matter is consistent with that of the City to continue to protect employment lands.

Issue:

Toronto is one of the few municipalities in Ontario that does not levy development charges for new or expanded manufacturing facilities. This was done to encourage new industrial development in the City and the policy has helped encourage some TIN members to make significant expansions to their operations.

Action:

TIN continues to support the City’s current position that new industrial development be free of development charges.

Issue:

The Imagination, Manufacturing, Innovation & Technology program (IMIT) program is designed to help manufacturers and others to build new or increase the footprint of existing facilities through granting tax relief for 10 years on the newly created assessment. The program is under a significant review.

Action:

TIN is engaged with the City in it’s review.

Issue:

Highlighting the Manufacturing Sector with Toronto Policy Makers

Action:

In addition to submitting written communications and deputing before the Executive, Planning and Housing and Economic and Community Development and Infrastructure & Environment committee meetings on key issues, TIN makes representations to City officials as well.

Issue:

In May 2021 the Ontario Provincial Government, via the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) issued draft guidelines to assist local planning authorities in making planning decisions wherein sensitive uses, such as residences, could potentially be located close to an industrial use. The guidelines were intended to minimize adverse effects of sensitive use on the industry and vice versa. These guidelines fell far short of their goal.

Action:

TIN, some TIN member companies and many other stakeholders advised MECP of their concerns and in October 2021 the Ministry decided not to move forward with these revised guidelines.

Issue:

In an effort to find new cash to pay for capital projects, The City has proposed from time-to-time a set of revenue tools. These included tolling and a levy on parking spaces provided by businesses for their employees and visitors.

Action:

TIN supported a position that would permit tolling on new roads. However, the province did not allow the City to proceed with this. TIN continues to oppose the introduction of a levy on parking spaces located at industrial facilities but will assess new tax policies as they are proposed.

Issue:

Large water users pay a disproportionate share of the cost of stormwater management since an allowance for storm water management is embedded in the general water rate. Many other municipalities levy this cost through a separate charge or as part of the property tax.

Action:

TIN supported a 2020 Council motion that directs staff to produce a study in 2022 that would look at finding ways to increase the competitiveness of Toronto through its water and wastewater charges and policies. TIN recently participated in a public consultation organized by Toronto Water to discuss ways to improve competitiveness.