"City Advances Economic, Shelter Infrastructure Plans" - Economic and Community Development Committee - May 5, 2026

Summary: The committee advanced a 10-year economic strategy, reviewed a shelter infrastructure plan tied to a reported 21 per cent drop in homelessness, approved the permanent expansion of early local registration at recreation centres, and backed changes to make community outdoor ovens easier to use.

Topics Discussed

10-YEAR ECONOMIC ACTION PLAN: The committee considered the “Sidewalks to Skylines” economic action plan for 2025-2035, including a study of strip plazas expected back in 2027. Scarborough councillors pushed staff to look beyond traditional business improvement areas. Councillor Neethan Shan said Scarborough has “about five or six maybe now” BIAs out of “80 something” citywide and urged staff to consider “alternative models to BIA,” including place-based and ethnospecific business supports. Staff also said a draft Indigenous procurement policy, developed with First Nations, Inuit and Métis procurement professionals, is expected to go to executive committee in June.

2027 SHELTER INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN: The committee reviewed plans for 20 new shelters to replace temporary pandemic-era hotel programs, with 11 sites already identified. Debate focused on how sites are matched with client groups. Councillor Josh Matlow said that “there has to be more clear criteria” explaining why youth, families, seniors or mixed adults are assigned to particular locations and added that “in the absence of that criteria and clarity we one can only conclude that it’s arbitrary.” Councillor Parthi Kandavel said the city should define “what success looks like” not only for the shelter system overall but “at the actual site level,” including whether a shelter is “operating well and is being managed well.”

HOMELESSNESS REDUCTION DATA: Staff reported a 21 per cent decrease in homelessness between October 2024 and October 2025, including people in shelters, outdoors and in provincially run systems. One staff speaker said the decline was “most directly connected to the number of people leaving shelters and moving into permanent housing.” Another said the city had seen “a 21% reduction in homelessness in Toronto between 2024 and 2025” along with “a massive number of reductions in encampments.” A public speaker, Daniel Tate, challenged that framing, asking: “Is this what success looks like in the city of Toronto?”

EARLY LOCAL REGISTRATION: The committee supported making early local registration permanent at 37 free recreation centres. The policy gives local residents a seven-day head start before general registration. Councillor Alejandra Bravo said, “Every child in the city deserves access to recreation regardless of their postal code, family income, race, immigration status, language, and whether their parents can refresh a webpage at exactly the right second.” Staff said address changes tied to the program were “four times higher” than in past years and that they are taking “an education first approach” while exploring future technological tools.

OUTDOOR OVENS ACCESS: The committee discussed reducing barriers to using community wood ovens in parks including Dufferin Grove and Christie Pits. Changes include removing permit fees and insurance costs and simplifying permits. Community speaker Shauna Karns said the ovens are “extremely powerful community building tools that are right now underutilized.” Councillor Chris Moise asked, “What can we do to perhaps increase the usage of these ovens,” while another speaker described the proposed changes as “no fees and insurance costs and streamlined permits.”

Motions

Passed: - EC28.2: Economic Development and Culture Grants 2025 funding allocation and museums and heritage grants - EC28.3: Riverside District Business Improvement Area expansion poll results - Shelter infrastructure and homelessness update items were received for information - Early local registration expansion item was adopted - Outdoor ovens access changes were adopted - EC28.7: Revitalization of David Pecaut Square

Attendees

• Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik
• Councillor Parthi Kandavel
• Councillor Lily Cheng
• Councillor Neethan Shan
• Councillor Stephen Holyday
• Councillor Shelley Carroll
• Councillor Chris Moise
• Councillor Alejandra Bravo
• Councillor Josh Matlow