Toronto Music Advisory Committee - October 7, 2025

City Council Meeting Summary

The meetings primarily tackled licensing and zoning for live music venues, the rollout of new regulatory categories, and how to improve communication and enforcement. Key decisions included approving several governance motions (to improve licensing communication, hear deputations, and update licensing definitions), deferring others (grace period for licensing adjustments and enforcement-approach reviews), and advancing major initiatives like sunsetting Now Playing Toronto into Destination Toronto and renewing the Music Compass program. Public deputations and staff updates across MLS, TMAC, and Destination Toronto framed next steps and required follow-up actions.

Five Most Important Topics Discussed

1) Licensing rollout confusion and need for proactive communication - Why it matters: Businesses and operators reported unclear rollout of new licensing categories, creating confusion and operational challenges. - Notable quotes: - “The rollout could have been a little clearer. Some information could have been a bit clearer.” (John Karu) - “Proactive communication would help prevent confusion, reduce unnecessary site visits, and build trust in the process.” - Relevance to residents: Clear guidance reduces enforcement confusion and helps local venues comply smoothly, improving the city’s nightlife economy.

2) Zoning, licensing definitions, and second-floor restrictions - Why it matters: Confusion around how zoning bylaws interact with new licensing categories, especially for venues operating on second floors. - Notable quotes: - “Not trying to force anyone into getting a nightclub permission when they would never be permitted for that, but they would have had previous permissions for an entertainment place of assembly.” (John Karu) - “A nightclub is a permitted use, but it sort of does need to comply with those conditions... one of the conditions would be that it's not permitted to be located on the second floor.” (Tariq) - By-laws/file numbers: Zoning Bylaw 569-203; Commercial/Residential (CR) zone considerations. - Relevance to residents: Impacts where and how venues can operate, with potential effects on local culture and safety perceptions.

3) Impact on longstanding venues and culture; costs and expediency - Why it matters: Longstanding venues face costly rezoning steps and restrictive interpretations that threaten cultural spaces. - Notable quotes: - “Unfortunately, what's happening out there right now is something that feels punitive to existing businesses that are just trying to operate.” (Lisa) - “We're losing more than we're gaining... we're not going to see any Canadian-owned venues left.” (Lisa) - Relevance to residents: Loss of local cultural venues reduces arts access and community vitality; timely support helps preserve cultural heritage.

4) Development application fees and the Soundcheck initiative - Why it matters: Financial barriers and regulatory costs directly affect venue development and expansion. - Notable quotes: - “This is a motion asking them to continue to explore the options and impacts of reducing development application fees for proponents in this space for live music venues.” (Motion on Fees) - Fee context shared in discussion: planning applications (e.g., official plan amendments around $220,000; zoning amendments around $60,000; site plan control around $41,000). - Relevance to residents: Lower fees and clearer processes can encourage new venues and safer, compliant growth in the entertainment economy.

5) Public input, deputations, and next-step governance - Why it matters: Public input and stakeholder feedback guide policy evolution and enforcement practices. - Notable quotes: - “The meeting included deputations and presentations from task teams. The committee emphasized the importance of public input...” - By-laws/file numbers: MA8.6 (resignation item added to agenda); MA8.6 noted as file. - Relevance to residents: Structured opportunities for public input shape licensing, zoning, and enforcement in tangible ways.

File Numbers Discussed

• MA8.6: Resignation of a T-MAC committee member (new business item added to agenda).
• MA8.2: Summary of development application fees and related resources for new live music venues.
• Zoning Bylaw 569-203: referenced in discussions about second-floor nightclub restrictions (CR zones discussion).

Opportunities for Public Input

• Deputations on agenda items during meetings; opportunities to provide input through MLS staff channels and upcoming consultations.
• Specific invitations were noted for stakeholder and public feedback during future consultations, hearings, or workshops, including MLS, TMAC, and Destination Toronto staff engagement.

Motions and Outcomes

• Motion to Confirm Minutes of May 15, 2025
  • Outcome: Passed unanimously.
• Motion to Add New Business Item (MA8.6) to the Agenda
  • Outcome: Passed unanimously.
• Motion to Improve Licensing Communication and Support
  • Outcome: Passed.
  • Next Steps: City will send additional emails to operators before renewal dates, outlining new license categories, suggested steps, and a contact for questions.
• Motion to Extend Grace Period for Licensing Adjustments
  • Outcome: Deferred.
  • Next Steps: Revisit at next meeting after stakeholder feedback.
• Motion to Review Licensing Categories and Zoning Requirements
  • Outcome: Passed.
  • Next Steps: City will conduct a review to align categories with longstanding venues’ needs.
• Motion to Hear Deputations
  • Outcome: Passed.
  • Next Steps: Continue hearing deputations and address concerns raised.
• Motion to Sunset “Now Playing Toronto” and Integrate into Destination Toronto’s Ecosystem
  • Outcome: Passed.
  • Next Steps: Integration completed; full report on related initiatives to come.
• Motion to Renew the Music Compass Program for 2025
  • Outcome: Passed.
  • Next Steps: Expand to additional neighborhoods; further reporting planned.
• Motion to Explore Reduced Development Application Fees for Live Music Venues (Soundcheck-related)
  • Outcome: Passed.
  • Next Steps: Staff to continue researching options and present findings in early 2026.
• Motion to Receive Ray’s Presentation (Love Local / TMAC engagement)
  • Outcome: Passed.
  • Next Steps: Explore how “Love Local” can support Ray’s initiatives.
• Motion to Address Enforcement Practices
  • Outcome: Deferred.
  • Next Steps: Further discussion on improving enforcement practices.
• Motion to Develop a Comprehensive Plan for Licensing Issues
  • Outcome: Deferred.
  • Next Steps: Staff to develop a more streamlined licensing plan and report back.
• Motion to Finalize 2026 Meeting Dates
  • Outcome: Passed.
  • Next Steps: Meetings scheduled (e.g., February 9, 2026 and May 25, 2026).
• Motion to Accept Ben Valette’s Resignation
  • Outcome: Passed.
  • Next Steps: None specified.
• Motion to Excuse Absences of Councillors Eninsley and Fletcher
  • Outcome: Passed.
  • Next Steps: Official record of excused absences.

Next Steps and Follow-Up Actions

• Continue discussions on MA8.6 (resignation) and any resulting governance implications for TMAC.
• Finalize and implement the licensing communications plan; monitor the grace-period updates and enforcement improvements.
• Complete the licensing categories and zoning review; report findings at upcoming meetings (December 1, 2025 and beyond).
• Advance Soundcheck-related fee analyses and potential exemptions or reductions; prepare a formal report for early 2026.
• Maintain and expand Destination Toronto initiatives (sunsetting Now Playing Toronto; renewing Music Compass; plan further event syndication).
• Ensure TMAC and constituent groups are included in future consultations on zoning and licensing reforms.

Councillors Present

• Councillor Bradford (Chair of the Toronto Music Advisory Committee, T-MAC)
• Deputy Mayor Malik
• Councillor Paul Eninsley
• Councillor Paula Fletcher

Note: The transcripts include a number of other participants and staff (e.g., TMAC members, MLS staff, and venue-representatives). The above list reflects named councillors explicitly identified as being present in the provided sections.