Item - 2012.PE17.3

In 2005, Toronto was severely impacted by a one-hour rainstorm that cost the City of Toronto $47 million in repairs to its infrastructure (including the washout and re-construction of Finch Avenue at Black Creek and damage to the trunk sewer in the Highland Creek valley) and cost the insurance industry $600 million in payments to clients for damages to personal property.  The 2005 storm is one of many record weather events that have impacted Toronto over recent years.

Faced with impacts of this magnitude and billion dollar projections for expenditure in public transit, roads, energy and public works infrastructure, a study was commissioned to specifically examine the projected climate conditions Toronto would experience in the  period 2040-2049 .  The purpose of the study is to provide a window on the conditions that our public infrastructure will be operating in over the course of its service life.

In particular, a focus was given to extreme weather events – including rainfall and heat waves – that are key concerns in connection with the need to maintain public infrastructure and service provision responsibilities.

This staff report describes the outcomes of the climate modelling study undertaken by the Toronto Environment Office with SENES Consultants Ltd.