Item - 2019.EC7.1

The Economic and Community Development Committee recommends that:

1.  City Council receive the report (August 19, 2019) from the Fire Chief and General Manager, Toronto Fire Services for information.

This report provides a status update on the key initiatives that are paving the way for ongoing Toronto Fire Services (TFS) service delivery improvements, including progress made to-date on initiatives established as part of the TFS Transformation Plan (additional information is included in Attachment 1 - 2019 TFS Transformation Plan Update).

This report also responds to the March 7, 2019, City Council request for the Fire Chief and General Manager, Toronto Fire Services (TFS) to report back to the Economic and Community Development Committee (ECDC), prior to the 2020 Budget Process, on opportunities to develop strategies to enhance overall service delivery.

A number of initiatives arising from the TFS Transformation Plan are underway, including a comprehensive operational deployment and capacity review. The completion of this initiative and other Transformation Plan initiatives will enable TFS to make evidence and results-based recommendations for the future of TFS service delivery.

In March 2019, TFS achieved international CFAI (Commission on Fire Accreditation International) accreditation under the Centre for Public Safety Excellence, making Toronto the largest city in North America with an accredited fire service. The achievement of CFAI accreditation included the identification of opportunities and recommendations, which are informing ongoing service delivery and operational deployment review initiatives within Fire Services. These initiatives will inform recommendations for the enhancement of service delivery strategies, particularly as they relate to effective and efficient staff deployment.

Therefore, in order to provide City Council with evidence-based recommendations for future service delivery improvements, along with the most effective means of addressing both current and emerging fire safety risks and trends, the Fire Chief will defer these recommendations to the 2021 budget process. This will enable TFS to fully evaluate the impact of the changes currently underway. In advance of the 2021 budget process, the Fire Chief will report back to ECDC with strategies to enhance overall service delivery and address emerging and forecasted risks and needs of the growing city.