Item - 2019.GL10.14

The General Government and Licensing Committee recommends that:

1.  City Council request the Province of Ontario to review the legislation to enable the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario to revoke the liquor licences of problematic establishments serving alcohol in the City of Toronto, including operators and owners with a history of repeated criminal activity in connection to the premises.

The General Government and Licensing Committee:

1.  Directed the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, to:

a.  continue to engage with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, the Toronto Police Service, and relevant City divisions in developing a cross-jurisdictional action plan for bars, restaurants, and nightclubs; and

b.  report to the General Government and Licensing Committee on the progress of the cross-jurisdictional action plan as part of the bars, restaurants, and nightclubs review in the second quarter of 2020.

2.  Directed the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, to review the process for revoking the business licences of establishments and/or operators and owners with a history of repeated criminal activity in connection to the premises and to incorporate these findings into the scheduled review of bars, restaurants, and nightclubs in 2020.

On July 16, 2019, City Council directed staff to report back on an inspection and enforcement action plan for problematic establishments serving alcohol. Staff in Municipal Licensing and Standards (MLS), Toronto Building, and Toronto Fire Services were asked to develop this cross-jurisdictional action plan, in consultation with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) and the Toronto Police Service (TPS), to respond to, manage, and resolve negative community impacts created by problematic establishments serving alcohol.

A cross-jurisdictional approach for addressing problematic establishments serving alcohol aligns with the priorities of the broader Council-approved Toronto Nightlife Action Plan, which seeks to strengthen Toronto's nightlife over the next three years. This requires being able to support existing and new late-night businesses, as well as the ability to effectively address businesses that pose a risk to public safety and/or result in nuisances to the community. This is currently being done through education, awareness, and enforcement; however, there are opportunities to improve the City's approach to addressing problematic businesses, including by developing a plan for coordinated cross-jurisdictional action.

This report outlines the approach that City staff are undertaking to develop a cross-jurisdictional inspection and enforcement action plan with the AGCO and TPS. An effective plan for cross-jurisdictional action first requires an improved information-sharing process between the City and these partner organizations. Improving the information-sharing process will better inform the City and partner organizations as to which operators may require additional education and support, how to best allocate staff resources, and what enforcement actions have been taken by partner organizations. This information could then be used to develop an evidence-based cross-jurisdictional action plan.

The report also identifies additional work that will be addressed through the broader review of bars, restaurants, and nightclubs, with a full report expected at the General Government and Licensing Committee in 2020.

This report has been developed in consultation with staff in the City Planning, Economic Development and Culture, Toronto Building, and Toronto Fire Services Divisions, as well as the AGCO and TPS.