Item - 2020.EC15.4

The Economic and Community Development Committee recommends that:

1. City Council direct the Fire Chief and General Manager, Toronto Fire Services to report back to City Council through the Economic and Community Development Committee in advance of the commencement of the 2022 budget process with recommended strategies as a result of the Toronto Fire Services Transformation Plan and Commission on Fire Accreditation International related review initiatives to enhance overall service delivery and address emerging and forecasted risks and needs of the growing City.

This report responds to the October 2, 2019 City Council request included in EC7.1 "Toronto Fire Services Transformation Plan Update", for the Fire Chief and General Manager, Toronto Fire Services to report back to City Council, prior to the 2021 Budget Process, with recommended strategies, initiated both through the Toronto Fire Services Transformation Plan and the Commission on Fire Accreditation International review, with the view to enhance overall service delivery and to address both the emerging, and the forecasted risks and needs of the growing City.

A number of initiatives arising from the Toronto Fire Services Transformation Plan are underway, including a comprehensive operational deployment review. Additionally, in March 2019, Toronto Fire Services achieved international Commission on Fire Accreditation International accreditation which included the identification of a number of opportunities for continuous quality improvement. These initiatives will inform the recommendations for service delivery enhancement strategies, particularly opportunities that will enhance staff deployment in an effective and efficient manner.

With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, work related to the advancement of the Transformation Plan initiatives and Commission on Fire Accreditation International  recommendations was placed on hold in accordance with the COVID-19 emergency declaration in Toronto.

In order for Toronto Fire Services 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, additional, ongoing analysis is required. Following the completion of this review, Toronto Fire Services anticipates that recommendations for future service delivery improvements will be provided prior to the 2022 budget process.