Item - 2020.EC16.7

Tracking Status

EC16.7 - Current Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Live Music Venues in Toronto

Decision Type:
ACTION
Status:
Amended
Wards:
All

City Council Decision

City Council on October 27, 28 and 30, 2020, adopted the following:

 

1.  City Council request the Government of Canada to develop a permanent Canadian Live Music Fund to stimulate event activity and tensure the future viability and success of Canada's live music sector and drive economic impact.

 

2.  City Council request the Federal Government and the Federal Minister responsible for Small Business to ensure that all workers and entrepreneurs in Toronto’s Black Music Industry are included and supported through the Federal Government’s Black Entrepreneurship Fund Program.

 

3.  City Council request the Government of Ontario to:

 

a.  provide long-term financial support for live music venues and music companies working in live music;

 

b.  apply fair and more flexible reopening guidelines established for other businesses and venues to live music venues, while ensuring all necessary and rigorous health protocols are accounted for and in place;

 

c.  convene a meeting to discuss insurance concerns from live music venues; and

 

d.  institute an immediate ban on evictions for music businesses.

 

4.  City Council make permanent the inclusion of live music venues as a category of the Creative Co-Location Facilities Tax Subclass.

 

5.  City Council request the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer and the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture to report to the next meeting of the Toronto Music Advisory Committee on the feasibility of spearheading a group insurance program for live music venues with industry organizations such as the Canada Live Music Association.

Background Information (Committee)

(September 24, 2020) Letter from the Toronto Music Advisory Committee on Current Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Live Music Venues in Toronto
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2020/ec/bgrd/backgroundfile-157075.pdf

Communications (City Council)

(October 14, 2020) E-mail from Lisa Zbitnew, Owner/Operator, The Phoenix Concert Theatre, Bronson Centre Music Theatre (CC.Supp.EC16.7.1)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2020/cc/comm/communicationfile-122472.pdf

Motions (City Council)

1 - Motion to Amend Item (Additional) moved by Councillor Mike Colle (Carried)

That City Council request the Federal Government and the Federal Minister responsible for Small Business to ensure that all workers and entrepreneurs in Toronto’s Black Music Industry are included and supported through the Federal Government’s Black Entrepreneurship Fund Program.


Motion to Adopt Item as Amended (Carried)

Adoption of Economic and Community Development Committee Recommendation 3 [now Part 4 of City Council's decision]:

 

 3.  City Council make permanent the inclusion of live music venues as a category of the Creative Co-Location Facilities Tax Subclass.

Vote (Adopt Item as Amended) Oct-28-2020 4:59 PM

Result: Carried Majority Required - EC16.7 - adopt Economic and Community Development Committee Recommendation 3
Total members that voted Yes: 22 Members that voted Yes are Paul Ainslie, Ana Bailão, Brad Bradford, Shelley Carroll, Mike Colle, Gary Crawford, Joe Cressy, John Filion, Paula Fletcher, Michael Ford, Mark Grimes, Cynthia Lai, Mike Layton, Josh Matlow, Jennifer McKelvie, Frances Nunziata (Chair), James Pasternak, Gord Perks, Anthony Perruzza, Michael Thompson, John Tory, Kristyn Wong-Tam
Total members that voted No: 1 Members that voted No are Stephen Holyday
Total members that were Absent: 2 Members that were absent are Denzil Minnan-Wong, Jaye Robinson

Motion to Adopt Item as Amended (Carried)

Adoption of the balance of the item as amended.

EC16.7 - Current Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Live Music Venues in Toronto

Decision Type:
ACTION
Status:
Amended
Wards:
All

Committee Recommendations

The Economic and Community Development Committee recommends that:

 

1.  City Council request the Government of Canada to develop a permanent Canadian Live Music Fund to stimulate event activity and ensure the future viability and success of Canada's live music sector and drive economic impact.

 

2.  City Council request the Government of Ontario to:

 

a.  provide long-term financial support for live music venues and music companies working in live music;

 

b.  apply fair and more flexible reopening guidelines established for other businesses and venues to live music venues, while ensuring all necessary and rigorous health protocols are accounted for and in place;

 

c.  convene a meeting to discuss insurance concerns from live music venues; and

 

d.  institute an immediate ban on evictions for music businesses.

 

3.  City Council make permanent the inclusion of live music venues as a category of the Creative Co-Location Facilities Tax Subclass.

 

4.  City Council request the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer and the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, to report to the next meeting of the Toronto Music Advisory Committee on the feasibility of spearheading a group insurance program for live music venues with industry organizations such as the Canada Live Music Association.

Origin

(September 24, 2020) Letter from the Toronto Music Advisory Committee

Summary

At its meeting on September 24, 2020, the Toronto Music Advisory Committee considered Item MA6.2, Current Impacts on Live Music Venues.

Background Information

(September 24, 2020) Letter from the Toronto Music Advisory Committee on Current Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Live Music Venues in Toronto
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2020/ec/bgrd/backgroundfile-157075.pdf

Speakers

Jeff Cohen, Horseshoe Tavern and Lee's Palace

Motions

Motion to Amend Item (Additional) moved by Councillor Joe Cressy (Carried)

That:

 

1.  The Economic and Community Development Committee delete Toronto Music Advisory Committee Recommendations 1.e., 2.a., and 4:

 

Recommendations to be deleted

 

1.e.  City Council request the Government of Ontario to enforce mandatory participation in the Ontario-Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (OCECRA) Program for property owners.

 

2.  City Council request the Government of Canada to:

 

a.  extend the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) Program and make it more effective for live music venue tenants by:

 

1.  making participation mandatory for property owners; and

 

2.  allowing more flexibility in eligibility threshold for ceasing operations/70 percent decline in revenues and allowing businesses that have not already applied to do so in future for retroactive benefits.

 

4.  City Council request the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer and the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, to report to the next meeting of the Toronto Music Advisory Committee on the feasibility of spearheading a group insurance program for live music venues, such report to include a proposal for:

 

a.  working with industry organizations such as the Canadian Live Music Association that could implement and administer the program; and

 

b.  underwriting the policy by assuming risk and guaranteeing coverage of unpaid fees.

 

and adopt the following recommendations, including new Recommendations 2 and 4:

 

1.  City Council request the Government of Ontario to:

 

a.  provide long-term financial support for live music venues and music companies working in live music;

 

b.  apply fair and more flexible reopening guidelines established for other businesses and venues to live music venues, while ensuring all necessary and rigorous health protocols are accounted for and in place;

 

c.  convene a meeting to discuss insurance concerns from live music venues; and

 

d.  institute an immediate ban on evictions for music businesses.

 

2.  City Council request the Government of Canada to develop a permanent Canadian Live Music Fund to stimulate event activity and ensure the future viability and success of Canada's live music sector and drive economic impact.

 

3.  City Council make permanent the inclusion of live music venues as a category of the Creative Co-Location Facilities Tax Subclass.

 

4.  City Council request the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer and the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, to report to the next meeting of the Toronto Music Advisory Committee on the feasibility of spearheading a group insurance program for live music venues with industry organizations such as the Canada Live Music Association.

Source: Toronto City Clerk at www.toronto.ca/council