Item - 2020.GL17.7

The General Government and Licensing Committee received the report (October 19, 2020) from the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards and the Director, Court Services and the Toronto Licensing Tribunal Chair's 2019 Annual Report, in Attachment 1 to the the report (October 19, 2020) from the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards and the Director, Court Services, for information.

In accordance with the Relationship Framework approved by City Council for the Toronto Licensing Tribunal, the Chair's 2019 Annual Report is being communicated to the General Government and Licensing Committee for information. This report also responds to General Government and Licensing Committee's direction through Item GL8.18 to report back in 2020 on any recommended changes to the Toronto Licensing Tribunal's hearing processes, policies, or procedures arising from the Chair's 2018 Annual Report. Actions taken by staff related to the five (5) recommendations from the 2018 Annual Report are described in the comments section.

The Toronto Licensing Tribunal is an independent quasi-judicial body comprised of seven residents appointed by City Council for a four-year term. The tribunal receives administrative support from the City of Toronto's Court Services Division. The Toronto Licensing Tribunal makes decisions about business licensing matters that are brought forward by Municipal Licensing and Standards or at the request of a licensee or applicant, in accordance with the City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 545, Licensing, and Chapter 546, Licensing of Vehicles-for-Hire.

In 2019, the Toronto Licensing Tribunal processed 155 case files. The tribunal scheduled 225 appearances before a hearing panel. There were 51 hearing dates, including 4 special hearing dates and one-motion hearing. In addition, there were 33 pre-hearing dates. These resulted in 162 meetings between a holder or an applicant and Municipal Licensing and Standards.

As indicated in the Toronto Municipal Code and the Relationship Framework for the Toronto Licensing Tribunal, the Annual Report contains recommendations of the Chair for improvements or changes to the tribunal's policies and procedures.