Item - 2020.MA6.2

The Toronto Music Advisory Committee recommends to the Economic and Community Development Committee that:

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 a 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;

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

e.  enforce mandatory participation in Ontario-Canada Emergency Commercial 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:

i. making participation mandatory for property owners; and

ii. 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; and

b.  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.  The Economic and Community Development Committee request the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer and the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture to report back 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.

Mike Tanner, Music Sector Development Officer, Economic Development and Culture, and Tara Galloro, Consultant, COVID-19 Recovery and Liaison, Toronto Public Health, gave a presentation to the Committee on the Current Impacts on Live Music Venues.

Staff from Economic Development and Culture and Toronto Public Health will provide an update on the current impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on live music venues in Toronto, including related public health guidelines and insurance concerns.

The Chair of the Toronto Music Advisory Committee will lead a discussion with Committee members to shape their recommendations on these issues.