Item - 2021.EC19.7

The Economic and Community Development Committee:

1.  Requested the Fire Chief and General Manager, Toronto Fire Services, to consider any potential staffing issues and report to the Economic and Community Development Committee in 2021, as part of the overall Service Delivery Enhancement Review, with any future staffing resources required to ensure adequate service levels in Toronto Fire Services.

Over the past month, the City of Toronto has seen an alarming increase in significant fires, tragically some of them leading to the loss of our fellow Torontonians.

I would like to thank the men and women of Toronto Fire Services (TFS) for their continued efforts to save lives and to keep the residents of Toronto safe. With a City that is constantly growing, and a workforce that has changing demographics, it is critical that we ensure that Toronto Fire Services has the resources needed to maintain service levels into the future.

That is why I am recommending the Committee request the Fire Chief and General Manager, Toronto Fire Services, to consider any anticipated staffing issues and report back to the Committee in 2021 on future staffing requirements to ensure adequate service levels. As TFS is currently reviewing strategies to enhance overall service delivery, I am recommending this report be included as part of the broader Service Delivery Enhancement Review that is currently underway.