Item - 2021.GL25.19

The General Government and Licensing Committee recommends that:

1. City Council direct the General Manager, Toronto Water, in consultation with the Director, Insurance and Risk Management, Finance and Treasury Services, and the City Solicitor to report to the General Government and Licensing Committee in the second quarter of 2022 on criteria, funding and implementation plan to provide a no-fault grant for residents in the Rockcliffe area located in Ward 5 (York South-Weston) who have experienced basement flooding since 2000 until work is completed in Rockcliffe, and that the report include comparable cost and implementation options to provide similar benefits to other locations in the City with severe flooding issues similar to the Rockcliffe area.

2. City Council direct the City Manager, in consultation with the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer and the General Manager, Toronto Water to request the Province of Ontario to provide funding for municipal infrastructure improvements dealing with flooding issues.

This report addresses recommended eligibility criteria and the financial implications of providing a one-time no fault grant for residential property owners and/or tenants in the Rockcliffe neighbourhood of Ward 5, York South-Weston, and other similarly impacted areas, who were uninsurable for basement flooding insurance coverage and reported one or more sewer back-up/basement flooding incidents to the City of Toronto as a result of storm events during the time period January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2020 inclusive.

In 2001, City Council decided to not establish a City-Wide Basement Flood Grant Program that would provide reoccurring financial grants of a certain amount for flooded basements.  The decision to not proceed was on the basis that the Program would not provide any beneficial effects for the City, the cost of the program is unpredictable and potentially excessive, and the program is not required under the Municipal Act.  This decision was in response to the consideration of a flood grant program following the storm event of May 12, 2000.

In 2005, a Flood Damages Grant Program, for basement flooding damages experienced by property owners as a result of the August 19, 2005 storm, was approved by City Council.  The 2005 Flood Damages Grant Program ended in 2007 when City Council decided not to extend the program for homeowners that experienced flooding from storm events in December 2006 or February 2007.

This report provides information on how a no fault grant program will require ratepayer support from all classes of water users, how there is no legal obligation to provide a no fault grant program, and how a grant program would not reduce future risk of flooding.  Potential eligibility criteria for a program and the financial requirement for such a program are also outlined.