Item - 2021.GL27.20

The General Government and Licensing Committee received the Toronto Licensing Tribunal Chair's 2020 Annual Report, contained in Attachment 1 to the report (November 16, 2021) from the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, for information.

In accordance with the Relationship Framework approved by City Council for the Toronto Licensing Tribunal, the Chair's 2020 Annual Report is being communicated to the General Government and Licensing Committee for information.

The Toronto Licensing Tribunal (the Tribunal) is an independent quasi-judicial body comprised of seven citizens chosen by City Council for a four-year term. The Tribunal receives administrative support from the City of Toronto's Court Services Division. The 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 2020, the Toronto Licensing Tribunal scheduled 156 appearances before a hearing panel. There were 52 hearing dates, which included ten In Person hearing dates, 40 Electronic Hearing dates and two written hearing dates. In addition, there were 5 pre-hearing dates; these resulted in 31 meetings between 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 Toronto Licensing Tribunal policies and procedures. There are two recommendations for 2020, which are similar to the ones made in the 2019 Annual Report.