Item - 2023.EC4.1

The Economic and Community Development Committee recommends that:

1. City Council direct the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration to review and analyze the impact and outcomes in the first five years of the Action Plan and develop a new 10-year Toronto Action Plan to Confront Anti-Black Racism that effectively responds to emerging and persistent issues facing Black Torontonians, in consultation with Black-led and mandated community agencies, residents, institutions and stakeholders, and the following City divisions, agencies and corporations: Toronto Public Health; Economic Development and Culture; Parks Forestry and Recreation; City Planning; the Housing Secretariat; Shelter Support, Housing and Administration; Children's Services; Technology Services; Environment and Climate; Toronto Community Housing Corporation; Toronto Transit Commission; Toronto Police Service; Toronto Public Library, and any other relevant City divisions and partners who were engaged in the first iteration of the Action Plan; and report back in the fourth quarter of 2024.

The Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration and the Director, Community Resources, Social Development, Finance and Administration gave a presentation.

Four years work to implement the Toronto Action Plan to Confront Anti-Black Racism has led to unprecedented investments to understand and combat anti-Black racism entrenched in the policies, practices, and institutional structures at the City of Toronto. Considerable competency development, and capacity and awareness building have been developed across the City to enhance the quality and targeting of services and programs accessed by Black residents. The dedication and commitment reflected in such progress should be recognized and commended, even as efforts must be increased due to negative COVID-19 pandemic impacts. Not surprisingly, access and needs were amplified by adverse pandemic shocks on key sectors and areas where many Black individuals live, work, and play. As a result, racial disparities remain an ever-present threat to the quality of Black life across the city.

Post-pandemic health and socio-economic data indicate the far-reaching and persistent impacts of systemic discrimination on mental and physical health, educational and digital access, unemployment and housing, family and child welfare, and policing and the justice system. There is much work to be done to reduce racial disparities and close gaps that emerged. Continued commitments to innovating and scaling up anti-Black racism work can produce the positive attitudes, practices, behaviours, and decision making that are essential to realizing a Toronto for all.

On December 5, 2017, City Council unanimously adopted the Toronto Action Plan to Confront Anti-Black Racism. This five-year Plan identifies 80 actions and 22 recommendations to address anti-Black racism in the City of Toronto, leveraging the talents, knowledge, and experiences of Black residents, organizations, and partners to improve outcomes for Toronto's Black communities.

This report provides an update on the progress made over Year Four of the Action Plan with a focus on the 41 actions prioritized from January to December 2022. Since its launch in 2018, 80 per cent of the Action Plan recommendations and actions have been implemented. In Year Four, considerable progress was made to reduce barriers and increase access for Black communities, including the implementation of the first year of the Toronto Black Food Sovereignty Plan, critical investments to develop targeted programming for Black families, and a growing culture change framework, which was underscored by an increase in internal division-led Anti-Black Racism Action Plans.

Unrelenting global and local cost-of-living crises have challenged Black communities to meet the demands of food and energy costs, climate change, and housing affordability, spurred by mounting inflation. These challenges are compounded by additional systemic racism barrier for Indigenous, Black, and equity-deserving communities. As the City supports recovery, it is critical to ensure that there are sustained investments in current initiatives, that create more equitable pathways for Toronto's Black communities.

Effective collaboration between Black community leaders and City divisions and agencies have resulted in targeted responses that are better tailored and equipped to support Black communities. These collaborations include external partnership initiatives such as the Black Scientists' Taskforce on Vaccine Equity, the Black Vaccine Engagement Team, and the Black Resilience Cluster. New and innovative models have also been developed to address longstanding problems. Legacy Initiatives like the Black Health Service Coordination Strategy, the Growing in Place Initiative, and the Black Housing Framework, are designed to address racial inequities through a place-based, inclusive, economic development lens. These interventions in local planning projects will positively improve Black lives in Toronto through redevelopment initiatives in Little Jamaica, Jane and Finch, and Weston Mount Dennis.

Year Five is expected to be challenging. City divisions, boards, agencies, and commissions are stretched with complex demands at a time of great fiscal constraints for the City and will need renewed commitment and resourcing that is essential for completing the remaining activities in the final year of the Action Plan. Beyond 2023, the Confronting Anti-Black Racism Unit in Social Development, Finance and Administration, will support renewal efforts through a retrospective analysis of the current Action Plan, informed by the United Nations International Decade for People of African Descent, and the Unit's Legacy Initiatives, along with collaborative identification of alternative options for closing gaps and reducing disparities. This work will assess and communicate outcomes, impacts, and future opportunities for change to the develop a new Action Plan.

Enclosed in the report you will find the following:

·  An overview of the differential impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on Black communities and the increased systemic barriers they continue to face.

·   A progress update on Action Plan Legacy Initiatives, including the Toronto Black Food Sovereignty Plan.

·   An update on the progress made to advance the Year Four (January 2022 to December 2022) Work Plan Deliverables.

·  An overview of Year Five Work Plan Priorities (January 2023 to December 2023).

·  The Partnership and Accountability Circle report, which provides community feedback on the implementation of Year Four actions and the Year Five Workplan Deliverables.

·  A compilation of divisional-led Anti-Black Racism Action Plans that demonstrate how City staff are embedding culture change in their mandate and operations.