Item - 2023.EX8.8

Tracking Status

  • City Council adopted this item on October 11, 2023 with amendments.
  • This item was considered by Executive Committee on October 3, 2023 and was adopted with amendments. It will be considered by City Council on October 11, 2023.

EX8.8 - ConnectTO Program Update: City Assets for Efficiency and Connectivity

Decision Type:
ACTION
Status:
Amended
Wards:
All

City Council Decision

City Council on October 11 and 12, 2023, adopted the following:

 

1. City Council direct the Chief Technology Officer to consult with the technology community, anti-poverty groups, those with lived experience in the digital divide, including Indigenous, Black, and racialized groups, the Council Advisory Bodies, and potential end users in developing an expanded Toronto public Wi-Fi strategy, with a focus to bridge the digital divide and to promote economic development through connectivity modernization.

 

2. City Council direct the Chief Technology Officer to leverage the Technology Strategic Partnership Roundtable with Agency and Corporation technology leaders to:

 

a. explore potential utilization of all City, agency, and corporation network assets to deliver efficient and cost-effective services; and

 

b. ensure, as far as possible, that all new developments, builds, major revitalizations, and upgrades in City-owned facilities assess the inclusion of City-owned in-building wiring and fibre connectivity infrastructure, and use City-defined standards and specifications.

 

3. City Council direct the Chief Technology Officer to continue intergovernmental collaborations and City Council authorize the Chief Technology Officer to negotiate, enter into and execute any agreements with, and receive funds from or pay funds to other public entities and levels of government with which staff may partner in order to promote regional and other collaboration for more efficient use of public assets, that may be necessary to carry out and implement City Council's decision, on terms and conditions satisfactory to the Chief Technology Officer, and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor.

 

4. City Council direct the Chief Technology Officer to include the digital access needs, including adequacy of affordable internet currently in place, for residents in low-income housing, such as Toronto Community Housing Corporation, in the research initiatives as set out in Attachment 1 to the report (September 19, 2023) from the Deputy City Manager, Corporate Services and the Chief Technology Officer, and to make requests to other levels of government for support, based on research outcomes.

 

5. City Council direct the Chief Technology Officer, in consultation with the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration, the General Manager, Transportation Services, the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management, the Chief Engineer and Executive Director, Engineering and Construction Services, the Chief Executive Officer, Toronto Transit Commission, the Chief Librarian, Toronto Public Library, the Chief Executive Officer, Toronto Hydro, the Chief Executive Officer, Toronto Community Housing Corporation, the President, Toronto Parking Authority, and the Chief Executive Officer, CreateTO, to develop a framework and options to optimize network digital infrastructure across City-owned and/or City-developed facilities. 

 

6. City Council direct the Chief Technology Officer to consider the following as goals in the development of the framework and options for the ConnectTO program:

 

a. support municipal services;

 

b. connect City-owned facilities and assets;

 

c. be accessible for Internet Service Providers; and

 

d. help ensure equitable access to broadband internet for residents regardless of their financial means or circumstances.

 

7. City Council request the Chief Technology Officer to provide a progress report back to the Executive Committee in the third quarter of 2024 with additional information regarding:


a. efforts towards a proof-of-concept for optimization of the City’s fibre network; and

 

b. an inventory of the City’s existing fibre internet infrastructure and business case for the reestablishment of a robust City-owned fibre internet network.

 

8. City Council request the Chief Technology Officer to report back to the Executive Committee in the second quarter of 2025 to provide a further progress update on the ConnectTO program.

Background Information (Committee)

(September 19, 2023) Report from the Deputy City Manager, Corporate Services and the Chief Technology Officer on ConnectTO Program Update: City Assets for Efficiency and Connectivity
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2023/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-239402.pdf
Attachment 1 - Data and Research Related to the Digital Divide
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2023/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-239379.pdf
Attachment 2 - Regional and National Collaboration Related to Connectivity
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2023/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-239380.pdf
Attachment 3 - Rogers Communications July 2022 Outage Impact: Economic, Operational and Potential for ConnectTO to Mitigate Future Events
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2023/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-239381.pdf
Attachment 4 - Decision History
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2023/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-239382.pdf

Communications (Committee)

(October 2, 2023) Letter from Shelagh Pizey-Allen, Director, TTCriders (EX.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2023/ex/comm/communicationfile-172492.pdf

Communications (City Council)

(October 10, 2023) Letter from Saman Tabasinejad, Executive Director, Progress Toronto (CC.New)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2023/cc/comm/communicationfile-172711.pdf

Motions (City Council)

1 - Motion to Amend Item (Additional) moved by Councillor Brad Bradford (Carried)

That:

 

1. City Council request the Chief Technology Officer to provide a progress report back to the Executive Committee in the third quarter of 2024 with additional information regarding:


a. efforts towards a proof-of-concept for optimization of the City’s fibre network; and

 

b. an inventory of the City’s existing fibre internet infrastructure and business case for the reestablishment of a robust City-owned fibre internet network.

Vote (Amend Item (Additional)) Oct-12-2023 7:20 PM

Result: Carried Majority Required - EX8.8 - Bradford - motion 1
Total members that voted Yes: 19 Members that voted Yes are Brad Bradford, Alejandra Bravo, Jon Burnside, Lily Cheng, Olivia Chow, Mike Colle, Paula Fletcher (Chair), Stephen Holyday, Ausma Malik, Nick Mantas, Josh Matlow, Jennifer McKelvie, Chris Moise, Amber Morley, Jamaal Myers, James Pasternak, Gord Perks, Anthony Perruzza, Dianne Saxe
Total members that voted No: 2 Members that voted No are Paul Ainslie, Shelley Carroll
Total members that were Absent: 4 Members that were absent are Vincent Crisanti, Frances Nunziata (Interest Declared), Jaye Robinson, Michael Thompson

2 - Motion to Amend Item moved by Councillor Chris Moise (Carried)

That City Council amend Executive Committee Recommendation 1 by adding the words “the Council Advisory Bodies” so that it now reads as follows:

 

1. City Council direct the Chief Technology Officer to consult with the technology community, anti-poverty groups, those with lived experience in the digital divide including Indigenous, Black, and racialized groups, the Council Advisory Bodies, and potential end users in developing an expanded Toronto public Wi-Fi strategy, with a focus to bridge the digital divide and to promote economic development through connectivity modernization.

Vote (Amend Item) Oct-12-2023 7:18 PM

Result: Carried Majority Required - EX8.8 - Moise - motion 2
Total members that voted Yes: 21 Members that voted Yes are Paul Ainslie, Brad Bradford, Alejandra Bravo, Jon Burnside, Shelley Carroll, Lily Cheng, Olivia Chow, Mike Colle, Paula Fletcher (Chair), Stephen Holyday, Ausma Malik, Nick Mantas, Josh Matlow, Jennifer McKelvie, Chris Moise, Amber Morley, Jamaal Myers, James Pasternak, Gord Perks, Anthony Perruzza, Dianne Saxe
Total members that voted No: 0 Members that voted No are
Total members that were Absent: 4 Members that were absent are Vincent Crisanti, Frances Nunziata (Interest Declared), Jaye Robinson, Michael Thompson

3 - Motion to Amend Item (Additional) moved by Councillor Lily Cheng (Carried)

That:

 

1. City Council direct the Chief Technology Officer to include the digital access needs, including adequacy of affordable internet currently in place, for residents in low-income housing, such as Toronto Community Housing Corporation, in the research initiatives as set out in Attachment 1 to the Report (September 19, 2023) from the Deputy City Manager, Corporate Services and the Chief Technology Officer, and to make requests to other levels of government for support, based on research outcomes.

Vote (Amend Item (Additional)) Oct-12-2023 7:21 PM

Result: Carried Majority Required - EX8.8 - Cheng - motion 3
Total members that voted Yes: 21 Members that voted Yes are Paul Ainslie, Brad Bradford, Alejandra Bravo, Jon Burnside, Shelley Carroll, Lily Cheng, Olivia Chow, Mike Colle, Paula Fletcher (Chair), Stephen Holyday, Ausma Malik, Nick Mantas, Josh Matlow, Jennifer McKelvie, Chris Moise, Amber Morley, Jamaal Myers, James Pasternak, Gord Perks, Anthony Perruzza, Dianne Saxe
Total members that voted No: 0 Members that voted No are
Total members that were Absent: 4 Members that were absent are Vincent Crisanti, Frances Nunziata (Interest Declared), Jaye Robinson, Michael Thompson

4 - Motion to Amend Item (Additional) moved by Councillor Anthony Perruzza (Carried)

That:

 

1. City Council direct the Chief Technology Officer to consider the following as goals in the development of the framework and options for the ConnectTO program:

 

a. support municipal services;

 

b. connect City-owned facilities and assets;

 

c. be accessible for Internet Service Providers (ISPs); and

 

d. help ensure equitable access to broadband internet for residents regardless of their financial means or circumstances.

Vote (Amend Item (Additional)) Oct-12-2023 7:22 PM

Result: Carried Majority Required - EX8.8 - Perruzza - motion 4
Total members that voted Yes: 21 Members that voted Yes are Paul Ainslie, Brad Bradford, Alejandra Bravo, Jon Burnside, Shelley Carroll, Lily Cheng, Olivia Chow, Mike Colle, Paula Fletcher (Chair), Stephen Holyday, Ausma Malik, Nick Mantas, Josh Matlow, Jennifer McKelvie, Chris Moise, Amber Morley, Jamaal Myers, James Pasternak, Gord Perks, Anthony Perruzza, Dianne Saxe
Total members that voted No: 0 Members that voted No are
Total members that were Absent: 4 Members that were absent are Vincent Crisanti, Frances Nunziata (Interest Declared), Jaye Robinson, Michael Thompson

Motion to Adopt Item as Amended (Carried)

Vote (Adopt Item as Amended) Oct-12-2023 7:24 PM

Result: Carried Majority Required - EX8.8 - Adopt Item as amended
Total members that voted Yes: 21 Members that voted Yes are Paul Ainslie, Brad Bradford, Alejandra Bravo, Jon Burnside, Shelley Carroll, Lily Cheng, Olivia Chow, Mike Colle, Paula Fletcher (Chair), Stephen Holyday, Ausma Malik, Nick Mantas, Josh Matlow, Jennifer McKelvie, Chris Moise, Amber Morley, Jamaal Myers, James Pasternak, Gord Perks, Anthony Perruzza, Dianne Saxe
Total members that voted No: 0 Members that voted No are
Total members that were Absent: 4 Members that were absent are Vincent Crisanti, Frances Nunziata (Interest Declared), Jaye Robinson, Michael Thompson

Point of Privilege by Councillor Anthony Perruzza

Councillor Perruzza, rising on a Point of Privilege, stated that, regarding his comments from a few minutes ago, he wanted to be clear that when he used the phrase "pointy heads" he was not referring to any Member of Council but to industry experts, or people who are paid big sums of money to explain how the world works.

Ruling by Deputy Speaker Paula Fletcher
Deputy Speaker Fletcher accepted the Point of Privilege and thanked Councillor Perruzza.

Declared Interests (City Council)

The following member(s) declared an interest:

Councillor Frances Nunziata - as a family member works in ConnectTO.
Written Declaration: https://secure.toronto.ca/council/declared-interest-file.do?id=11679

EX8.8 - ConnectTO Program Update: City Assets for Efficiency and Connectivity

Decision Type:
ACTION
Status:
Amended
Wards:
All

Committee Recommendations

The Executive Committee recommend that:  

 

1. City Council direct the Chief Technology Officer to consult with the technology community, anti-poverty groups, those with lived experience in the digital divide including Indigenous, Black, and racialized groups, and potential end users in developing an expanded Toronto public Wi-Fi strategy, with a focus to bridge the digital divide and to promote economic development through connectivity modernization.

 

2. City Council direct the Chief Technology Officer to leverage the Technology Strategic Partnership Roundtable with Agency and Corporation technology leaders to:

 

a.  explore potential utilization of all City, agency, and corporation network assets to deliver efficient and cost-effective services; and

 

b.  ensure, as far as possible, that all new developments, builds, major revitalizations, and upgrades in City-owned facilities assess the inclusion of City-owned in-building wiring and fibre connectivity infrastructure, and use City-defined standards and specifications.

 

3. City Council direct the Chief Technology Officer to continue intergovernmental collaborations and City Council authorize the Chief Technology Officer to negotiate, enter into and execute any agreements with, and receive funds from or pay funds to other public entities and levels of government with which staff may partner in order to promote regional and other collaboration for more efficient use of public assets, that may be necessary to carry out and implement City Council's decision, on terms and conditions satisfactory to the Chief Technology Officer, and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor.

 

4. City Council request the Chief Technology Officer to report back to the Executive Committee in the second quarter of 2025 to provide a further progress update on the ConnectTO program..

 

5. City Council direct the Chief Technology Officer, in consultation with the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration, the General Manager, Transportation Services, the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management, the Chief Engineer and Executive Director, Engineering and Construction Services, the Chief Executive Officer, Toronto Transit Commission, the Chief Librarian, Toronto Public Library, the Chief Executive Officer, Toronto Hydro, the Chief Executive Officer, Toronto Community Housing Corporation, the President, Toronto Parking Authority, and the Chief Executive Officer, CreateTO, to develop a framework and options to optimize network digital infrastructure across City-owned and/or -developed facilities. 

Origin

(September 19, 2023) Report from the Deputy City Manager, Corporate Services and the Chief Technology Officer

Summary

In January 2021, City Council adopted the “Affordable Internet Connectivity for All – ConnectTO” report, which outlined a program focusing on bridging the digital divide and improving connectivity for all Toronto residents. This report is a progress update on the program, focusing centrally on its expansion of public Wi-Fi across the City. This report seeks Council’s continued support to increase digital equity through the ConnectTO program, as well as providing updates on the next phase of implementation, focused on leveraging City assets for efficiency and connectivity, such as free public Wi-Fi and connectivity through partnerships with Agencies and Corporations.

 

Since the previous report to Council, the ConnectTO program has continued to take action based on data and research and per Council’s mandate to centralize and lead the City’s connectivity equity efforts, including:

 

·  Access to City and other online services has increased through the deployment of free public Wi-Fi at:

-  74 community recreation centres, in partnership with Parks, Forestry and Recreation Division;

-  Eight housing facilities’ common areas, in partnership with Toronto Community Housing Corporation; and

-  Free public Wi-Fi in the St. Lawrence Market Complex, including St. Lawrence Hall;

-  Continued partnerships with Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to research and analyse digital access, including impact of the Digital Canopy initiative (see Attachment 1);

·  Engaged in external legal review on of models to leverage City assets to bridge the digital divide;

·  Continued productive dialogue and leadership with other big cities coast to coast and with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), seeking alignment on connectivity priorities (see Attachment 2); and

·  Engaged a consultant to determine which regional models might exist to collaborate with Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) partners to meet municipal telecommunications needs (details are included in Attachment 2).

 

Building on existing work, staff recommend the development of a Council-directed City of Toronto Wi-Fi strategy, which would aim to further increase free public Wi-Fi access for residents and visitors (Recommendation 1). This strategy would be guided by a public consultation process and the principles of digital equity, universal accessibility, security and transparency, and community safety. Providing public Wi-Fi in City facilities and public spaces – meeting resident and visitor expectations – would represent an upgrading of the City’s digital offering to meet Canadian and North American municipalities’ long-standing standards.

 

The impact of this and of ConnectTO’s other projects detailed below is key because we know that digital access and affordability barriers correlate to underlying issues of social equity. Low-income, racialized, and elderly communities have fewer options for reliable broadband access available to them. Council’s continued support for the ConnectTO program overall will allow the City to take important steps to improve digital equity in the City of Toronto.  

 

Research shows that, in Toronto, digital access and affordability barriers correlate to underlying issues of social equity; with low-income, racialized, and elderly communities having fewer options for reliable broadband access available to them. Council’s continued support for the ConnectTO program overall will allow the City to take important steps to improve digital equity in the City of Toronto.  

 

Additionally and as directed by Council on July 19, 2022, this report also includes Attachment 3 which reviews the full cost of the July 8, 2022 Rogers outage to Toronto’s economy, City services, and functions that were disrupted.

 

Social Development, Finance and Administration, Toronto Public Health, Economic Development and Culture, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, Toronto Emergency Management, Transportation Services, Corporate Real Estate Management, Legal Services, and the City Manager's Office were consulted in the preparation of this report. In addition, Toronto Community Housing, Toronto Public Library, and CreateTO were consulted on this report.

Background Information

(September 19, 2023) Report from the Deputy City Manager, Corporate Services and the Chief Technology Officer on ConnectTO Program Update: City Assets for Efficiency and Connectivity
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2023/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-239402.pdf
Attachment 1 - Data and Research Related to the Digital Divide
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2023/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-239379.pdf
Attachment 2 - Regional and National Collaboration Related to Connectivity
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2023/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-239380.pdf
Attachment 3 - Rogers Communications July 2022 Outage Impact: Economic, Operational and Potential for ConnectTO to Mitigate Future Events
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2023/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-239381.pdf
Attachment 4 - Decision History
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2023/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-239382.pdf

Communications

(October 2, 2023) Letter from Shelagh Pizey-Allen, Director, TTCriders (EX.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2023/ex/comm/communicationfile-172492.pdf

Speakers

James Davies
Adam Roy Cohoon
Rama Fayaz
Marcia Stone
August Puranauth

Motions

1 - Motion to Amend Item (Additional) moved by Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik (Carried)

That:

 

1. City Council direct the Chief Technology Officer, in consultation with the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration, the General Manager, Transportation Services, the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management, the Chief Engineer and Executive Director, Engineering and Construction Services, the Chief Executive Officer, Toronto Transit Commission, the Chief Librarian, Toronto Public Library, the Chief Executive Officer, Toronto Hydro, the Chief Executive Officer, Toronto Community Housing Corporation, the President, Toronto Parking Authority, and the Chief Executive Officer, CreateTO, to develop a framework and options to optimize network digital infrastructure across City-owned and/or -developed facilities.


2 - Motion to Amend Item moved by Councillor Paul Ainslie (Carried)

That Recommendation 4 be amended by adding the words "the second quarter of" so that it now reads:

 

4. City Council request the Chief Technology Officer to report back to the Executive Committee in the second quarter of 2025 to provide a further progress update on the ConnectTO program.


Motion to Adopt Item as Amended moved by Mayor Olivia Chow (Carried)
Source: Toronto City Clerk at www.toronto.ca/council