Item - 2024.CC24.2

The City Manager recommends that:

1. City Council adopt the Policy Framework – City Response to Demonstrations (Attachment 1 of this report) and direct the City Manager to update the Framework as necessary to ensure the Framework remains current and responsive to the City's needs and priorities.

2. City Council request City agencies and corporations to refer to the Policy Framework – City Response to Demonstrations (Attachment 1 of this report) as a model and align applicable policies and procedures to be consistent with the City's approach where appropriate. 

3. City Council direct the City Manager, in consultation with the City Solicitor, applicable City divisions, the Toronto Police Service and other applicable stakeholders, to report to the Executive Committee in the first quarter of 2025 with a proposed bylaw that supports the City's commitment to keeping Toronto safe from hate and respects Charter jurisprudence that addresses impacts of demonstrations on the public and on access to publicly accessible spaces. 

4. City Council authorize the City Manager, in consultation with the Deputy City Manager, Infrastructure Services, to establish a one-time grant program of up to $2.5 million in 2025 to support community organizations with hostile vehicle mitigation interventions through the 2025 Operating Budget submission.

5. City Council forward this item for information to the Toronto Police Service Board.

At its meeting on February 6 and 7, 2024, City Council directed the City Manager to develop a policy framework for the management and monitoring of rallies and protests, ensuring alignment with the City’s Human Rights and Anti-Harassment Policy, and report back to City Council by December 2024. As directed by City Council, this report presents the Policy Framework – City Response to Demonstrations (Framework), included as Attachment 1.

Demonstrations occurring anywhere in the city are events where the Toronto Police Service serves as the primary responder and enforcement agency to preserve the peace, maintain public safety and uphold the right to demonstrate lawfully. While the City of Toronto is not the primary responder for demonstrations, the City collaborates with the Toronto Police Service and coordinates specific activities in response as appropriate and based on the circumstances of the situation.

The Framework applies to City divisions and informs the City’s coordination when demonstrations occur on or potentially impact publicly accessible City property. The City Manager's Office led the development of the Framework, in consultation with Legal Services and the following City divisions: Corporate Real Estate Management; Economic Development and Culture; Municipal Licensing and Standards; Parks, Forestry and Recreation; People and Equity; Social Development, Finance and Administration; Strategic Public and Employee Communications; Toronto Emergency Management; and Transportation Services.

The Framework aims to:

• Clarify the City’s role, jurisdiction and municipal tools available to respond to demonstrations, including the role of applicable City divisions

• Establish common terminology and guiding principles to ensure clarity and consistency in the coordination of activities across City divisions

• Provide an overarching foundation of how the City coordinates its activities to determine an appropriate response based on the circumstances of the situation

• Balance the City’s legal obligation to uphold Charter-protected rights and freedoms, alongside the City’s commitment to promoting respectful conduct, inclusion, an environment free from hate and a safe Toronto for all

Additionally, the Framework can serve as a model for the City’s agencies and corporations, in accordance with their mandate, delegated authority and board-approved bylaws and policies. This report recommends City Council request City agencies and corporations to refer to the Framework as a model and align applicable policies and procedures to be consistent with the City's approach where appropriate. 

In addition to the Framework, other related City initiatives are underway that will support the City's coordination in response to demonstrations. For example, although the City does not issue permits for demonstrations on publicly accessible City property, a review of the City's permitting policies and procedures was identified as an opportunity to improve coordination and consistency of permitting practices in response to demonstrations. The City Manager's Office will work with the City's permitting divisions to advance the review of applicable permitting policies and procedures.

Attachment 2 of this report provides an update on key actions and priorities from the Keeping Toronto Safe from Hate Action Plan, such as the City's work to support hostile vehicle mitigation and review of the emergence of municipal bylaws in other jurisdictions.

Funding has been identified to establish a grant program in 2025 to support community organizations with hostile vehicle mitigation interventions. Pending Council approval, the City Manager's Office will work with the Office of the Deputy City Manager, Infrastructure Services and consult with applicable City divisions to develop and administer the grant program for 2025. This report recommends City Council authorize the City Manager, in consultation with the Deputy City Manager, Infrastructure Services, to establish a one-time grant program of up to $2.5 million in 2025 to support community organizations with hostile vehicle mitigation interventions through the 2025 Operating Budget submission.

City staff are also reviewing the emergence of municipal bylaws established to address impacts of demonstrations on the public and on access to publicly accessible spaces in other jurisdictions, such as the Safe and Inclusive Access Bylaw adopted by the City of Calgary and the Protecting Vulnerable Social Infrastructure Bylaw adopted by the City of Vaughan.

A similar bylaw approach for the City of Toronto could be considered that addresses issues raised on impacts of demonstrations on the public, including but not limited to concerns regarding community safety and access to social infrastructure and publicly accessible spaces in the community (e.g. hospitals, schools, libraries, places of worship). This report recommends City Council direct the City Manager, in consultation with the City Solicitor, applicable City divisions, the Toronto Police Service and other applicable stakeholders, to report to the Executive Committee in the first quarter of 2025 with a proposed bylaw that supports the City's commitment to keeping Toronto safe from hate and respects Charter jurisprudence that addresses impacts of demonstrations on the public and on access to publicly accessible spaces.