Item - 2024.EC10.1

The Economic and Community Development Committee recommends that:

1. City Council request that the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration and the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture work with City Planning, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, Toronto Children’s Services, Transportation Services, Toronto Employment and Social Services, Environment and Climate, Housing Secretariat and other relevant City divisions to form an interdivisional team to ensure ongoing collaboration, for the implementation of the Jane Finch Community Development Plan, listed as Appendix A - Jane Finch Community Development Plan Vision & Actions, to the report (February 5, 2024) from the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration and the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture.

2. City Council request that the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration and the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture and other relevant City divisions, in partnership with community groups, organizations, local businesses, institutions, foundations and other private sector partners, implement and monitor the Jane Finch Community Development Plan, beginning with the following key implementation actions for year one of a 10-year plan:  

a. Form a Community Partnership Circle, including a Resident Leadership Circle, that includes residents, businesses, and other community partners to ensure continual engagement, skill development and collaboration for the implementation of the Community Development Plan.

b. Design and implement an Engagement and Communication Strategy working with the members of the Resident Leadership Circle to ensure ongoing resident participation and engagement throughout the implementation of the Community Development Plan.

c. Develop a Community Impact Table in collaboration with foundations, funders, City divisions, business partners and other institutional partners to support the resourcing of actions identified in the Community Development Plan.

3.  City Council request the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration, and the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture to work with Jane Finch community partners and groups to design and implement a Monitoring and Evaluation Framework for the ongoing monitoring of the Community Development Plan actions and to provide regular reports to the Jane Finch Community.

4.  City Council request the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration and the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture to report through the 2025 Budget Process on the resources, staff and program operations required to ensure ongoing engagement and capacity-building of residents, with a priority focus on Indigenous, Black and equity-deserving groups and inclusive of grassroots groups, youth groups, community organizations and local businesses in Jane Finch throughout the lifetime of the Jane Finch Community Development Plan.

The opening of the Finch West Light Rail Transit line stands to bring intensive and long-term change to the Jane Finch Area. Jane Finch is an area shaped by a history of underinvestment but also a history of community organizing and action responding to community needs. Growing evidence suggests that without focused investments in Reconciliation, equity and systems-wide strategies and supports, neighbourhoods with a history of underinvestment can experience increased levels of disruption and harm as a result of increased development pressure. For new investments to positively impact existing and new Jane Finch residents, holistic supports and policy frameworks must be put in place that reflect the diverse visions of Jane Finch residents, grassroots groups, local organizations, artists, and local businesses. New policies, programs and partnerships must focus where the need is greatest and address the inequities that shape the lives of residents, with priority given to Indigenous, Black, and equity-deserving groups in Jane Finch.

The purpose of this report is to present a proposed Jane Finch Community Development Plan, and to outline the interdivisional and community-led Jane Finch Initiative process that led to the proposed plan. The report also lays out immediate and longer-term next steps to implement the plan.

The Jane Finch Community Development Plan 2024-2034 is a resident-informed plan for the future of the Jane Finch Area led by Social Development, Finance and Administration and Economic Development and Culture. The Community Development Plan is a 25-year plan and commitment to Jane Finch that will be renewed every 10 years with the first 10 years beginning in 2024 and ending in 2034.  The Jane Finch Community Development Plan accompanies the Jane Finch Secondary Plan – both aim to ensure that residents, local groups, organizations and businesses are supported as the area changes over time, including with the opening of the Finch West Light Rail Transit. To this end, the Jane Finch Community Development Plan sets out a 10-year community support and resourcing framework.

While the Secondary Plan will provide consistent land use and urban design guidelines for new development, the Community Development Plan is focused on social, economic, and cultural themes. Actions to support Jane Finch communities under these themes will continue to evolve through ongoing partnerships and discussions between multiple parties including the City of Toronto, residents, community organizations and local institutions.

The focus and content of the Community Development Plan are the result of a 2-year partner-led engagement process and intensive collaboration between participating City divisions and the Jane/Finch Centre. Through the engagement process, the Jane Finch Community Development Plan has identified the following eight action areas:

• Access to Space and Mobility
• Food Justice and Sovereignty
• Community Safety and Wellbeing
• Climate Action
• Arts, Culture and Heritage
• Inclusive Employment Opportunities
• Inclusive Entrepreneurship Opportunities
• Anti-Displacement Strategy

The Community Development Plan will advance actions across the eight action areas. The actions will be guided by principles that reflect the City of Toronto's commitments to Indigenous, Black and equity-deserving groups and vulnerable populations through the City's Reconciliation Action Plan, Action Plan to Confront Anti-Black Racism and broader equity-driven strategies, initiatives and programs.

In the process of developing the Jane Finch Community Development Plan, the City has established a strong interdivisional collaboration and community partnership approach to advance both the Jane Finch Community Development Plan and Secondary Plan. The lessons learned through the engagement and development process and through interdivisional collaboration will continue to inform ongoing monitoring and implementation.