Item - 2024.GG17.4

The General Government Committee:  

1. In accordance with Section 71-11.1C of the City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 71 (Finance Control By-Law), authorized the City Solicitor to amend the retainer with Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP on Purchase Order Number 6035311, by increasing the value by $50,000 from $1,325,000 to $1,375,000 net of all applicable taxes and charges.

The purpose of this report is to increase the existing retainer amount with the law firm of Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP (Osler).

An additional (amount) is required to complete the transition of administration of the Police Benefit Fund Retirement Compensation Arrangement (Police RCA) to the City and in 2025, to advise upon unlocking pension funds currently held by the Canada Revenue Agency. The current retainer ends on December 31, 2025. Subject to any unforeseen delays, this work related to the Police Benefit Fund Retirement Compensation Arrangement, including all final reviews, is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.  As such, an extension of the retainer is not being requested at this time.

Staff are seeking General Government Committee approval for a Purchase Order Amendment of an additional $50,000 net of all applicable taxes and charges ($50,880.00 net of Harmonized Sales Tax recoveries) from $1,325,000 to $1,375,000 net of all applicable taxes and charges which will allow for completion of the transition of the Police Benefit Fund Retirement Compensation Arrangement including final reviews.

General Government Committee approval is required in accordance with Municipal Code Chapter 195, Purchasing, where the current request exceeds the Chief Procurement Officer's authority of the cumulative five-year commitment limit for each vendor under Article 7, Section 195-7.3(D) of the Purchasing By-law, or exceeds the threshold of $500,000 net of Harmonized Sales Tax allowed under staff authority as per the Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 71, Financial Control, Section 71-11.1.