Item - 2025.EC25.1

The Economic and Community Development Committee recommends that:  

1. City Council pass a by-law pursuant to Section 252 of the City of Toronto Act, 2006, providing authority to:

a. enter into a Municipal Capital Facility Agreement with North York Harvest Food Bank (the "Operator") for the property known as 4050 Chesswood Drive, with respect to approximately 31,830 square feet of space, (the "Leased Premises") owned by TK Group Limited. (the "Landlord") for the provision of social and health services; and

b. exempt the Leased Premises from taxation for municipal and school purposes, with the tax exemption being effective from the latest of:

1. the commencement date of the lease;

2. the date the Municipal Capital Facility Agreement is entered into; and

3. the date the Tax Exemption By-law is enacted.

2. City Council direct the City Clerk to give written notice of the By-law to the Minister of Finance, the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation, the Toronto District School Board, the Toronto Catholic District School Board, le Conseil scolaire Viamonde and le Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir.

3. City Council direct the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, in consultation with the Executive Director, Social Development, to work York Harvest Food Bank to consider its request for the City to provide a supportive loan guarantee, on an exceptional basis, for the sole purpose of financing the construction of an upgrade to its food distribution facility at 4050 Chesswood Drive, and request North York Harvest Food Bank to provide the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer with the following information:

a. North York Harvest Food Bank’s Audited Financial Statements;

b. project cost details and supporting information, including North York Harvest Food Bank’s annual budget;

c. a sustainable funding and financing structure;

d. communication from lender that a City Loan Guarantee would be required to advance financing to North York Harvest Food Bank; and

e. other project related information as may be required to the satisfaction of the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer and Executive Director, Social Development.
 

4. City Council authorize the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, in consultation with the Executive Director, Social Development, to approve the request for a loan guarantee to be provided in support of the North York Harvest Food Bank on an exceptional basis in order to support the construction of an upgrade to its food distribution facility at 4050 Chesswood Drive only if the aforementioned information in Recommendation 3, above, is provided to the satisfaction of the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer and Executive Director, Social Development; and direct the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer to negotiate and execute any necessary agreements on terms and conditions acceptable to the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer and Executive Director, Social Development and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor, including that, if the loan guarantee is provided to the North York Harvest Food Bank, the loan guarantee amount does not exceed the City’s Loan Guarantee Policy individual loan guarantee limit.

This report responds to MM31.12 and will support the North York Harvest Food Bank in meeting rising food scarcity needs in Toronto. This report seeks City Council's authority for the adoption of the necessary By-law to designate a portion of the property owned by TK Group Limited and leased to North York Harvest Food Bank as a Municipal Capital Facility and to provide an exemption for municipal taxes and education taxes. The Municipal Capital Facility Agreement authorized by the By-law will provide an exemption for approximately 31,830 square feet plus ancillary parking at 4050 Chesswood Drive. This property is eligible to be deemed as a Municipal Capital Facility due to the provision of social and health services.