Item - 2025.EC25.5

The Deputy City Manager, Community Development and Social Services recommends that:  

1. City Council direct the Deputy City Manager, Community Development and Social Services, to engage with Indigenous communities on the topic of the City's Reconciliation Action Plan to determine the next phase of Reconciliation priorities and report to Toronto City Council by the end of the second quarter in 2027. 

2. City Council authorize the Director, Indigenous Affairs Office to negotiate and enter into agreement(s) with not-for-profit agencies and vendors as required to advance the City's Reconciliation priorities in a form acceptable to the City Solicitor and within approved budget limits until June 30, 2027.

3. City Council authorize the Executive Director, Social Development, to provide one-time funding of $350,000 to the Toronto Aboriginal Support Services Council to increase organizational capacity and support for City projects.

In April 2022, City Council adopted the Reconciliation Action Plan (the Plan) to guide future discussions and Council recommendations that advance truth, justice, and Reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, inspired by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action, the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous People, and the City’s Commitments to Indigenous Peoples. The Plan includes 28 actions and 141 sub-actions to guide City staff.

Over the past three years, the Plan has guided City divisions, agencies, and corporations to take unprecedented and bold steps toward Reconciliation with Indigenous communities. The City has seen the most impactful outcomes when initiatives are rooted in strong community partnerships and a commitment to co-creating^[1] solutions with Indigenous communities.

This report reflects on the first four years of implementation, highlighting progress, challenges, and opportunities. It showcases strong and authentic collaborations between City divisions and Indigenous communities that created programs anchored by the principles of self-determination and co-creation, offering transformative support for urban Indigenous people. The report also acknowledges key lessons learned in the engagement, design, implementation and monitoring of the Plan which has led some community partners to view their collaborations with City divisions as separate from the Plan.

Since 2022, 103 of the 141 sub-actions have started and are in progress; 3 are completed. While internally focused work has advanced some of the actions outlined in the Plan, the City has more work to do to ensure that co-creation with urban Indigenous communities is consistent and foundational to further Reconciliation efforts. In doing so, Reconciliation efforts will be community-centred, effective and meaningful.

With the recent restructure of the Community and Social Services portfolio, the Indigenous Affairs Office, along with oversight and support for the Reconciliation Action Plan now fall under the leadership of the Deputy City Manager, Community Development and Social Services. This move offers an opportunity for reflection on the City's community development approaches to Reconciliation, and to continue to rebuild trust with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities in Toronto so that the next leg of our Reconciliation journey is grounded in mutual understanding and meaningful relationships.

[1] Co-created initiatives are recommended to Council for approval before implementation.

This report provides an update on the implementation of both the Reconciliation Action Plan and projects co-created and co-led by City of Toronto divisions and Indigenous community partners between April 2022 and October 2025.  

Since implementation, a growing number of City divisions have taken steps to lead Reconciliation initiatives, from 13 divisions in 2022 to 21 this year as outlined in Appendix 1. Appendix 2 summarizes Reconciliation efforts undertaken by 9 City agencies and corporations.

Notable cumulative investments in Reconciliation in the first four years of the plan include:

- Housing: $120.568 million in capital and operating grants, subsidies and financial incentives to 13 Indigenous housing providers and Indigenous organizations.

- Indigenous Funding Framework: $7.040 million in grants to support the "take what you need, leave what you don't" community basket approach to funding.

- The Spirit Garden Project: $21.000 million to install a prominent, publicly accessible Residential Schools Monument in response to Call to Action 82.

- Indigenous Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship: $8.817 million in capital expenses and $2.769 million in operating expenses to support an Indigenous-led space with programming, services and supports for Indigenous entrepreneurs.

- Toronto Community Crisis Service: $18.071 million to support culturally relevant, mobile mental health and crisis supports for Indigenous community members.

- Toronto Shelter and Support Services: $18.781 million in operating grants to Indigenous Shelter and Support Service providers and $3.506 million in capital costs to build shelter space for Indigenous communities.

- Indigenous Arts and Culture: Economic Development and Culture provided $0.991 million to celebrate Indigenous arts and culture, including grants to enable community-led Indigenous cultural initiatives such as exhibitions, workshops, and community gatherings; funding for major new public artworks at Humber Bay Shores Park,  Ethennonnhawahstihnen’ Library and Community Recreation Centre, and the Glen Road Pedestrian Bridge; and support for ongoing programming and partnerships with Indigenous communities. 

Any additional funding required to advance the City's Reconciliation priorities will be submitted through future budget processes for Social Development and relevant City Divisions and Agencies, as required, for consideration along with other City priorities, subject to the City's financial and resource capacity.

This report also recommends one-time funding of $0.350 million to the Toronto Aboriginal Support Services Council. Funding for this is available within the 2025 Operating Budget for Social Development.

The Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer have reviewed this report and agree with the information as presented in the Financial Impact section.