Item - 2025.EX25.18

The Executive Committee recommends that:

1. City Council amend the composition of the Heritage Toronto Board of Directors by reducing the number of public members from 21 to 11, effective immediately, so that the overall composition of the Board would be reduced from 23 members to 13 members as follows: 

- The Mayor or a Council Member appointed by the Mayor as the Mayor's designate;

- 1 Member of City Council;

- 10 public members; and

- 1 Member of the Indigenous community.

2. City Council amend the City's Relationship Framework with Heritage Toronto to reflect the amendment to the Board's composition set out in Recommendation 1 above.

3. City Council authorize the City Manager, in consultation with the City Solicitor, to implement any necessary technical and substantive amendments to the City's Relationship Framework with Heritage Toronto consistent with City Council directions and City Council authorize the City Solicitor to introduce the necessary Bills amending Chapter 103, Heritage, of the Toronto Municipal Code to reflect City Council's decisions in the report (July 2, 2025) from the City Manager .

4. City Council direct that the appointment of the following two public members of the Board, appointed for a term of office ending February 4, 2024 and until successors are appointed, end effective immediately upon amending the Board's composition set out in Recommendation 1 above:

- Colin Smillie; and

- Sarah Watson.

The purpose of this report is to seek City Council authority to amend the composition of the Heritage Toronto Board of Directors.

The Board of Directors of Heritage Toronto has submitted a request for City Council to amend the composition of the Heritage Toronto Board of Directors to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of Board and agency operations. The request and decisions of the Board of Directors is set out in Attachment 1 to this report from the Chair of the Heritage Toronto Board (June 20, 2025).

City Council's approval of the Board's recommendations would result in a change to the composition of the Heritage Toronto Board from 23 members to 13 by reducing the number of public members from 21 to 11. This change requires amendments to the Relationship Framework for City of Toronto with Heritage Toronto and Municipal Code Chapter 103, Heritage.

City Council policy allows Agencies of the City of Toronto to request that City Council consider amendment of their board structures, bylaws and their Relationship Frameworks.