Item - 2026.EC28.1

The Economic and Community Development Committee recommends that:

1. City Council adopt updates made to Sidewalks to Skylines Actions 2, 3, 6, 7, 9, 12, 32, 52, 60 and 70, the integration of Actions 74 to 77 from the Mayor's Economic Action Plan in Response to US Tariffs, and the addition of Actions 78 to 80 focused on Inclusive Economic Development as part of Sidewalks to Skylines first five-year work plan as outlined in Attachment 1 to the report (April 21, 2026) from the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture.

2. City Council request the General Manager of Economic Development and Culture, in consultation with the Chief Procurement Officer, Purchasing and Materials Management Division, and the Chief Technology Officer, Technology Services Division, to explore opportunities for the City of Toronto to support the development of Canadian software solutions for municipal use, through implementation of Sidewalks to Skylines: A 10-Year Action Plan for Toronto’s Economy (2025–2035).

3. City Council request the Federal Government to consider creating a targeted federal initiative, to support the development and scaling of Canadian software solutions as digital public infrastructure based on open standards and under open-source licencing for widespread use by municipalities and other public sector organizations, with the objective of reducing reliance on major foreign technology vendors where appropriate.

4. City Council request the Federal Government to consider partnering with the City of Toronto to pilot these solutions during development, subject to applicable Chapter 195, Procurement Bylaw rules and trade agreement obligations.

5. City Council request the City Clerk to forward item EC28.1 to the Minister of Industry and the Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation.

In November 2024, Toronto City Council adopted Sidewalks to Skylines: A 10-Year Action Plan for Toronto’s Economy (2025-2035). Shortly following, in March 2025, City Council adopted the Mayor's Economic Action Plan in Response to US Tariffs responding to significant changes in American economic policy relating to Canada. This report provides an update on the City's progress in implementing Sidewalks to Skylines in 2025, the Action Plan in Response to US Tariffs in 2025 and 2026 and the Red Tape Hotline for Businesses pilot project.

Sidewalks to Skylines and the Mayor's Economic Action Plan in Response to US Tariffs are City-wide efforts, spanning work across multiple City Divisions. With the support of other City Divisions, the Economic Development and Culture Division (EDC) is coordinating the tracking of implementation of these two comprehensive economic development plans.

One year into the implementation of Sidewalks to Skylines, over 90 percent of the plan's original 73 actions are completed or in process. This report provides an overview of the work in 2025 toward achieving these actions and highlights key progress and successes. The report recommends Council adopt updates to the original 73 Sidewalks to Skylines actions and add four actions from the Tariff Action Plan not otherwise addressed in Sidewalks to Skylines and three actions focused on Inclusive Economic Development.

Attachment 1 provides a detailed status update on the first year of implementation for all original Sidewalks to Skylines and additionally lists the four net-new long-term actions of the Tariff Action Plan and three actions on inclusive economic development, for a total of 80.

The Economic and Community Development Committee recommends that:

1. City Council adopt updates made to Sidewalks to Skylines Actions 2, 3, 6, 7, 9, 12, 32, 52, 60 and 70, the integration of Actions 74 to 77 from the Mayor's Economic Action Plan in Response to US Tariffs, and the addition of Actions 78 to 80 focused on Inclusive Economic Development as part of Sidewalks to Skylines first five-year work plan as outlined in Attachment 1 to the report (April 21, 2026) from the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture.

2. City Council request the General Manager of Economic Development and Culture, in consultation with the Chief Procurement Officer, Purchasing and Materials Management Division, and the Chief Technology Officer, Technology Services Division, to explore opportunities for the City of Toronto to support the development of Canadian software solutions for municipal use, through implementation of Sidewalks to Skylines: A 10-Year Action Plan for Toronto’s Economy (2025–2035).

3. City Council request the Federal Government to consider creating a targeted federal initiative, to support the development and scaling of Canadian software solutions as digital public infrastructure based on open standards and under open-source licencing for widespread use by municipalities and other public sector organizations, with the objective of reducing reliance on major foreign technology vendors where appropriate.

4. City Council request the Federal Government to consider partnering with the City of Toronto to pilot these solutions during development, subject to applicable Chapter 195, Procurement Bylaw rules and trade agreement obligations.

5. City Council request the City Clerk to forward item EC28.1 to the Minister of Industry and the Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation.

In November 2024, Toronto City Council adopted Sidewalks to Skylines: A 10-Year Action Plan for Toronto’s Economy (2025-2035). Shortly following, in March 2025, City Council adopted the Mayor's Economic Action Plan in Response to US Tariffs responding to significant changes in American economic policy relating to Canada. This report provides an update on the City's progress in implementing Sidewalks to Skylines in 2025, the Action Plan in Response to US Tariffs in 2025 and 2026 and the Red Tape Hotline for Businesses pilot project.

Sidewalks to Skylines and the Mayor's Economic Action Plan in Response to US Tariffs are City-wide efforts, spanning work across multiple City Divisions. With the support of other City Divisions, the Economic Development and Culture Division (EDC) is coordinating the tracking of implementation of these two comprehensive economic development plans.

One year into the implementation of Sidewalks to Skylines, over 90 percent of the plan's original 73 actions are completed or in process. This report provides an overview of the work in 2025 toward achieving these actions and highlights key progress and successes. The report recommends Council adopt updates to the original 73 Sidewalks to Skylines actions and add four actions from the Tariff Action Plan not otherwise addressed in Sidewalks to Skylines and three actions focused on Inclusive Economic Development.

Attachment 1 provides a detailed status update on the first year of implementation for all original Sidewalks to Skylines and additionally lists the four net-new long-term actions of the Tariff Action Plan and three actions on inclusive economic development, for a total of 80.