About the Toronto Industry Network
As an organization advocating for manufacturing in Toronto, the Toronto Industry Network (TIN) is keenly interested in increasing the City's competitiveness not only in Canada but abroad. TIN has successfully participated in the policy and decision-making processes in a number of areas including:
Mayor Ford and Council
Issue: TIN needed to introduce itself to new Mayor and many new members of Council as well as the newly constituted Council committees important to TIN.
Action: In June, TIN held a productive meeting with Mayor Rob Ford during number of key issues were discussed. Additionally, TIN has been briefing many councillors about the importance of manufacturing to the City's economy.
Official Plan Review
Issue: Toronto, like all other municipalities in Ontario, is required to carry out a statutory review of its Official Plan. This review will focus on employment lands and the issues facing them such as non-industrial uses, transportation, etc.
Action: TIN has embarked on a series on a series of consultative meetings with City planners and economic development representatives.
Zoning
Issue: In August, 2010, the City Council approved a new zoning by-law that combined 43 zoning by-laws that were in effect prior to the amalgamation of the old municipalities that now make up the new City.
Almost 700 appeals were launched including one by TIN following passage of the by-law. The by-law itself was repealed earlier this year by Council to fix deficiencies identified by the appeals.
Action: TIN was heavily engaged on behalf of its membership in the public consultation process with staff examining the proposed by-law regarding a variety of concerns including permitted uses (manufacturing activity), height, density, setbacks, loading, parking, etc. It was instrumental in securing important changes to the by-law to help manufacturers.
Property Tax Reduction
Issue: In 2004, Toronto's business property tax ratio was almost five times that of the residential. Many GTA municipalities follow or are lower than the provincial recommended standard of 2.5. This put Toronto's businesses at a significant disadvantage over their competitors.
Action: TIN strongly supported Toronto City Council's move in 2004 to reduce the industrial/commercial property tax ratio to 2.5 in 2020.
As an adjunct, TIN also carried the City's message forward to Queen's Park that the Business Education Tax levied by the Province needed to be amended. This has been done.
To Invest or not to Invest: An Industry Perspective on the Competitiveness of the City of Toronto
Water Rates
Issue: Toronto's water rate cost structure for large water users was uncompetitive when compared to many other jurisdictions.
Action: Several years ago, TIN proposed that Toronto develop special water rates for large water industrial users that were competitive with those in other jurisdictions. After consultation with TIN and other stakeholders, this change was undertaken as an economic development tool consistent with those used in competitor jurisdictions to retain and attract new business.
The City supported TIN's position and converted 7 water billing blocks into two, the second being exclusively for industries consuming more than 6,000 m3 of water annually. This has really helped large water consumers particularly in the food, paper, pharmaceutical and brewing industries.
Development Charges
Issue: Toronto is one of the few municipalities in Ontario that does not levy development charges for new or expanded manufacturing facilities. This was done by the previous Council to encourage new industrial development in the City. However, City Council passed a policy amendment to the Development Charges (DC) By-law that would permit the conversion of industrial buildings to non-industrial, non-resident uses without paying development charges.
Action: TIN objected to the change to the DC by-law noting that this would give further incentive to non-industrial, non-residential developers to demolish industrial buildings and redevelop the land. Noting that the City is engaged in a statutory Official Plan review focused on employment lands and dealing with issues such as non-industrial land use conflicts, buffering from sensitive uses, etc., TIN suggested the City wait until this process was over before changing the DC policy. Because of TIN’s concerns, the City modified to policy to allow only conversions, not demolitions, to be exempt from the DC charges.
Submission to the Policy & Finance Committee regarding the Proposed Development Charges By-law
The Development Charges By-law and the Need to keep Toronto Competitive
Environmental Reporting and Disclosure By-law (ChemTrac)
Issue: This by-law will require all business using chemicals to report what they use, how much, how they are stored and what chemicals are emitted into the airshed. Most large manufacturers in Toronto already report their emissions federally. This by-law's requirements are in addition to federal regulations and soon to be enacted provincial requirements.
The by-law will particularly affect small and medium-sized companies that mostly do not report to other governments since they usually emit small amounts.
Action: TIN opposed the by-law initially as being unnecessary and duplicative for many businesses. TIN is working with the City to ensure that the reporting process is not onerous and results in a smaller environmental footprint for business.
Response to the Toronto Public Health Environmental Reporting and Disclosure By-law
Competitiveness
The above issues point to the underlining concern TIN has about Toronto remaining competitive for business. More regulation does not necessarily mean a better business environment or a better environment for the City's residents.
Many TIN members must compete with other jurisdictions with lower costs and simpler regulations. This is a fact of life. Manufacturing is an important part of Toronto's community making up some 12% of the City's economic activity. TIN is committed to helping Toronto remain a vibrant, attractive place to live and work.