Featured Guest
You’ll find this guest among our growing roll of Urban Champions.
John Tory
Mayor of Toronto
Presentations
Context
In Toronto, hotels, restaurants, live music and theatre venues have been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. These industries generally comprise of small and medium-sized businesses who are unable to open at full capacity. They are devastated by the lack of pedestrian life and require immediate interventions and other supports to survive the upcoming weeks and months as the recovery efforts get underway. The tourism and cultural industries were among the hardest hit and will be among the last to recover.
Summit Format
In consultation with the Entertainment and Downtown-Yonge Business Improvement Areas, the Mayor convened a listening session for representatives from these four sectors (Live Theatre, Dance and Opera; Live Music; Restaurants; and Hotels) to lay out the challenges they were facing, and their recommendations for actions by government. In addition to the Mayor, the meeting was also attended by Councillor Brad Bradford, and by elected officials from the federal government: The Honourable Mona Fortier (Minister of Middle Class Prosperity and Associate Minister of Finance), Adam Vaughan (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development (Housing), and Julie Dabrusin (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage); and the provincial government: Sheref Sabawy (Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries).
The meeting was convened by the Canadian Urban Institute (CUI) and facilitated by its CEO Mary W. Rowe. Although the focus of this session was Toronto, many of the challenges expressed during the session represent common areas of concern for Canadian cities. CUI is working across the country with partners to raise the issues facing local economies: www.bringbackmainstreet.ca and www.restorethecore.ca.
Key Challenges
A committed, detailed, and viable path to reopen
Toronto’s creative spirit is in crisis as artists are leaving the city and taking their talents elsewhere. A clear plan must be laid out to reopen hotels, entertainment, and hospitality sectors. Reopening will bring immense economic benefits to these sectors and have a trickle-down effect on Toronto’s tourism sector. Beyond economic benefits of reopening, the culture industries made up of creative agents that can help engage the public in a process of public healing. Using the arts to spread positivity and social connectedness after more than a year of isolation and hopelessness is of great importance. A clear timeframe must be established for reopening. The cultural industries have no clear indication on what a reopening path looks like. Art making and projects require months to prepare so having no timeframe is a major roadblock for many. Cultural industries are seeking clear information pertaining to what is possible in venues and theatres in terms of audience capacity. Additionally, they want to know what the public health protocols will be during the reopening process, e.g., social distancing measures, workplace safety measures.
Governments must actively consult with the cultural industries in Toronto
Hotels, restaurants and live theatre and music industries want to be in the room where decisions are been made. They want to be properly consulted on matters that directly impact them. Cultural industries believe they were omitted from tourism recovery roundtables. The various representatives from the arts sectors believe that there is a serious lack of consultation when discussing matters related to reopening Ontario. Cultural industries in Toronto want a seat at the table and be consulted on a regular basis as reopening significantly impacts their livelihood. For example, entertainment and hospitality sectors advocate for more friendly immigration policies and rapid testing plan as borders reopen.
Additional and continued financial support for a sustainable and just recovery
The hotels, entertainment, and hospitality sectors were the first to close and will most likely be the last to reopen. Government support is essential during the recovery period. The government support programs, e.g., wage subsidy and rent relief programs have helped many small and medium sized businesses in Toronto. Many businesses are drained from 18 months of minimal to no cash flow so extending CEWS and CERS to December 2021 for the hardest hit businesses and individuals must remain a priority. These programs should remain and not expire come September. Ontario Arts Council supports over 1100 organizations and 2000 individual artists so increasing the Council’s budget will help many who require various forms of support. Additionally, increasing and maintaining funding to both Ontario Music Investment Fund (OMIF) and Reconnect will help stimulate economic growth and job creation in the entertainment sector during recovery period. Many small and medium sized businesses along with other organizations have accrued punishing debt, ongoing debt forgiveness is needed moving forward.
Access to affordable insurance coverage
The representatives from the live music and restaurant industries express that many in their community have been met with ‘skyrocketing’ commercial insurance rates. Insurance has become a big hurdle. Many in the community either have no insurance coverage or coverage that is so expensive that it is unaffordable. The representatives hope that the public sector works with them to address the issue pertaining to the lack of access to affordable insurance.
Proposed Actions for Consideration
Federal Government
- Extend the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) and Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS) to December 2021 so it can help keep employees on payroll, facilitate the return to normalcy, and help with rent, mortgage, and other expenses.
- Bolster Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF) and Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability Program (HASCAP) to provide low interest loans for small businesses heavily impacted by COVID-19.
- Continued financial investments in arts, culture, heritage and sport industries, e.g., Ontario Music Investment Fund and Reconnect to stimulate recovery and growth.
- Access to rapid testing and other technology that can help mitigate the spread of the virus.
- Addressing debt forgiveness to alleviate the financial burden businesses have accrued.
- Help revive main streets in partnership with the cultural community.
- Continued campaigns to secure consumer confidence to show that gathering is safe again.
Provincial Government
- Provide detailed information about the public health protocols in place during the reopening process, e.g., social distancing measures and workplace safety measures.
- Greater regulation of the insurance industry to combat the skyrocketing insurance rates and provide accessible, affordable insurance coverage.
- Support the number of programs targeting the tourism businesses. E.g., Ontario Tourism and Travel Small Business Support Grant – one-time payments of $10,000 to $20,000 to eligible small businesses.
- Continued relief through the Community Building Fund to help communities, non-profit tourism, culture and sports and creation organizations recover from pandemic.
- Work with regional tourism organizations including Destination Toronto in efforts to support pandemic recovery in Toronto, Brampton and Mississauga.
- 20% reduction in beverage alcohol pricing.
- Continue to initiate advisory committees with representation from the hotels, entertainment, and hospitality sectors in order to gain valuable insights concerning the recovery plan moving forward.
Municipal Government
- Continue to advocate for working collectively as governments on recovery efforts for the hotels, entertainment, and hospitality sectors
- Work quickly to provide a set roadmap moving forward where there is clarity concerning applicable regulations, guidelines, and rules with respect to venues, capacity, bookings is shared.
- Allow CaféTO to stay during the recovery.
- Adopt friendly immigration policies to support the hospitality sector.
- Support initiatives that attract tourists to Toronto, including those from within the province.
- Securing thousands of jobs within the entertainment, tourism and hospitality sectors is significant as these sectors are a big part of creating the ‘feel of the city’.
- Appoint a representative inside the city to focus on the Live Theatre, Dance, and Opera industry.
- The City of Toronto to work closely with Destination Toronto on a ‘big program’ (awaiting launch) to liven up the main streets and draw people to vibrant spaces around the city.
- Turn to the culture industries and creative agents to help engage the public through a process of healing and spread positivity.
Next Steps
The Mayor committed to work with CUI and initiate a joint conversation with provincial and federal governments immediately to address the challenges raised here.
Full Panel
Transcript
Note to readers: This video session was transcribed using auto-transcribing software. Manual editing was undertaken in an effort to improve readability and clarity. Questions or concerns with the transcription can be directed to events@canurb.org with “transcription” in the subject line.
Full Audience
Chatroom Transcript
Note to reader: Chat comments have been edited for ease of readability. The text has not been edited for spelling or grammar. For questions or concerns, please contact events@canurb.org with “Chat Comments” in the subject lin
From Canadian Urban Institute: You can find transcripts and recordings of today’s and all our webinars at https://canurb.org/citytalk09:44:36 From Mary W Rowe : welcome everyone 🙂
09:45:39 From MPP Jill Andrew : Sending well wishes to everyone from our find riding of Toronto-St.Paul’s:) MPP Jill Andrew
09:45:50 From MPP Jill Andrew : *fine*
09:47:06 From T Taitt to All panelists : Back at you Jill. xo
09:50:28 From Mary W Rowe : folks make sure your comments are directed to Panelists and Attendees 🙂 so everyone benefits from your perspective —
09:51:41 From MARIA JOSE DIAZ GOMEZ to All panelists : Good morning, Can you please tell us the panelist name? Thanks
09:52:15 From Mary W Rowe to MARIA JOSE DIAZ GOMEZ and all panelists : Sheref Zabawy – PA to Minister Macleod
09:52:51 From MARIA JOSE DIAZ GOMEZ to All panelists : Thanks
09:53:17 From Farhan Kassam to All panelists : Thanks for doing this ,can we please get the links to these programs for tourism supports from Ontario please
09:55:14 From Mary W Rowe to Farhan Kassam and all panelists : farhan post those comments to Panelists and Everyone please
09:56:02 From Farhan Kassam : Hi all thanks for doing this, we are in the hotel industry in Toronto, when we look at Quebec they are providing low interest loans / grants to renovate and improve tourism facilities including hotels, why is Toronto and Ontario not mirroring this? While we are empty would make sense to improve our facilities with such a low cost loan or grant program
09:56:28 From Mary W Rowe to Farhan Kassam and all panelists : thx
09:57:09 From Farhan Kassam : Also can we please get the links to these 20K support programs available from Ontario , Thanks
10:02:52 From Farhan Kassam : What are the plans to promote tourism in toronto once border restrictions ease, For example in Portugal the govt is offering tourists who come in to the country 35Euros, approx 45 dollars funded by govt to spend on tourism when they submit there negative covid test to enter , what is Torontos plan to attract travellers when they are allowed to come to Canada, and can we do the same thing right now to promote other Ontarians, to come to Toronto hotels and tourism and restaurants that are open or opening soon, staycation campaign would be great to draw even Canadians to the city
10:03:26 From Torey Urquhart to All panelists : Thank you all for doing this, happy to be here.
10:04:29 From MHSTCI-Uppekha to All panelists : Ontario Support Programs: https://www.app.grants.gov.on.ca/msrf/#/ https://www.ontario.ca/page/businesses-get-help-covid-19-costs Tourism and Travel Small Business Support Grant: https://www.app.grants.gov.on.ca/otsb/#/ Ontario Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Grant Programs: https://www.mtc.gov.on.ca/en/awards_funding/funding.shtml
10:04:55 From Torey Urquhart to All panelists : question for Mona Fortier- how are we ensuring that this funding is accessible to volunteer-run initiatives in the arts that own a venue?
10:06:55 From Farhan Kassam to All panelists : Hi Mary you said someone posted the links but we cant see them in the chat?
10:07:25 From Canadian Urban Institute : Ontario Support Programs: https://www.app.grants.gov.on.ca/msrf/#/ https://www.ontario.ca/page/businesses-get-help-covid-19-costs Tourism and Travel Small Business Support Grant: https://www.app.grants.gov.on.ca/otsb/#/ Ontario Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Grant Programs: https://www.mtc.gov.on.ca/en/awards_funding/funding.shtml
10:07:44 From Torey Urquhart to All panelists : 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
10:07:52 From Farhan Kassam to All panelists : Got it now thanks
10:11:01 From Torey Urquhart to All panelists : Geberal note: I am glad that these statistics are being included. I would like to posit that this does not include those of Live Arts Indie Venues across Canada and need to especially be included to better understand this return.
10:11:27 From Canadian Urban Institute : Reminding all to please change your chat settings to “all panelists and attendees” so that everyone can see your comments
10:11:35 From MPP Jill Andrew : Will the Ontario government confront the inadequacy of the Ontario Small Business Support Grant Program? Applicants – those few fortunate enough to receive it out of the thousands who have not – have routinely told us the funding is not enough relative to their debt due to pandemic loss. In the third round, it must provide more funding and the turnaround must be faster. Will the provincial govt address the gaps?
10:13:24 From Torey Urquhart to All panelists : ^agreed. Restaurants receiving the full $20,000 installment with a 70% drop in sales is not equivalent to Indie spaces being given $10,000 for a 95% drop in sales. Meanwhile we increase restaurants’ sales from 35-65%
10:13:51 From Alnoor Gulamani to All panelists : So tired of politicians just talking about how critical this sector is but offer no leadership on reopening. We need a clear reopening plan now .
10:15:34 From liza balkan : Thank you ,Ali. Thank you TAPA. Thank you.
10:15:50 From Diana Reitberger to All panelists : Bravo Ali!!!!
10:16:00 From Steven Smits : Thank you Ali and TAPA. Such an important message shared today.
10:16:39 From Régine Cadet to All panelists : Very well said Ali and TAPA! Thank you!
10:16:56 From Rebecca Campbell : Thank you Ali and thank you Jacoba and TAPA. So important.
10:17:14 From Régine Cadet : Very well said Ali and TAPA! Thank you!
10:17:25 From Janet Sellery to All panelists : TAPA and Ali – thanks for such an articulate and inspiring message!
10:17:49 From Isaac Thomas : Thanks Ali, Jacoba, and TAPA
10:18:33 From Alnoor Gulamani to All panelists : Our USA Hospitaliity competitors are way ahead of us as they have a reopening plan whilst we continue to face delays and decimation.
10:18:40 From Mimi Mok to All panelists : Thank you Ali, Jacoba, and TAPA – very important message to be shared today
10:18:55 From Alnoor Gulamani to All panelists : Great presentation Ali
10:19:08 From Torey Urquhart to All panelists : Thanks Ali Jacoba and TAPA!
10:19:38 From T Taitt : Theatre, dance, opera and live music are the heart and soul of any metropolis that considers itself an artistic hub. Thank you Jacoba, Ali, Jesse and Erin for your voices today.
10:20:39 From Torey Urquhart to All panelists : Only 50% of these loan-based programs (CEWS CEBA etc) were able to be accessed by Live Arts Indie Venues. Many had to go off of personal funds, fundraisers, and going under
10:21:08 From maxine bailey : Jacoba and Ali massive thanx for a great presentation. Those empty theatre pics are eerily haunting.
10:22:15 From lisa zbitnew to All panelists : Thanks Erin and Jesse. You represented our plight very well. Great presentation
10:22:26 From Torey Urquhart to All panelists : (apologies, not CEWS– typo)
10:23:45 From Canadian Urban Institute : Reminding all to please change your chat settings to “all panelists and attendees” so that everyone can see your comments. You can do so by clicking on the button that currently says “all panelists” and make the switch. Thanks!
10:23:59 From MPP Jill Andrew : Thank you TAPA and CLMA for your ongoing advocacy! I look forward to continuing our fight together as we work towards the solutions that are absolutely attainable!
10:24:14 From Debbie Hutchins : Thank you CLMA for your presentation.
10:24:16 From PA Sheref Sabawy to All panelists : Please share the slide decks if possible
10:24:26 From Torey Urquhart : this collaboration for dead is 100% inspiring! Live Arts indie theatre Venues have not seen the same and wish to. Open to the conversation.
10:24:31 From MPP Jill Andrew to All panelists : Thank you all – powerful and poignant!
10:24:36 From Torey Urquhart : debt**
10:26:15 From MPP Jill Andrew : We also cannot forget our art galleries and our museums that are equally crucial to our tourism, entertainment, culture and job creation and sustainability. CMOG which is a lifeline to our museums have not been increased in near 20 years! The Ontario government cannot leave them behind and like much of our live arts sector, our galleries and museums have been left behind. MPP Jill Andrew
10:27:12 From Mayor John Tory : Tom save time I will commit to having someone focus on theatre etc as we do with music and film, to see about the sectors here being included in our rapid testing program with BOT…most probably qualify and to convene a summit on insurance….those things for starters from Toronto. John
10:27:47 From Rebecca Campbell : Thank you Erin and Jesse. Extended infrastructure support will be key, espEcially in the predatory real estate climate that defines today’s Toronto. Affordable housing and venue support, as well as artist support INTO THE FUTURE will be the only way to maintain the street level economy that allows Toronto to call itself a cultural destination, let alone a liveable city… This is extrEmely time sensitive.
10:28:57 From Barry Hughson : Thank you Ali and TAPA. We are counting on our municipal, provincial and federal government partners to come together in ensuring that the arts can recover. We are employers, community builders, and economic contributors, and we are trying to be ready to do our part in support of broad recovery, but we must see a very different approach by government in supporting our recovery. We will not return with a flip of a switch, or a Friday announcement for a Monday reopening. We need time and clarity on a roadmap to reopening specific to our sector, and that plan needs to include sector leaders who understand how we work and what is needed. We all acknowledge the challenges of managing a public health crisis that is constantly changing, and we just want to see the kind of support and clarity that other sectors have received, including our friends in film and television and professional sport. Thank you for today’s conversation, and we stand ready to collaborate in finding solutions.
10:30:24 From Mary W Rowe : appreciate your comments and suggestions and questions to this chat thanks all
10:31:57 From Mayor John Tory : My plan with council approval would be to see a cafe TO program continued well beyond the recovery.
10:32:45 From Torey Urquhart to All panelists : @ Mr Tory thank you. Please be sure to include Live Arts Indie Venues in this summit for theatres
10:36:30 From Torey Urquhart : small businesses could NOT qualify for CEBA though– some were cut out
10:38:09 From Mayor John Tory : And I will be an advocate with my government partners on things like CEWS etc
10:38:10 From Chris Glaessel to All panelists : The reality is that vaccinations, physical distance, masking and all other personal hygiene practices offer only some individual protection; however, the scientific fact is still that the coronavirus and all its variants spread through the air we breathe. The same is true for all other current and future airborne diseases, like the flu etc. Hence, community spread in indoor spaces should be the highest priority in the effort to reopen all businesses that rely on social gatherings and in person contact.
There are highly effective, sustainable, new technologies out there that clean the indoor air of theatres, restaurants, hotels, elevators, schools, long-term care homes, public transport, offices and many more.
What are the efforts of all levels of government to assist the hardest hit businesses and institutions to afford the implementation of these preventive measures?
Here is an example: www.ozonos.ca and how it works explained here: https://youtu.be/V5b5xq5Wkrg
10:39:39 From Barry Hughson to All panelists : Mayor Tory – thank you for your leadership. Rapid testing will be critical to recovery for the performing arts, as we bring hundreds of performers together to return to live performance. This continues to be a significant and expensive challenge.
10:41:04 From Blythe Haynes : I hope that a Universal Basic Income is also part of that advocacy!
10:41:55 From Torey Urquhart : Mayor Tory: Many of these Live Arts Indie Venues are falling theough the cracks due to a lack of Capacity-based relief. Volunteer-run venues operate without salaried workers, and this is often a requirement. project funding restricts capacity funding, forcing many artists to do two jobs for the pay of one. These are also the community leaders bringing our wards out of the pandemic through pantries, hand-sanitizer manufscruring, and other alternative uses for soace at this time. When will capacity relief be given to ensure that rent is paid and these venues do not end up closed down? How are you ensuring that the money goes to these intended artistic purposes?
10:42:26 From Torey Urquhart : Same question would be to Mr. Bradford
10:42:56 From Jacoba Knaapen : Thank you Mayor Tory for commitment to focus on theatre, and to convene a discussion around insurance challenges.
10:44:02 From Rebecca Campbell : Yes. Thank you Mayor Tory.
10:44:06 From maxine bailey : Mayor Tory thank you for stepping forward with some immediate support. Small businesses like the Canadian Film Centre are struggling to decode and fund the various steps to reopening and conducting testing. Are there any plans to create a one-stop shopping portal to help small businesses?
10:45:02 From Rebecca Campbell : Beyond this crisis… Universal Basic Income is a truly humanitarian concept/solution!
10:45:37 From Mayor John Tory : Message received loud and clear that reopening guidelines and rules even tho possibly applicable down the road are needed now to,allow for lead time planning…whether a music act, a theatre performance or a meeting in a hotel” probably #1 need on a long list. Got it
10:46:07 From Farhan Kassam : What can the city do to better enforce that airbnb is not dipping into whatever hotel business there is in the City and even more so when we start to recover?
10:46:52 From Torey Urquhart : absolutely, thank you! Also, to clarify, I think that our request may fall outside of insurance discussion as many of these Indie venues function with fluctuating and sometimes nonexistent insurance policies
10:47:19 From Mona Fortier to All panelists : Thank you all for your presentations and highlighting the current needs for reopening. I unfortunately need to log off for another commitment. I appreciate hearing from everyone today. I will be sharing your presentations with my colleagues. And I know that MPs Julie Dabrusin and Adam Vaughan will also do the same. Thank you again for having me today. Merci.
10:47:42 From Julian Sleath to All panelists : Thanks everyone. I would also like to pick up on insurance cover for event & entertainment producers. Most insurance providers will not provide cover for further cancellations due to public health issues of staff or audiences. Other Govts ( mainly Europe ) are providing insurance supports – can we do the same here ?
10:47:42 From Tony Elenis to All panelists : 100%!!!!!! Delays are just adding more to the dismal results.
10:49:17 From MPP Jill Andrew : As always, I look forward to continuing to work with all of you to ensure our sectors survive and thrive long-term beyond pandemic recovery. I have appreciated our working relationship and will continue to work closely with and for you all. While we tackle recovery, the larger systemic issues including precarious income, misclassification of many of our cultural workers, and our ongoing need for more creative spaces in a city with outrageous costs cannot be ignored any longer by govt. They are all inextricably linked. Please keep in touch JAndrew-QP@ndp.on.ca. Thank you Mayor for this meeting and as you work with your governments, we welcome you to also work with your province’s opposition. Take care everyone, MPP Jill Andrew
10:49:22 From Edwin Frizzell : Thank you Mayor Tory…without a plan…we simply remain CLOSED and other cities are benefitting from our lack of clarity.
10:50:28 From Sherrie Johnson, Crow’s Theatre : Thank you Mayor Tory for listening and responding.
10:50:34 From Jacoba Knaapen : Bravo to Janice Solomon and Mark Garner!
10:51:59 From maxine bailey : Thank you Janice Solomon!
10:52:29 From Iris Nemani : Thank you Janice Solomon and Mark Garner!
10:52:48 From Chris Glaessel : Thank you Janice Solomon and thank you Mark!
10:53:49 From Claire Hopkiinson to All panelists : Thank you to all Mayor Tory, organizers and panelists and government representatives for engaging in this critical conversation today.
10:55:01 From Sherrie Johnson, Crow’s Theatre : Thank you BIA’s – Janice and Mark.
10:55:17 From Robert Sauvey to All panelists : Thank you Mayor Tory and all the panelists!
10:55:27 From Edwin Frizzell : Thank you for all of the support! Let’s commit to having the NEXT meeting on this topic IN PERSON with arts/live performance! We need to set an example and LEAD Toronto back to our rightful place in the Canadian Tourism landscape!
10:56:13 From liza balkan : Thank you, Janice Solomon and Mark Garner!
10:56:15 From Paulina Speltz to All panelists : What is this program called?
10:57:57 From Sherrie Johnson, Crow’s Theatre : Deeply appreciate all presenters, organizers, attendees and panelists participating today.
10:58:16 From Edwin Frizzell : Happy to host at Royal York!
10:58:46 From Torey Urquhart : Thank you all!
10:59:00 From Brad Bradford to All panelists : Thanks everyone
10:59:06 From Andrea Wasserman : Thank you to all
10:59:06 From Brad Bradford to All panelists : appreciate the feedback
10:59:08 From Laura Paduch : Thank you everyone for your time and thoughts
10:59:08 From Sherrie Johnson, Crow’s Theatre : Thank you Mary!!
10:59:11 From Blythe Haynes : Thanks all!
