We've copied a letter below, in it's entirety, from Mayor John Tory in regards to the proposed patio fees.
You can also download the official PDF by
Dear restaurant owner,
I am writing to address the issue raised this past week about potential increases to patio fees in Toronto. I want to assure you that I fully recognize the vital importance of your establishments to our communities and their contributions to the vibrancy of our neighbourhoods. I want to stress that, as this review of our patio by-laws is undertaken, I will not support any new regulations and fees that unreasonably impact your business.
Currently, the city’s patios are governed under different by-laws that pre-date amalgamation. As a result, our City staff have undertaken the appropriate task of harmonizing these by-laws into one coherent set of regulations. As these by-laws are harmonized, staff are assessing the fees that you pay to occupy the sidewalk with patio space. Many of these fees, like the other regulations in the by-laws, have not been assessed or updated for many years. On January 30th, City staff held a consultation at City Hall to receive feedback on possible fee structures. The fees proposed at that consultation caught many off guard including me, and garnered considerable media attention.
While I support the work of our City staff to modernize these by-laws and review the fees, I want to assure you that I will be working with them and my colleagues on Council to arrive at updated regulations and fees that work for you and your business, while maintaining the integrity of our public space. In my discussions with City staff, I have made it clear that I do not support excessive fees and that this review will need to balance the value of sidewalks as a City asset, with the many public benefits that patios bring to our communities. I know staff have heard from many of you as well, and that they fully understand the need to develop reasonable fees and regulations.
Patios are a great part of my life – in the warmer months, I spend plenty of time when I can with friends and family, catching up and enjoying our many vibrant neighbourhoods and communities. In the coming months, I will work with you, City staff and my colleagues on Council, to maintain the wonderful patio culture that you have helped to create in this city.
In the meantime, please do not hesitate to reach out to my office should you have any other issues or concerns.
Sincerely,
John Tory
Mayor of Toronto
