Spending Community Benefits funds requires the approval of City Council based on a motion prepared by the local City Councillor in collaboration with City Staff.
Community Benefits can only be used for capital projects to which the community has access and must be spent within Ward 13 - Toronto Centre. In most instances, there needs to be a geographical relationship between where the money is generated and where the money is spent.
Capital projects could include (but are not limited to) streetscape work, park improvements, affordable housing, street lighting, Heritage Preservation District studies, public art, and much more. Operational costs are not eligible for section 37, including (but not limited to) wages, maintenance and advertising.
I am committed to spending community benefits using open and transparent processes and have developed a policy in my office to help guide us. There are, generally speaking, four major categories which these capital project funds were secured and must be spent within:
- Housing: These funds can be used to secure new affordable housing or for capital repairs of existing cooperative and public housing within Ward 13. They will be allocated at the discretion of the Councillor and as approved by City Council.
- Community/Cultural/Recreational Facilities: These funds can be used to build new or renovate existing community, cultural, or recreational facilities within the ward. They will be allocated at the discretion of the Councillor or through public participatory budgeting and as approved by City Council.
- Parks: These funds can be used to improve, revitalize, or build new parks within Ward 13. They will be allocated through public participatory budgeting and as approved by City Council.
- Streetscape/Public Realm: These funds can be used for capital streetscape and public realm projects. They will be allocated through public participatory budgeting and as approved by City Council.
