Toronto to continue studying allowing drinking in parks and beaches

Toronto is a step closer to allowing people to drink alcohol in city parks, but it’s not happening as soon as some city councillors had hoped.

“Drinking in parks is normal in most cities around the world, this isn’t a new idea,” said Councillor Josh Matlow.

Matlow, seconded by Councillor Anthony Perruzza, proposed allowing people to drink beer and wine in parks with bathrooms starting this Victoria Day weekend.

Under their plan, people would have been able to drink any beverage of under 15 per cent alcohol by volume, in parks and beaches with bathrooms. Consumption would have been allowed between 11 a.m. and 9 p.m. and the season would come to a close on October 31. Similar to smoking laws, drinking would have also been prohibited around playgrounds and sports fields.

“There are pilots similar to what I’ve suggested in cities throughout Canada,” Matlow told the council. “In Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, and these municipalities have deemed them to be successful. They’re bringing them back.”

City staff told council members they’re tracking the pilots happening across Canada, and while some have been successful, some are making changes and some have been dropped.

“There’s a lot of information currently in its infancy of development. These are all items that just started in the last few years,” said Janie Romoff, general manager of Parks, Forestry and Recreation for the City of Toronto.

A sign at the Scarborough Heights Park.

“People will use drugs, they will use alcohol, trying to stop them is wrong and stupid”

Matlow noted that this is the second time he has brought plans for drinking in parks to the council. Last year, a committee referred the idea to city staff for study.

“We have had ongoing consultations with Toronto Public Health,” noted Romoff. She said that drinking in parks should be considered in the context of the city’s wider drug and harm reduction strategy and that TPH was developing recommendations.

“People will use drugs, they will use alcohol, trying to stop them is wrong and stupid,” said Councillor Gord Perks. “Just throwing it open and just letting everybody do it and forget about it, is wrong and stupid. The issue is, are we building the systems to make it safe?”

Matlow’s motion was up for debate today at city council and faced opposition.

“I don’t support any of this,” said Councillor Stephen Holyday “I grew up knowing there are two places you could drink: in the privacy of your own home, or in a licensed establishment. A licensed establishment is regulated. It has protections and consumer protections to ensure that it’s a safe environment.”

He added that the motion is “catering to the gratification of the very few” who could enjoy a drink in a park responsibly. “I argue they could just as easily wait until they get home.”

Mayor John Tory proposed a different route to Matlow’s motion, asking city staff to instead look at the options for bylaw changes and harm reduction and to present the council with a plan in 2023. His amendment also included provisions for public consultations. He said he was looking to find a compromise that could gain the support of city council. The proposal, with Tory’s changes, passed 17 to two.

“I have no issue with anyone responsibly having a beer or a glass of wine in a park. I think our bylaw needs to be updated, I don’t think it reflects the reality of what’s going on in the parks,” he said. “We should look at the laws in the context of what people are actually doing.”