City staff recommends plan to make CaféTO permanent

Winter is on the way, but we likely haven’t seen the end of the city’s CaféTO program.

The popular outdoor dining program was originally set up in 2020 to help restaurants function safely during the pandemic. City staff are now recommending that it becomes a permanent fixture during the spring, summer and fall months.

“We turned parking spaces into patios to support small businesses and our residents,” said Toronto Mayor John Tory. “There is overwhelming enthusiasm in favour of making the program permanent and to do so in a measured way that considers the many potential uses of public space going forward.”

More than 1,200 establishments took part in CaféTO this year, marking an increase of 51% over 2020.

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“CaféTO has brought back the energy and vibrancy of main streets across Beaches-East York as well as being a lifeline to local restaurants and communities throughout the pandemic,” said Beaches-East York Councillor Brad Bradford.

“The program has shown us that there are healthy, safe alternatives for how we share our public space. By thinking a little differently, we can make room for doing business and gathering as a community while leaving enough room for cars, bikes and transit.”

The report from city staff is recommending the return of temporary curb lanes in 2022. It also includes a recommendation to develop permanent, seasonal use of those lanes by 2023. That policy would provide flexibility to adapt to changes within the restaurant industry and evolving traffic patterns.

“Few programs have uplifted restaurant operators and the hospitality industry like CaféTO,” said John Kiru, Executive Director of the Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas. “We are ready to do whatever we can to help keep the program successful for operators and make it a fixture in Toronto.”

City staff are proposing to once again waive all application, transfer and permit fees for curb lane, sidewalk and parklet cafés in 2022.

The plan to make the program permanent still needs the green light from Executive Committee and City Council. That could happen as soon as early November.