(Toronto, ON) – TTCriders and the Toronto Environmental Alliance are reacting to today’s vote at Toronto’s Executive Committee meeting to reject a motion by Councillor Josh Matlow to investigate the city’s ability to implement a Commercial Parking Levy without the support of the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation.
“It’s irresponsible to risk leaving at least $108 million in revenue on the table because the city doesn’t want to do the work,” said TTCriders director Shelagh Pizey-Allen. “That’s enough funding to bring in transit improvements like 6-minute service on every streetcar route, 10-minute or better service on more bus routes, an earlier start to bus service on Sundays, and pay-as-you-go fare capping.”
“This is like Councillors saying no to claiming a winning lottery ticket because they don't want to walk to the store,” said Toronto Environmental Alliance Campaigns Director Sarah Buchanan. “It's frustrating to see MPAC, an unelected body, blocking this important municipal funding tool. It’s even more frustrating to see City Hall throwing up their hands and walking away without even finding out how they could do this on their own - something they have the authority to do. We want our elected leaders to fight for us, and fight for the things we need.”
“For years, we’ve been told that a commercial parking lot levy tool was within the City of Toronto’s power to implement,” said Pizey-Allen. “We are disappointed because Mayor Chow promised to implement this funding tool in 2023. Over the last six years, thousands of people have written emails and dozens of volunteers have made speeches at City meetings about this.”
The report to the Executive Committee states that “with estimated revenue potential of $100 to $108 million annually, the commercial parking levy may represent a reliable and significant source of annual revenue to the City which could be used to sustain critical municipal services, including transit.”
The City of Toronto has been studying this tool for 10 years. Countless cities have had similar tools for decades and are now benefitting the sustained funding it provides. Montreal’s Commercial Parking Lot Levy has been active since 2010, and New York has had a commercial parking lot levy since the 1980s. Now, after all this time, the report in front of us tells us that a commercial parking lot levy may never see the light of day in Toronto because MPAC doesn't want it.
Motion moved by Councillor Josh Matlow:
“Executive Committee request the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer to report to the Executive Committee prior to the 2026 Budget process on the feasibility of a City-run administration of a parking levy, including an examination of a graded pricing scheme that has a lower cost of under and above ground parking stalls.”