SAVE THE DATE

DESTINATION TORONTO ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 

Destination Toronto will hold its Annual General Meeting on Thursday, June 3, 2021 at 2 p.m. The event will be broadcast live from StudioEX, the new studio facilities at Exhibition Place. A full invitation and registration link will be sent soon. In the meantime, please hold the date and plan to join for the live broadcast.

PROVINCIAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SURVEYS 

The Ontario Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development is consulting broadly toward the formation of a provincial Workforce Development Action Plan. KPMG has been engaged to lead the consultative work and you can participate through the survey links below.

If your business is engaged in workforce development and training, or has benefited from Ontario’s government-funded training programs, you can add your perspective through any of three different surveys:

• Survey to gather feedback from employers in Ontario: MLTSD Employment Industry Survey (kpmg.ca)
• Survey to gather feedback from training service providers in Ontario: MLTSD Service Provider Survey (kpmg.ca)
• Survey to gather feedback from participants in Ontario’s government-funded training programs: MLTSD Participant Learner Survey (kpmg.ca)

The surveys will remain open through May 9.

CAFÉTO CONSTRUCTION TO BEGIN MAY 8 

The City of Toronto announced that construction and installation of curb-lane patios will proceed beginning May 8, despite the current restriction on patio dining. Mayor Tory made the announcement in an effort to ensure that restaurants can open patios as quickly as possible once restrictions are lifted.

The city could see more than 1,000 patios through the CafeTO program this year based on the large number of applicants and the earlier lead time for registration this year.

More details on the CaféTO program can be found below: 

NEW PROVISION FOR PAID SICK DAYS IN ONTARIO

The Ontario Government passed legislation this week that requires employers to provide employees with up to $200 of pay for up to three days if they are missing work because of COVID-19. The program is retroactive to April 19, 2021 and effective until September 25, 2021.

By providing time-limited access to three paid leave days, the province is enabling employees to stay home if they are sick, get tested, wait for their results in isolation or get their vaccine. The province will partner with the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board to deliver the program and reimburse employers up to $200 per day for each employee.

INDUSTRY NEWS

Luminato shifts to October: Luminato Festival Toronto – celebrating its 15^th year in 2021 – has announced a shift in date to October. Organizers made the announcement this week that the move from June dates the festival has occupied each year will allow the artists to deliver their experiences safely.

New hotels, beaches, bars and attractions set to open in Toronto: While the visitor economy has been largely halted by the pandemic, construction on some of the city’s next major attractors has continued. Toronto Life captured many of the highlights soon to open in the city in a new article that helps generate excitement for the return of visitors.

Netflix chooses Toronto for Canadian Headquarters: The corporate office will expand Netflix's local presence beyond a production hub started in the Port Lands two years ago.

ActiveTO 2021 kicks off this weekend: Pedestrians and cyclists will once again take over some major Toronto arteries this weekend as the ActiveTO program returns for the first time in 2021.