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Toronto reopens spring applications for Café TO initiative

A set of tables of chairs in rows outside in an alleyway.
More applications for Cafe TO is expected to be approved this year as the city looks to support its local restaurant industry. Photo courtesy of Taylor Vick via UnSplash
Daniel Centeno - CJRU - Toronto • ON | 21-01-2022
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The City of Toronto is announcing new applications for the Café TO initiative, which is set to begin again in May this year.

"We're launching CaféTO registration now so this patio program will be up and running as soon as possible to help support restaurants and bars in the spring," said Toronto mayor John Tory.  "Through the program, 1,200 restaurants were supported with curb lane and sidewalk cafés in 2021. Restaurant and bar patios are an integral part of Toronto's economy and contribute to the energy and vibrancy of our city. We continue to encourage everyone to support Toronto’s bars and restaurants now by ordering takeout and delivery as much as possible.”

The return of the initiative was approved by Toronto City Council last fall in an effort to continue support for local restaurants and bars.

Café TO encourages local businesses to establish outdoor areas for increased seating with indoor capacities limited by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The initiative has helped these businesses safely maintain higher numbers of customers and keep business hours later.

Further, Tory said certain fees will be waived, as well as increase the number of approved applications.

To prepare for the spring, Toronto will also enact temporary use of zoning bylaws to permit larger outdoor patios than would otherwise be permitted and to allow outdoor patios in parking lots.

For now, Tory is encouraging residents to continue to shop local, support restaurants through take-out as indoor capacity restrictions loosen – until January 31, indoor dining remains prohibited in Ontario.

As restaurants are asked to navigate through a period of more restrictions in December, Restaurants Canada said more needs to be done to help the industry survive the persistent lockdown measures.

The non-profit association supports those in the foodservice industry, and continue to discuss with policymakers what they can do moving forward.

Some of their demands include:

  • An eligibility threshold starting at 10 per cent r evenue decline for the new Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program.
  • Greater forgiveness for all government-backed business loans and an extension of the repayment deadlines for loans through the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA).
  • Tax credits or other sources of funding to defray the costs incurred from pandemic safety expenditures.

While federal finance minister Chrystia Freeland mentioned some government relief for the foodservice industry on Jan. 12, more details are expected to be released as some provinces return to 50 percent indoor capacity.

The Toronto office of Restaurants Canada is expected to speak with CJRU later next week.

More to come.

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