Small business & main streets

GO DEEPER · POLICY & PRIORITIES · What will you do?

P05 · question 5 of 10

What would you do during your first two years to protect and strengthen businesses on the Danforth, Gerrard, Queen, Pape and other commercial streets? What would it cost?

Quick version: S05 · What is the one thing City Hall should do for Danforth, Gerrard and Queen businesses in your first two years?

Approach & proposed action

Susan Chapelle

I have run businesses and built space for local entrepreneurs. I know that rent, staffing and a stalled permit become urgent long before a City report reaches committee. During my first two years, I would make City Hall easier for small businesses to navigate. Pursue simpler patio, renovation and signage applications, coordinated departmental reviews and one accountable contact for stalled permits. Regular meetings with BIAs and independent operators, including businesses outside BIA boundaries, would help identify problems. I would also seek legally defensible zoning changes requiring Council review for defined categories of large chain development, such as major fast-food outlets. That review should consider neighbourhood needs, commercial diversity, street access and local economic impacts. My community economic development background would guide this work. I would defend employment lands for trades, manufacturing, studios and production, and seek viable commercial space in redevelopment, including opportunities for displaced businesses to return. Businesses need customers who can reach them. I would prioritize reliable transit, accessible loading, safe sidewalks, waste collection and public washrooms. During construction, I would press for maintained business access and support for documented losses. I would help operators access improvement funding and examine whether commercial tax relief actually reaches tenants.

Jason Stevens

public a "lonely planet Danforth " type promotional brochure on all local business and distribute globally

Maria Voutsinas

I have met with BIAs to learn what their concerns are. They have proposed a few measures aimed at promoting small, independent businesses such as pop up locations to allow new business owners to try out a location and business idea, incentives for landlords who rent quickly rather than holding out for a large chain, incentives or tax breaks for landlords who support new businesses, predictable mult-year property tax forecasting that will support their ability to plan, community policing to discourage vandalism and shoplifting, support for businesses forced to deal with disruptions outside their control such as construction and a City Buy Local policy that would prioritize City Hall and local Councillors from accessing suppliers from within the community. I would continue to engage with BIAs to identify how to best support them.

Cost & funding

Susan Chapelle

I would start with existing economic development, BIA and permit resources, then cost any additional coordination staff. Cleaner streets, washrooms and transportation improvements would be funded through the operating and capital budgets, with BIA partnerships for agreed enhancements. Existing grant programs should be used where businesses qualify. Construction compensation requires provincial funding and agreement. Any new commercial space program would need a business case and funding source. I would support targeted small business relief rather than broad subsidies to large corporations. I cannot give an honest total before staff cost the scope, but I would publish estimates before seeking approval.

Trade-offs & affected groups

Susan Chapelle

Independent retailers, restaurants, service businesses, artists and trades benefit from simpler processes and reliable street access. Their workers and customers benefit too. Commercial tenants may receive little benefit from property tax reductions unless lease terms pass savings through. Fee relief reduces City revenue; grants require eligibility rules and can favour owners able to provide matching funds. Patios, deliveries and accessible sidewalks compete for space. Redevelopment can create housing while displacing shops and affordable workspaces. I would assess these effects openly, include businesses outside established associations and avoid designing support that mainly reaches the best connected or financially strongest applicants.

Authority & feasibility

Susan Chapelle

Council can change municipal fees, fund economic development programs, improve public streets and use planning tools within provincial law. It can maintain small business property tax measures, but cannot rewrite private commercial leases or prohibit every chain store. Coordinated permit reviews and business outreach are early steps. New grants, supported commercial space and major streetscape changes need budgets and, sometimes, partners. I would work with Economic Development, Transportation Services, planning staff and BIAs to identify the responsible decision-maker for each problem. Where provincial rules or landlords control the outcome, I would say so and pursue cooperation rather than promise powers.

Deliverable & timeline

Susan Chapelle

During the first six months, I would establish a business contact network across Ward 14 and collect recurring permit, access and service problems. I would include small operators who lack time to attend formal meetings. By the end of year one, I would seek a coordinated response to priority permit problems and publish a guide to business support. In year two, I would pursue approved process changes and funded access improvements, while pressing for construction assistance. Progress measures would include response times, resolved cases and completed improvements. I would report outstanding problems and distinguish City action from decisions controlled elsewhere.

Supporting sources

Susan Chapelle

City of Toronto Commercial Space Renovation Grant Program, on assistance for vacant storefront improvements. Small Business Property Tax Subclass guidance and 2026 budget decisions, on existing targeted tax relief. Danforth Avenue Complete Street and Planning Study, on loading and street access. Metrolinx Community Benefits and Supports framework and Toronto Ontario Line construction recommendations, on business disruption.

Responded, but not to this question

Denise Walcott

No response yet

Maqsood Ahmad · Sara Ehrhardt · George Fawcett · Mary Fragedakis · John Kladitis · Michael Mitchell · Caryma Sa'd · Dianne Saxe · Devyn Stackhouse · Christiane Tetreault