City ready to go live with CafeTO -- sort of

While Toronto's Mayor is ready to welcome the return of restaurant patios, the city's top doctor seems less certain

Torontosun.com
June 3, 2021

“We’ll be ready.”

As Toronto looks forward to possibly seeing the return of outdoor dining as early as next week, Mayor John Tory said on Wednesday that the city’s ready for an immediate return of CafeTO.

“People, going around the city, can see a lot of the elements are installed, so that when the provincial order comes off, we’re ready to open patio and curb lane CafeTO installations ASAP,” Tory said.

As of Wednesday, 637 curbside cafes have been installed by city crews, Tory said -- with 57 on Danforth Ave. expected to be completed by Friday.

Twenty-two will be installed in the Beaches by Thursday, as well as 49 in areas not served by Business Improvement Areas (BIAs) undergoing final review.

However, not everybody at City Hall seems to share Tory’s enthusiasm.

Medical Officer of Health Dr. Eileen de Villa remained noncommittal when asked if she’d have any objections to the return of outdoor dining.

“I think the important part here is to do any actions or to take any actions in respect of reopening in keeping with the best available data on what’s actually happening out in the province and the community in regards to COVID-19, and to do so in a way that’s informed with the best available evidence, as well,” she said.

“We’re having constant conversations with our provincial partners in this regard, and we have every intention to continue productive conversations and to ensure that we’re bringing forward data and evidence as decisions are considered and discussed.”

Toronto council passed a motion in February authorizing the return of CafeTO, which last summer allowed nearly 900 city restaurants to operate outdoor patios on sidewalks and on closed-off curb lanes of city streets.

A city-led survey found 66% of bar and restaurant owners credited the program with keeping them from going out of business.