Food truck vendors who rolled into downtown Toronto for a lunch event Wednesday say they want to see restrictive bylaws changed to allow them to operate in public squares and parking lots.
The most lucrative areas for food trucks are often off limits, said vendors who gathered near Bay Adelaide Centre at noon to feed lines of hungry office workers with treats including pulled-pork tacos, shawarma and deep-fried ravioli.
"There are spaces that can host food trucks, spaces like this that aren't necessarily curbside and there is obviously a huge demand for street food," said Suresh Doss, a member of the Toronto Street Food Program who is pushing for changes to city bylaws.
The issue with changing current bylaws is that these trucks would compete for business with existing restaurants that already pay high rents in the area, said Coun. Kristyn Wong-Tam, who represents one of the downtown wards where food truck vendors want to set up shop.
"Would it be fair to the business owners and operators if we just parachuted a food truck in front of them? Most likely not," said Wong-Tam.
She suggested that maybe food trucks could be allowed on streets with fewer restaurants.
Natalie Ravoi, who runs a cupcake food truck, said she spends most of her time in Hamilton, where bylaws are less restrictive.
"Ideally, I'd like to be curbside. I'd like to pull up to the curb, serve for a few hours and move on," Ravoi said.
Ravoi said more food trucks downtown would help add charm and improve the food culture in the downtown core.
With files from CTV Toronto's Colin D'Mello
