When the ban on drinking in public parks could lift after council delay
Torontonians hoping to drink alcohol in public parks will have to wait another year.
Toronto City Council has voted in favour of a motion moved by Mayor John Tory to delay lifting its ban on outdoor drinking in parks until at least next year.
The vote came after a midtown city councillor tabled a motion, calling for a pilot project to permit drinking in city parks as soon as next weekend.
"If we're going to do this, if we're going to make any change, which I personally would think we could do, and do it responsibly and do it in a way that most people, the vast majority of people could accept, then we have to do it properly," Tory said in tabling the motion.
The motion specifically directs Parks, Forestry and Recreation to come up with a report that will include options to allow alcohol consumption in parks based on results of community consultations, safety considerations and a review of what other jurisdictions with a similar program learned.
"I support going about this the right way. I think that captures the broad consensus of council because I've actually spoken to the councillors. That's my job. And I want something to proceed on this in terms of some change and some improvement to the liquor laws as they presently exist in our parks or the consumption of liquor. I think this is the right way to go about it," he added.
City staff are expected to submit the report in the second quarter of 2023 to the Economic and Community Development Committee.
This is the second time the proposal from Toronto—St. Paul's Coun. Josh Matlow to allow alcohol drinking in public parks has been shelved. He brought forward a similar motion last April but was essentially shelved when members of the city's Economic and Community Development Committee referred it back to staff for further consideration, without specifically requesting that they report back.
Matlow wanted the city to run the pilot project between 11 a.m. and 9 p.m. from May 21 to Oct. 31.
Matlow's motion stated that the pilot would only permit the consumption of beverages that do not exceed 15 per cent alcohol by volume, essentially limiting the drinks that would be allowed to beer, wine and cider. The motion also stipulated that the consumption of alcoholic beverages would be prohibited "near playgrounds and sports fields, consistent with the prohibition on smoking."
As part of his motion, Matlow was also asking staff to ensure as many parks and beaches as possible have a bathroom facility, including portable toilets.
Before Tory's motion was carried by a vote of 17-2 and facing another delay, Matlow expressed his frustration with his fellow councillors.
"It just seems like this council looks for every possible reason to not deal with this question that so many residents have asked us to deal with, which is the fact that there are people in our city who have backyards, who can have family members and friends over for a drink and have a barbecue and catch up on life and be together. But there are so many Torontonians who don't live in buildings where they don't have outdoor access," he said.
"And they don't want to be treated like scofflaws every time they get together with a friend at the park and have a beer on a hot summer day or have a glass of wine with a picnic."
Matlow said alcohol consumption in public parks is not a new idea and has been adopted in other major cities around the world and in Canada.
"We are we are way behind the rest of the world," he said. "What we look like is the city council that keeps trying to find another reason because we're worried about the next phone call we're gonna get from somebody who doesn't like how somebody's behaving in a park. Well, let's deal with that problem."
- With files from Chris Fox
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
New Norad commander calls Canada's defence policy update 'very encouraging'
American troops will be spending more time training in the Far North, the new commander of Norad says, a strategy that fits 'hand-in-glove' with Canada's renewed focus on Arctic defence.
$70M Lotto Max winners kept prize a secret from family for 2 months
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Are Canadians getting sick from expired food?
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
Documents reveal Ottawa's efforts to get Loblaw, Walmart on board with grocery code
It was evident to the federal government as early as last fall that Loblaw and Walmart might be holdouts to the grocery code of conduct, jeopardizing the project's success.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Improve balance and build core strength with this exercise
When it comes to cardiovascular fitness, you may tend to focus on activities that move you forward, such as walking, running and cycling.