As a part of the City of Toronto’s HousingTO 2020-2030 Action Plan, BUTO engaged residents who identify as Black living in ward 5 York South-Weston; ward 8 Eglinton-Lawrence; and ward 12 Toronto St. Paul’s. This report highlights what we learned during this consultation—capturing the stories and experiences of Black residents living in these areas, to ensure proposed solutions are reflected in the City's action plan. 

This report outlines the compounding challenges facing Black-owned businesses and residents in Little Jamaica stemming from LRT construction, pandemic impacts, and systemic planning inequities. It highlights the urgent need for financial redress, transparent BIA governance, and inclusive, community-led planning.

As part of the University of Toronto’s Workshop in Planning Practice course, graduate students under the guidance of Professor Katherine Rankin partnered with BUTO to explore strategies for preventing commercial displacement in Little Jamaica. This project builds on A Black Business Conversation report findings and provides a strategic roadmap to inform future advocacy, partnership-building, and planning efforts led by BUTO and allied organizations.

One of the largest barriers for minority-owned businesses in the social procurement process is the certification requirements imposed by the City, which require costly annual certification fees from third-party organizations to be eligible to bid on City contracts. With support from the University of Toronto’s School of Cities Anti-Black Racism/Black Lives Fund, and in partnership with the Community Economies Lab at the University of Toronto headed by Professor Jason Spicer, this report presents three approaches through which to waive certification fees for diverse suppliers.

This report explores the potential for a Community Land Trust (CLT) in Little Jamaica as a tool to support Black business owners and preserve community assets. Through funding from the Atkinson Foundation and Metcalf Foundation, we engaged residents, business owners, and stakeholders to assess interest and readiness for a CLT and other shared ownership models.