In November 2024, Sidewalks to Skylines: A 10-Year Action Plan for Toronto’s Economy (2025-2035) was adopted by City Council to guide and shape Toronto’s economic development decision-making during a time of global economic uncertainty. The plan includes three priorities – Strong Main Streets, Quality Jobs and Global Competitiveness – anchored within a foundational priority: Getting the Basics Right. Within these priorities are 73 actions, including 29 leading actions.
A total of seven additional actions arising from the Mayor’s Economic Action Plan in Response to U.S. Tariffs and the City of Toronto Inclusive Economic Development Framework have now been integrated into Sidewalks to Skylines. Moving forward, City staff will track the implementation of these 80 actions and report annually to Council on the progress and impacts of the plan.
The Mayor’s Action Plan in Response to US Tariffs was adopted by City Council in March 2025, responding to significant changes in American economic policy relating to Canada. It details ten immediate actions to be implemented in the first 30 days following Council adoption of the plan, to ensure Toronto remains resilient amidst economic adversity while continuing to build a strong and diversified economy. A second phase of the plan introduced six long-term economic opportunities drawn from the Mayor’s Economic Action Team.
Sidewalks to Skylines identifies economic polarization as a key challenge. It recognizes that attracting investment and sustaining economic growth requires a different approach, one that ensures that residents and workers across the city can participate in, and benefit from, economic growth. To advance this shift, Sidewalks to Skylines action 4 directs the City to collaborate with external partners to reduce barriers to economic inclusion.
In April 2026, City Council adopted the Inclusive Economic Development Framework and directed City divisions, as part of new or updated Secondary Plans, to identify opportunities to advance inclusive economic development through land use, commercial space and related policies that support local employment, diverse business activity and improved access to jobs.
In May 2026, as part of the Sidewalks to Skylines first annual progress report, Council the adopted the addition of actions 78 to 80 focused on Inclusive Economic Development as part of the first five-year work plan.
The actions under this foundational priority are related to ensuring critical elements and inputs that are necessary to adequately support growth and long-term economic sustainability are readily available. Addressing these actions will ensure that Toronto has a greater capacity to be responsive and adaptive to changing economic conditions, making the city in turn, a more attractive destination for businesses and talent.
The actions under this priority ensure that as Toronto continues to grow and evolve, it can recognize and protect the unique fabric of its main streets, ensuring that they remain vibrant, diverse and accessible to all. This priority underscores the critical role of small businesses in supporting a locally robust economy and community character in a manner that contributes to making Toronto a dynamic, desirable and inclusive city.
The actions under this priority highlight the importance of growing local employment and supporting community wealth building opportunities. Throughout consultations, participants felt that the City can strengthen its support for Indigenous, Black and equity-deserving businesses, while also expanding employment opportunities for youth, people with disabilities and other equity-deserving populations.
The actions under this priority ensure that businesses across multiple sectors are supported to locate and scale to help boost Toronto’s economic productivity and employment opportunities. A critical component of the actions under this priority is embedded in strengthening partnerships with the private sector and post-secondary institutions.
The implementation of the Action Plan will be carried out by an Interdivisional Committee with representatives from the relevant City Divisions, Agencies and Boards.
A progress update will be presented to City Council for each of the implementation years. At the end of five years, the success indicators from the first term of the Action Plan for Toronto’s Economy will be assessed alongside economic trends and relevant macroeconomic indicators to validate the approach, assess overall impact of the actions and identify new actions for 2030 to 2035.
The successes, learnings and a new five-year action plan will then be presented for City Council’s consideration. This two-term approach allows the Action Plan to adapt to changing economic and political circumstances while setting up long-term priorities and overall success for Toronto’s economy.
In May 2025, City Council adopted the first annual progress report for Sidewalks to Skylines. One year into implementation, more than 90 percent of the plan’s original 73 actions are completed or in process. The report provides an overview of the work in 2025 toward achieving these actions and highlights key progress and successes. Attachment 1 provides details of the status and update for all actions within Sidewalks to Skylines and includes additional actions related to the Mayor’s Economic Action Plan in Response to US Tariffs. Notably, of the ten short-term actions identified in the Tariff Action Plan, all ten have been implemented; five fully and five with ongoing activity.
The Action Plan was informed by many stakeholder groups through robust internal and external engagement over the course of a year and a half including 15 City Divisions, Agencies and Boards, as well as four Council Advisory Bodies.
The public was broadly consulted and engaged at many points to solicit feedback from:
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