Last month when news broke that the CaféTO’s program was being made permanent  but, with the addition of  new amendments including a slew of fees, administration costs and infrastructure needs, it was met with criticism from restaurant operators who questioned the practicality of participating in 2023.

Yesterday at a council meeting, John Torry approved a motion that would offer a staggered approach to the program’s participation fees that would be phased in over the next three years with the full amount to be charged in 2025.

The fees that city staff initially recommended last month would have seen participating restaurants pay a one-time application fee of $865, as well as annual fees of $1,449 for a sidewalk cafe and $3,077 for a curb lane patio.

With the new motion, the city will reduce all permit and application fees by 66 per cent this year — one third of the program’s proposed amount — which means restaurants will now only pay a one-time application fee of $285. Permits will be set at $14.56 per square metre for sidewalk patios, and $43.70 per square mere for curb lane patios.

Council has also asked staff to study creating an additional fee tier for businesses that don’t have a liquor license or provided food service and operators will now have until August 1 to build an accessibility platform (instead of May 15).

“We are thankful for the efforts of City staff, the Mayor and Council who heard the concerns of our industry stakeholders and brought forth a phased approach to significantly reduce the financial impact of the proposed to CaféTO,” said Tracy Macgregor, VP of Ontario for Restaurants Canada. “Though we would have liked CaféTO fees deferred for another year to allow restaurants to get back on their feet, we will take yesterday’s announcement as a win for Toronto restaurants”

During the pandemic, CaféTO opened up Toronto’s streets to local restaurants, adding outdoor dining and additional space for spots struggling to operate during the harshest COVID-19 restrictions.

“The CaféTO program is a success story for our city and I am thrilled to see how it is evolving and improving as a permanent program,” said Mayor Tory in a statement. “The changes approved today will ensure that patio installations are beautiful, active and accessible, while also providing a much-needed grace period for businesses as we work together to transition into a a permanent and sustainable program that can be enjoyed by all for years to come.”