BIA Cloud

TABIA Advocacy

The Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas (TABIA) is the umbrella organization of Toronto’s 84 BIAs who in turn represent over 90,000 business and property owners.

• To promote strong, successful and effective BIAs in the City of Toronto.
• To encourage joint initiatives and collaboration that are mutually beneficial to groups within the BIA on issues and projects, including studies and research in marketing.
• To encourage and facilitate the exchange of information, experiences and ideas among BIAs through such means as our website, newsletters, seminars, workshops for the benefit of the BIA and their individual members.
• To assist BIA’s in pooling their resources to achieve the maximum benefit possible.
• To provide advocacy, to influence policies affecting BIAs, and to obtain support funds and services for BIAs from all levels of government, institutions, agencies and other organizations.
• To protect the interest of BIAs in government tourism policies and in the implementation of those policies.

The following are just some of the many advances made by TABIA:

• TABIA/City of Toronto Interdepartmental Biweekly BIA meetings bring City Staff from various departments and BIAs together so that BIA issues or departmental initiatives can be discussed and resolved before they become problems.
• As part of a City of Toronto Economic Development Department initiative BIAs were able to retain additional staffing. This initiative also allowed BIAs to participate in a 50/50 cost share program for the purchase of computer equipment. This program is now closed.
• A Simplified annual budget process and shorter wait times for receiving BIA operating funds.
• BIAs are now exempt from the city set fee structure and application frequencies when dealing with banners in designated BIA areas. This has resulted in more manageable BIA banner, floral and seasonal decoration programs and hundreds of dollars of savings for BIAs.
• BIAs are covered under the City of Toronto’s policy for Public Liability insurance. The $308 or so annual deduction from a BIAs levy covers any liability issues related to festivals, special events and streetscape initiatives and allows BIAs to satisfy the municipality’s insurance requirement for up to 5-million-dollar coverage around festivals/special events and road closures. Most Importantly the $308 covers the $50,000 deductible the city policy carries. To retain this coverage independently would not be economical for most BIAs.
• Chairing contentious Board of Management meetings and Annual General Meetings (AGMs)
• Key signature events connecting BIAs to government representatives, such as The Mayor’s Breakfast and the annual TABIA and City of Toronto Awards Night 
• Support for local business campaigns in response to the U.S.-Canada Tariffs. For example, City of Toronto launches “Love Local” campaign to support businesses and strengthen Canada’s economic resilience – City of Toronto

If there are any advocacy areas you believe TABIA should consider prioritizing, please forward them to John Kiru jkiru@toronto-bia.com or Monina Cepeda monina@toronto-bia.com