The following recommendations are based on the evaluation findings and conclusions. Given that the results show that some aspects of design and delivery may be limiting the achievements of outcomes, recommendations are primarily focused on program design and delivery.
Recommendation 1:
Further exploration of the extent to which the federal component of the TWRI has been successful in meeting its expected outcomes should be undertaken, once the implementation phase of the program is completed.
To date, few projects have been completed, and many projects undertaken to date have involved planning or preparation for subsequent construction. Many of the expected outcomes for the federal TWRI, including increased economic activity and others, cannot be fully measured at this point. Additional work should be undertaken in order to determine the extent to which the TWRI has been fully able to achieve its expected outcomes once the implementation phase of the program is completed.
Recommendation 2:
The federal TWRI Secretariat should continue to work with the Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Corporation to develop methods for the timely expenditure of federal TWRI funding.
Given the slow pace of expenditure of the federal funding allocated to the TWRI, and the fact that only approximately three years remain before the federal sunset date for the TWRI, the federal TWRI Secretariat should continue to work with the TWRC to increase the timeliness of TWRI project implementation and completion. The evaluation noted that the federal government, with the City of Toronto, the Province of Ontario and the TWRC, have developed a work plan and other processes to improve the timeliness of revitalization activities.
Recommendation 3:
The appropriateness of the $10-million threshold on federal contribution agreements should be re-examined.
Currently, there is a $10-million threshold for projects above which a contribution agreement must receive Treasury Board approval. As a Long-term Funding Plan is already in place to guide the remaining federal allocation of its $500 million contribution to the TWRI, an increase in this threshold may be appropriate. Given that TWRI activities are increasingly moving into implementation of planned construction projects, raising this threshold may allow future federal funding for larger-scale (i.e. those projects in excess of $10 million) TWRI projects to proceed in a timely manner.
Recommendation 4:
The federal government should continue to work with the TWRC, the City of Toronto, and the Province of Ontario to develop indemnification policies that best meet the needs of all parties.
The federal government should continue to work with its funding partners and the TWRC to revise indemnification requirements for the TWRI. This will help to ensure that TWRI projects can be carried out in a timely manner.