Community Benefits & Supports
Leaving communities better than we found them.- Projects & Programs
- Community Benefits & Supports
- Four-Pillar Program
Four-Pillar Program
Metrolinx Community Benefits & Supports will be implemented across our transit projects region-wide and delivered in a consistent way to mitigate impacts on local communities and businesses.
Pillar 1: Employment Opportunities
This pillar promotes apprenticeship training and workforce development opportunities for local communities and equity seeking groups including 10% hiring targets for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Colour), women, apprentices and requirements for an anti-racism policy.
During 2023-24, 45.8% of the workforce hired on the LRT and Subways projects that are reporting data have identified as Black, Indigenous and Persons of Colour, and 28.8% have identified as women.
Pillar 2: Local Business Supports
This pillar builds and fosters relationships with local businesses to minimize and alleviate business disruptions & reduce the economic impacts as a result of construction, for example through shop local initiatives & procurement from local businesses.
Kayanase Greenhouse is an Indigenous-owned ecological restoration and native plant and seed business. In 2023, Metrolinx partnered with them and Six Nations of the Grand River and purchased 600 trees and shrubs for community giveaway events. During 2023-24, over $35.7M has been spent in local investments (social enterprises and local businesses) across the LRT and Subways projects.
Pillar 3: Public Realm Improvements
During the design and development phase of our projects, we are finding ways to leave the surroundings in an improved state when construction of the project creates temporary disruptions.
Through work on the Ontario Line, Metrolinx is increasing the area of four parks impacted by transit construction by 2,600 square metres.
Pillar 4: Community Improvement Supports
We are working with communities as a connector to the right decision-makers to make improvements to public spaces surrounding transit project construction, where no funding is available.
MSF land transferred to the City of Toronto for the construction of a community centre in the Finch West community
