Toronto begins accepting applications for its new street food pilot project today, but some critics say the city shouldn’t expect a stampede of potential vendors.
This spring, the city’s “Toronto a la Cart” program will see up to 15 new vendors selling a variety of ethnically diverse foods for three years.
A panel of food experts will have a say over which vendors’ selections are sold to the public.
At the same time, a similar number of hotdog vendors already in business will for one year be permitted to offer new “healthy” snacks pre-selected by the city — veggie burgers, fruit salads, bagels and soup.
Applications are being accepted in North York beginning today until Friday noon, but some local entrepreneurs considering applying say fees are too high, and the regulatory hoops too onerous. About 50 people in a Facebook group have been airing complaints. One who attended an information session the city recently held to explain Toronto a la Cart found several attendees were new immigrants who expressed concerns about the required start-up capital.
