March 1, 2000

Reply:

Christine Archibald

Tenant Defence Sub-Committee

4^th Floor, West Tower

carchiba@toronto.ca

 To:Community Services Committee

From:City Clerk, Tenant Defence Sub-Committee

Subject:Grant Application - 350 and 390 Queen's Quay West (Ward 24)

Recommendation:

Despite the fact that staff have determined that the tenants' group at 350 and 390 Queen's Quay West do not meet the eligibility criteria set out for approval of a grant pursuant to the Tenant Support Grants Program, and in view of the extenuating circumstances surrounding this application relating to recent rent increases and heavy tenant turnover within the buildings, it is recommended that Council award a basic grant of $1,000 from the Tenant Support Grants Program to assist this tenants' group in disputing the landlord's Above-Guideline Rent Increase application at a Hearing before the Ontario Rental Housing Tribunal.

The Sub-Committee reports, for the information of the Community Services Committee, having:

(1)received the list of grant commitments made by the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services contained in Appendix A of her report (February 28, 2000); and

(2)requested the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services to report to the Tenant Defence Sub-Committee on a policy that would allow for an annual adjustment to the rent levels to qualify under the Tenant Defence Fund, examining such factors as cost-of-living index, CMHC average rent survey and rent increase guidelines.

Background

At its meeting on February 29, 2000, the Sub-Committee to Restore Rent Control gave consideration to the report (February 28, 2000) from the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services providing a summary of applications received to date from tenant groups with respect to the Tenant Support Grants Program of the Defence Fund and recommending that:

(1)the Tenant Defence Sub-Committee receive for information the list of grant commitments made by the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services in Appendix A;

(2)the Sub-Committee be informed that the following tenant group has applied for a grant but did not meet all of the program criteria:

-350 & 390 Queen's Quay West Tenants Association - rents exceeded the qualifying rents and did not have the minimum number of tenants' signatures on the petition; and

(3)the Sub-Committee hear deputations from this group if they request to appear before the Sub-Committee.

The Sub-Committee also had before it a communication (February 29, 2000) from Elizabeth Sheehan and Tina Kennedy on behalf of the tenants of 350 and 390 Queen's Quay West, requesting that the sub-committee consider assisting the tenants to challenge the landlord's above guideline rent proposal to the Ontario Rental Housing Tribunal by providing a Tenant Support Grant.

The following persons addressed the Sub-Committee with respect to this matter:

-Tim Welch, Agent

-Tina Konecny

The Sub-Committee's action is as noted.

   City Clerk

Christine Archibald

Item 3