Board-specific processes and requirements
Toronto Community Housing Corporation Board of Directors
The board-specific requirements set out below reflect the requirements approved by Council in September 2006.
Note: In August 2010 (Item EX46.10), City Council directed the City Manager to consider any request from the Toronto Community Housing Corporation Board of Directors for changes to its composition and consult with appropriate parties prior to reporting on this matter at the earliest opportunity in the new term of Council.
Agency profile
Toronto Community Housing Corporation manages a housing portfolio of approximately 58,500 units in over 2,000 buildings across 350 developments. The Corporation has a mandate to provide affordable rental housing for low and moderate-income households in the City, providing housing to over 164,000 tenants. Government funding subsidizing the operations is administered by the City's Shelter, Support and Housing Division acting as the Service Manager under the Social Housing Reform Act, 2000.
Toronto Community Housing is incorporated under the Ontario Business Corporations Act, with the City of Toronto as its sole shareholder.
Board responsibilities
The Board of Directors is responsible for the supervision of the management of the Corporation in accordance with the terms of the Shareholder Direction, including the following specific matters:
- establishing annual and long-range strategies and plans consistent with the provisions of the Direction
- establishing policies consistent with the Direction and the Social Housing Reform Act and all other relevant legislation
- establishing and maintaining appropriate reserves consistent with sound financial principles and program regulations established from time to time
- selecting bankers and other financial institutions and establishing all banking authorities
- appointing the officers of the Toronto Community Housing Corporation, appointing the boards of directors of the subsidiaries and approving Shareholder Directions for the subsidiaries in accordance with City direction
- directing all labour and employee-relations matters
Term of office
Two years with a renewal term of two years (without recruitment, with full recruitment every four years)
Note: The term of the 7 citizens currently serving on the board is March 17, 2008, to December 31, 2009, with a renewal term of two years to December 31, 2011, or until successors are appointed.
The term of the 2 tenants currently serving on the board is January 1, 2008, to December 31, 2009, with a renewal term of two years to December 31, 2011, or until successors are appointed.
Composition
The Board of Directors has 13 members, comprising:
- the Mayor or a member of Council as the Mayor's designate
- 3 City Councillors
- 2 citizen members who are tenants, to be directly selected by tenants and recommended to Council (interest group)
- 7 citizen members (Multiple Sourcing Recruitment)
Qualifications
In addition to the general eligibility requirements set out in the Public Appointments Policy, board members should collectively represent a range of expertise including:
- knowledge of the social housing area
- housing advocacy
- community development
- business and financial management
- understanding of corporate governance responsibilities
- organizational development
- labour relations
- legal aid experience
- social services for hard to serve tenants
- financial management expertise
Tenant board members must also:
- be a tenant of Toronto Community Housing as listed on the lease
- demonstrate some involvement in the community
- have attended an orientation session on the roles and responsibilities of being a tenant board member
- demonstrate a commitment to the values contained in the Toronto Community Housing Corporation's Human Rights, Harassment and Fair Access Policy
Meetings
The Board meets approximately 8 times a year or at the call of the Chair
Remuneration
| Chair: | $20,000 annual retainer |
| Members: | $2,500 annual retainer, plus $500 meeting up to a maximum of $10,000 |
No remuneration is paid to Members of Council who serve on the board
Nomination process - interest group and multiple sourcing
- Interest group
The 2 tenants are selected by tenants through a process developed by tenants and approved by Council. - Multiple sourcing
For the other 7 citizen appointees, a search consultant may be engaged to provide the names of interested candidates that meet the qualifications defined by City Council. A number of recruitment methods may be used including media advertising, the consultant's database, recruitment at professional organizations, etc. The candidate list is reviewed and short-listed by a Corporations Nominating Panel appointed by the Mayor.
The search consultant or staff review team provides the Panel with the credentials of all candidates and demonstrates how each meets the City's qualifications. The Panel ensures that collectively all of the areas of expertise required are provided by the preferred candidates. The Panel conducts interviews and reports its recommendations to Council. The consultant may also provide references and check for conflicts of interest if required.