October 6, 1999

To: Community Services Committee

Scarborough Community Council

York Community Council

Etobicoke Community Council

North York Community Council

East York Community Council

From: City Clerk, Planning and Transportation Committee

Subject: Tenant Defence Fund: Options for Tenant Information and Support Services

The Planning and Transportation Committee, at its meeting on October 4, 1999:

(1) endorsed the following action taken by the Toronto Community Council at its meeting on September 13, 1999 with respect to the Tenant Defence Fund:

"The Toronto Community Council:

(1) endorsed the recommendations for a Tenant Defence Fund presented to the Planning and Transportation Committee, at its meeting held on September 13, 1999; and

(2) supported the recommendations of the Sub-Committee to Restore Rent Control, including its request for a meeting with the Honourable Steven Gilchrist, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing";

and forwarded notice of its endorsement in this respect to the November 4, 1999 meeting of the Community Services Committe; and

(2) forwarded the action taken by the Toronto Community Council, as outlined above, to the other Community Councils with a request that they consider this matter and provide comment back to the Community Services Committee.

For the information of the Community Services Committee and Community Councils,, the Planning and Transportation Committee reports also having;

(1) requested the Commissioner, Community and Neighbourhood Services to report to the November 4, 1999 Community Services Committee meeting and to the next meeting of the Sub-Committee to Save Rent Control:

(a) on the feasibility of funding the Tenant Defence Fund using 1/5th of 1% of all taxes paid by rental buildings in the City of Toronto; and

(b) an indication of the tenant groups which are currently in need of experienced assistance by the City.

(2) received the report (September 20, 1999) from the Commissioner, Community and Neighbourhood Services for information; and

(3) recommended to Council, for its meeting on October 26, 1999, that:

(a) the Acting Commissioner, Urban Planning and Development Services and/or the Commissioner, Community and Neighbourhood Services be authorized to request the Ontario Rental Housing Tribunal for adjournments for tenants where they feel it is essential; and

(b) the Acting Commissioner, Urban Planning and Development Services be requested to conduct a comprehensive property standards inspection of 521 and 523 Finch Avenue West and coordinate inspection of unit interiors through the tenants' associations.

Background:

The Planning and Transportation Committee at its meeting on October 4, 1999 gave consideration to the attached report (September 20, 1999) from the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services responding to the Committee's request that staff provide a review of the proposed Tenant Defence Fund for the October 4, 1999 meeting, informing the Committee of work that is already underway to define the City's role in providing information and support services to tenants that is directly relevant to this request, advising that a report will be forthcoming to the November meeting of Community Services Committee, and recommending that this report be received for information.

The Committee also had before it the following reports/communications:

- (September 20, 1999) from the City Clerk, Toronto Community Council

- (October 4, 1999) motion from Councillor Walker

- (October 4, 1999) from Brad Butt, Executive Director, Greater Toronto Apartment Association

- (October 4, 1999) from Harry Hakomaki, Building & Concrete Restoration Association of Ontario

- (October 4, 1999) from Rosala Robbins

- (October 4, 1999) from Anne Ritchie, Chair, Tenants' Association

- (October 1, 1999) from Brook Physick, Community Legal Worker, Flemingdon Community Legal Services

- (October 4, 1999) from Peter Gabor, Chair, Board of Trade Planning and Development Committee

The following persons appeared before the Planning and Transportation Committee in connection with the foregoing matter:

- Brad Butt, Executive Director, Greater Toronto Apartment Association

- Harry Hakomaki, Building and Concrete Restoration Association of Ontario

- Grant Cowan

- Dale Ritch

- Roslyn Oslender

- Mary Hopkins

- Paul Yash

- Abbas Kolia, Thorncliffe Park Tenants Association

- Anne Ritchie, Chair, 111 Davisville Tenants Committee

- Nessa Kouchuer

- Rosala Robbins

- Councillor Walker

- Councillor Korwin-Kuczynski

The Committee's action is as noted above.

City Clerk

Christine Archibald/nb

Item 12