TCHC Social Housing Czar Ootes One Man Board

Extremely Anti-Democratic By Any Measure

At a mid March Special Toronto City Council meeting Mayor Rob Ford Managed to ram through his knee-jerk reaction *  to the Toronto Community Housing Corporation spending scandal. Independent citizens, city councillors and tenant representatives were summarily turfed from the board, and Ford's long time right wing buddy and 'retired' city councillor Case Oootes was put in charge.

*Knee jerk, because the official auditor's report had not even been released; only a few choice politically-charged pieces were mysteriously 'leaked' to the press. Trial by media.

"Case Ootes will be paid $25,000 as the lone board member of Toronto Community Housing over the next three months." says a Toronto Sun article. In addition, "as a retired councillor with 22-years service, he walked out of City Hall Dec. 1 with $99,619.52 in severance."
*Update: Add to that "the $11,000 he earned leading Mayor Rob Ford’s transition team last fall" *

"Case Ootes will be paid more for his three months leading the Toronto Community Housing Corp. than the board’s former chairman earned in a year." says the Globe and Mail ...Mr. Ford, a past critic of so-called double-dipping, defended paying Mr. Ootes in a brief scrum last week after council voted to dump the remaining four TCHC board members who refused the mayor’s demand they resign... “I’ve come out of retirement. I’ve cancelled a vacation at my own expense and this is a huge responsibility,” Mr. Ootes added
-----
This means that the single person in charge of social housing, who has the power to do whatever he wants with it, with essentially no accountability (Mayor Ford resisted all efforts to continue to make the now one man board accountable to city council)... is someone who:

* Has about $125,000 taxpayer money in his pocket (*actually $136,000) and is making decision for those tenants that have about 1/17 of that (in case of general welfare/Ontario Works = $592/month or $7,104/yr) and about one tenth of what those on Ontario Disability/ODSP have ($1053/mo = $12,636/yr). Essentially a very rich guy who can have no understanding of what the life someone in social housing must be like.

* Is NOT an advocate for social housing. In fact he believes social housing should not exist: a Toronto Star article and a CBC story "TCHC privatization not ruled out by Ootes"

Certainly, the few leaked accounts of financial mismanagement by TCHC staff needs to be addressed and financial controls need to be tightened. I doubt anyone disputes that.

However, to us this as an excuse to attack democratically responsible oversight is a big mistake.

It's like seeing a small fire in a wastebasket and responding to it by tearing down the house.

Anti-democratic by any measure.
---
A really great Tweet: Janet Davis Great question! RT @michaelshapcott: How soon before the new one-man board of #TCHC holds his first public meeting...

Special Meeting to End Run Democracy

Daniel Dale Crowd starts laughing loudly when Ford says "this is democracy at work." Speaker Nunziata warns them against "outbursts."

kellygrant1 Kelly Grant Wow. I think this might be the most packed I've ever seen the council chambers

Daniel Dale Ford: "not about who did what and who didn't," rather about rebuilding public confidence with a fresh start.

Michael Shapcott No evidence of criminal fraud at #TCHC, confirms city auditor #topoli #tocouncil - so why extreme measures of purge of entire #TCHC report

Daniel Dale Nunziata interrupting Carroll's questions to the auditor: "We do not have the auditor's report before us." Carroll: "Yes, that's my point."

Michael Shapcott Council speaker rules that no questions can be asked about #TCHC audit - even though audit is stated rationale for purge of board...

Torontoist Interesting fact: though council is voting to remove the TCHC board, they haven't even officially received the auditor general's report.

Torontoist It was leaked & won't formally come before council (via exec & audit cmtes) until later this month. Staff admit this is all unprecedented.

Torontoist Speaker Nunziata has ruled that the auditor general's report, in fact, is not the subject of today's debate—out of order to ask ?s about it.

Anrea Houston Groans echo thru gallery. MT @kellygrant1: Ford now says new brd won't be in place till May or June. Last week it ws within month #tocouncil

Kyle A So essentially the Mayor is saying we'll have a Case Ootes dictatorship at TCHC until May or June #tocouncil

Toronto: Ford said he didn't fire anybody on TCHC board. They resigned. Er. But Ford told them to get lost. #TOCouncil

Andrea Houston McConnell speaking while Rob Ford stares her down. He's starting to sweat and his face is looking closer to colour of red tie.

Nunziata: coun. McConnell please sit!! You're out of order. Like the audience, I will tell you to leave

Michael Shapcott Cllr Perks: No committee has considered audit, so are #TCHC board members being purged without cause? Great question...

anthonyschein: Cllr Peruzza asks the critical questn of Ford: Will you support limiting Ootes' powers in anyway? Answer: Nope

nowtoronto: This meeting looks like may get ugly soon. #TOCouncil Mayor losing control. Stumbled over responses to Layton questions.

Councillor Fletcher suggests everyone flails their arms as opposed to applause. Yes, let make the int'l symbol for PANIC!

Greg Smith .@Ward18AnaBailao wants to send #TCHC tenants a message that they have a place at the table in this process

NiceDriveway I think a little piece of Spkr Nunziata dies every time she can't cut off Cllr Perks mic when he brings it in under time.

robcer Cllr Cho's (sound) point: how would his resignation for "political show", only to be re-appointed, "restore public confidence"?

LifeonQueen Fragedakis' motion to defer so that #TOcouncil committees to do their job fails to pass 17-25.

accozzaglia To DM Holyday's way of thinking, the 4 remaining TCHC board members are besmirching the reputations of those who've resigned.

Kristyn Wong-Tam: "I'd like to know where you got the authority to make an amend. on an art. of incorporat'n w 15 mins' notice for a $6bn company."

Robert Cerjanec Cllr Augimeri gives a great speech on how wrong this process is and how she has been thrown under the bus for no good reason.

---
11:44pm Council finally starting to vote on the many motions

Matt Elliott McMahon & Colle vote with the mayor. Everyone else votes as expected. 25-18, motion to dissolve board carries. #TOCouncil

Jonathan Goldsbie And now the cries of "Shame!"

Andrea Houston OH in gallery: "SHAME ON THIS COUNCIL! Get a backbone!"
Have to wonder why Councillors Shiner and Moeser are not there for votes... Michael Thompson makes a motion to excuse their absence (they are sick someone says)

12:01am March 10 Meeting is adjourned.

 michaelshapcott Disappointing day for democracy in Toronto. TCHC board dissolved w/ no opportunity for TCHC residents to have their voice heard. #TOCouncil

Jonathan Goldsbie  Fletcher says: "A whole new interpretation of one man, one vote."

NOTE: For a real change, ANA BAILAO did not blindly support the Fordites at this meeting.

Tweet I sent: @Ward18AnaBailao Thanks for not blindly siding with the Fordites tonight Appreciated by your constituents who did NOT want Ford for Mayor (most of the ward)

Guess I'll have to change her colour to RED again.

*    The actual votes are HERE

---

Update: This Toronto Star story tells us:
"Doug Ford thanked the tenants for attending but said their views were unrepresentative. “Folks, I’m telling you, there’s no one that cares more about the folks at TCHC than Rob does,” he said. “Out of the 164,000 tenants that are in TCHC housing, I see maybe four or five hundred, which — I appreciate you all coming down, but there’s 163,500 that’s saying, ‘Move forward. Let’s have a clean slate.’”

... Maybe those 163,500 #TCHC tenants need to protest at Nathan Phillips Square?

March 8 2011 #TOCouncil Meeting and TCHC Surprise

Fun to Watch Toronto Council Live
Link to Watch Live  Following goings on via Twitter and live feed from home....

Tuesday, March 8th meeting spends about an hour with the left taking shots and exception to Mayor Ford behaviours *. (Followed by about 2 hours of debate about leaked audit reports)

* Example: kellygrant1 Councillor Wong-Tam asked @TOMayorFord to apologize for saying "there's enough garbage at city hall" in speech last week. Ford's answer ..No. Nunziata spoke on his behalf, saying the mayor doesn't want to comment on the request for an apology.

* Example: Pam McConnell complains about Mayor's staff "wandering about the council floor" #TOCouncil asks Speaker Nunziata to restore decorum Fordites complain Miller did the same thing, Speaker will answer later

The BIG SURPRISE is that by the narrowest of margins (26-16, needed 27 votes and 2 councillors not there - Grimes and Moeser), city council decided NOT to discuss the Toronto Community Housing (TCHC) item and will now not be discussed until next month.

Sad to see my supposedly Liberal #TOCouncil cnclr Ana Bailao side with the Fordites on #TCHC .... A Closet Conservative? #ward18

Tweet from I_LUVTO:  @KenWood_ward18 Don't worry #ward18 people don't like Ford and if Ana Bailao keeps voting with him she will be voted out

Here is the actual vote on this:

MM 5.7 Reconstitution of Board of Directors of the Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) - by Deputy Mayor Holyday, seconded by Councillor Mary-Margaret McMahon

               Result: Lost Two-Thirds Required - MM5.7 - waive notice

Yes: 26 Paul Ainslie, Ana Bailăo, Josh Colle, Gary Crawford, Vincent Crisanti, Mike Del Grande, Frank Di Giorgio, Doug Ford, Rob Ford, Doug Holyday, Norman Kelly, Chin Lee, Gloria Lindsay Luby, Giorgio Mammoliti, Josh Matlow, Mary-Margaret McMahon, Peter Milczyn, Denzil Minnan-Wong, Frances Nunziata (Chair), Cesar Palacio, John Parker, James Pasternak, Jaye Robinson, David Shiner, Karen Stintz, Michael Thompson

No: 16 Maria Augimeri, Shelley Carroll, Raymond Cho, Janet Davis, Glenn De Baeremaeker, Sarah Doucette, John Filion, Paula Fletcher, Mary Fragedakis, Mike Layton, Pam McConnell, Joe Mihevc, Gord Perks, Anthony Perruzza, Adam Vaughan, Kristyn Wong-Tam

Absent: 3 Michelle Berardinetti, Mark Grimes, Ron Moeser
----
With regard to the Toronto Community Housing situation and Ford's attempts to 'evict' the board members:
Maria Augimeri's letter of refusal
Raymond Cho's letter of refusal
Frances Nunziata's agree to resignation letter

Within minutes, Fordites find a way to get around council? Goldsbie tweet:: The mayor's office has called a special meeting of the Exec Committee for lunchtime tomorrow for the purpose of dealing with the TCHC item.

Reported in Toronto Sun "Councillor Adam Vaughan agreed the vote was a reality check for the mayor. "He cannot govern this council by fiat," Vaughan said. "And he can't have hangings in the public square if he is not prepared to hold trials. The tenants have spoken up, they want a full and open airing of the auditor's report. They want that to come to council and we'll make decisions."
---

11am: City Council interrogating the Auditor General, several point out that 'It's the first time in 20 years that and AG report has been leaked before release". Adam Vaughan puts AG on the hot seat. Joe Mihevc makes motion to prevent leaks to media, political interference with the Audit process.

Note: What does Mayor Rob Ford do when he loses at city council? He leaves and plays tour guide for a group of school kids. So much easier not having to defend his shaky positions and blustering rhetoric.

City Slikr tweet: Ah, look. School children appear in chambers just in time to listen to talk of fraud and misuse of power.----

City Slikr Think Cllr Fletcher just took a serious swing at Cllr Matlow for his part as a member of audit committee running with TCHC story.

goldsbie tweet: This Council debate is actually largely about who leaked the police paid-duty report....Only three people, I'm told, had the draft of the AG's paid-duty report: the Police Chief, the Police Board Chair, and the AG himself....It must be noted, however, that the "3 person" scenario is likely a vast oversimplification. As Davis says, reports always rattle around.

SO: who leaked the report and to what purpose? Will we ever really know?

Tweet from Joe Mihevc: My motion to request Auditor General to review reporting practices to ensure fair process w/o political interference around fraud passed!
1 - Motion to Amend Item (Additional) moved by Councillor Joe Mihevc (Carried)

That the Auditor General be requested to review reporting practices related to the Fraud and Waste Hotline to ensure to the best of his ability that proper process is being followed, that leaks to media do not occur that may jeopardize due process, and that the reporting process is not impacted by undue political pressures; and that a report on this matter be submitted to the Audit Committee as soon as possible
---
Mayor Ford tweets: It's unfortunate some councillors don't want to discuss accountability at the TCHC... Yet refuses to be interviewed by the media on this.
My response: @TOMayorFord How about YOU being accountable first Mayor Ford and answer questions put to you at #TOCouncil
---

Tweet from Janet Davis Special Meeting of Executive for Wed. Mar. 9. More bending and twisting of the democratic process. Extraordinary!

Spkr Nunziata has a meltdown trying to cut Janet Davis' speaking trime, gives up when challenged and recesses #TOCouncil to 2pm... Josh Matlow tweets: Council is literally debating what time it is. I'm serious.
City Slikr tweet: And so morning session of council ends with a bizarre argument over time. Spkr Nunziata is easily rattled. #TOcouncil

Why doesn't City Council elect a more neutral Speaker??? Legislature and parliament try to pick someone the whole chamber can trust.
---------
2pm Gord Perks only one in #TOCouncil chamber
2:08pm about 1/2 #TOCouncil there, just starting
2:12pm Janet Davis now gets her 5 mins to speak at #TOCouncil ... finally.

City Slikr tweets: Team Ford is relentless in trying to paint questions about leaks of A-G report as attacks on A-G office itself.  (but they fail)

2:20pm Josh Matlow is an eloquent speaker who chooses his words wisely yet gets his message across. Wish others would emulate him... points out treating audit revelations as reason to privatize social housing is not prudent.

Pam McConnell points out that even other city councillors do not know the whole story about TCHC and audits and are relying on spurious media reports. Argues for proper process: "Have we not learned anything from MFP Inquiry?" We are hurting people and scaring people in social housing. "Doing something about it is not having heads roll" Speaker Nunziata chastizes McConnell for not knowing the rulese (she wants an extension). Unanimous 34 councillors vote to let her continue. McConnell goes on to defend Chair of TCHC board.

Paula Fletcher now chides Josh Matlow for speaking out prematurely about leaked audit.

2:55pm City Slikr tweet: Again, a Fordite in the form of Cllr Thompson stands up to defend integrity of A-G which hasn't been attacked
City Slikr tweet:Debate dynamic. Anti-Ford cllrs zeroing in on political use of media leaks. Pro-Ford cllrs demand they stop slagging A-G

Me:  Michael Thompson has the calming presence of a solicitous funeral director, makes me sleepy #TOCouncil All is well, all is well

3:08pm Josh Matlow tweets: Now Council is spending time discussing who is allowed to walk around in the Council chambers. Really.
My response: Notice discussions are more to preserve fairness and democracy Whats wrong with that?
 
Adam Vaughan gets to the point: Mayor's staff are running around giving direction on how to vote to councillors.

Tweet from City Slikr Cllr Luby refers to the real world as the exclusive domain of the private sector...

Tweet from Goldsbie:  Watching Shiner and Matlow converse with each other, I'm reminded of the Return of the Jedi exchanges between Luke and Vader.

3:41pm Ana Bailao missing votes, not in chamber, usually she is more diligent than this

City Slikr tweets: Cllr Thompson can grind down a council meeting into a full fledged, heart stoppingly somnolent event.

4:08pm City Council is now debating Item AU1.13 Governance & Management of Computer Software Needs Improvement

Spkr Nunziata has to tell Doug Ford (twice) he must sit down when votes occur at #TOCouncil


Why is Ana Bailao the only one on #TOCouncil McCormick Playground committee ? They had to do a special motion to pass that. Unusual.
 
4:19pm Now only 29 cnclrs at #TOCouncil Losing bodies fast

4:21pm Mike Layton pissed off he wanted to be on board of governors at Toronto Exhibition, and they set it up only for Doug Ford. Interrogating Doug Holyday.

Mike Layton chided to come to meetings if he wants appointments to #TOCouncil committees. Layton a very nervous speaker. Sound like an adolescent.

4:35pm Ward 25 Jaye Robinson usually a sleeper at #TOCouncil makes a motion to plant big trees
Questioned if she had her druthers would she want to keep the ones that are there. Yes
.... perhaps she should chain herself to a tree? (Item NY4.14 2489 Bayview Avenue - Application to Remove Private Trees)

*** 5:36PM Rob Ford tries and end run around council on TCHC isue:
Goldsbie tweets:Tomorrow's special Exec Meeting (announced just a few hours ago) been cancelled. A special Council meeting has been called for 5:30 tomorrow...

Gord Perks goes ballistic because about 100 people had registered to make deputation at Exec committee, which is their right by council's procedures. Points of Order bombard the Speaker who keps trying to derail the challenge. Points raised that TCHC shareholders' agreement specifies 6 week notice of changes... Ignored by Speaker.

City Clerk is really confused.... still doesn't know what is on agenda for Rob ford's special meeting....Guess the mayor doesnt even speak to him about his plans...

West Annex News yweets: When Perks complains of Mayor's slick procedural maneuvering to reintroduce TCHC matter tomorrow, Nunziata turns off his mike. #toCouncil

Goldsbie tweet: Perks just stormed out in a spectacular huff.

David Nickle Tweet: The special executive committee meeting tomorrow for TCHC is off. Now, it's a special evening council meeting.

Josh Matlow tweets: Seems some on left think mayor wants to overide process to privatize TCHC. Some on right might have feared left would filibuster exec cmtee

Goldsbie tweet: The mayor's office (like everyone else) mistakenly assumed it would go to the next Exec meeting. It would actually go to the next Council.

6pm Tweet from Sarah Doucette The Exec meeting for 12:30 Wed is now cancelled and special council meeting called for 5:30 Wed to discuss removing directors from TCHC
----
Josh Matlow tweet: Mayor has cancelled special Exec Cmtee on TCHC board, called special council meeting instead for tomorrow. This has upset some cllrs.
My response: @JoshMatlow Why has it not upset you? Flies in the face of democracy and public consultation? Josh responds: It does.
Josh Matlow: Josh Matlow The mayor's call for a special council meeting seems to me less about TCHC & more about not letting the "other side" win.
----

6:02pm Ana Bailao gets up to speak on a matter and can hear Michael Thompson coach her with what words to say... she complies.Not surprising now as I once witnessed Thmpson actually pushing her voting button for her..... lackey behaviour!
---

David Shiner moves council go in camera to discuss confidential items....Toronto City Council is meeting in closed session on items CC5.2 and MM5.12

6:08pm Goldsbie tweets: I've seen a lot of farces at City Hall, and I've seen a lot of cunning tricks, but this is some new kind of dirty mess.
----
MoreTweets
 Kristof I'm angry, confused, embarrassed, frustrated and annoyed after watching just 1hr of #tocouncil is this how a government operates ? #topoli
Brodie Conley Man, is Nunziata ever obnoxious. #TOPoli #TOCouncil
Conley oh man! Cllr. Vaughan asking for information = "Getting out of control" according to Nunziata. #TOPoli #TOCouncil
Iain Cullen Nunziata is always quick to anger. Does she just need a smoke break? #tocouncil.
Christ on a Cracker.. Mike Layton is really out of his league, his entire microcosm consists of pointless motions #topoli #tocouncil
Joel I wonder when Doug Ford will get tired of being his brother's press secretary? #tocouncil
Justin Kozuch Wait - did Cllr D. Ford just pitch Deco Labels and Tags as an eco-friendly company? What does that have to do with #TOCouncil?

---
6:20pm Just Tweeted to @Ward18AnaBailao Why do you support Ford's dirty tricks to cut out public consultation (deputations) on #TCHC issue at #TOCouncil ? #ward18
---

Disgusted with my Toronto councillor... going to Digin meeting
---
7:07pm Toronto City Council has reconvened its Public session

8:11pm Tweet Shelley Carroll Davis's rises to ask why a private corporation was set up by TTCommissioners today and all hell broke loose.#tocouncil

Tweet: Goldsbie In the meantime, Vaughan has sent out an email: "The fight to stop the privatization is on. The selloff of public housing must be stopped."...Council is once again stuck in procedural limbo, as a tangle of motions, votes, and points of order are somehow taking place simultaneously.

8:13pm City Council is in recess and will reconvene at 2:00pm on March 9 (Anyway, Nunziata was narrowly upheld, and Council narrowly voted to break until 2:00 tomorrow.)

Tweet: Matt Elliott Some might say that secret meetings are contrary to openness and accountability in gov. Not me, though -- I'm a stupid person.

Tweet: Josh Matlow Quote from mayor's office: "16 councillors are not interested in accountability at the TCHC". That partisan rhetoric isn't true or helpful.
================================
9:42pm and still no agenda posted for Ford's special meeting at 5:30pm Wed Secrecy is assured, plotting moves now... #TOCouncil

Blame the Victim: A New Canadian Value?

How Did We Become So Mean-Spirited?

Is Blaming the Poor  A New Candian Value?

"There's not much sympathy for the poor in Canada. According to a new report, many of us believe the poor have themselves to blame for getting into that situation, and that povery is a choice. The Salvation Army report is called "The Dignity Project: Debunking Myths About Poverty in Canada".

37 percent of adults polled believe the poor still have it pretty good and about half thought a family of four could get by on $30-thousand a year. Statistics Canada puts the poverty cutoff line at 35-thousand for a family of four living in a city. All in all, Canadians don't have a realistic picture of what it's like to be poor.

An army official, Andrew Burditt says low paying jobs, lack of job training and affordable housing keeps the poverty circle growing."

Another story on this, from CTV: "Nearly half of survey respondents said if poor people really want to work, they can always find a job. And about a quarter believed that people are poor because they are lazy.... (but) "If there weren't food banks, a lot of people wouldn't eat"
(The sample of 1,025 Canadians was drawn from a panel of more than 100,000 Canadians surveyed Jan. 26-27, 2011. The margin of error was approximately plus or minus 3.1 per cent, 19 times out of 20.)

* Update: And a contrarian view HERE "Do you think poor people fall into poverty because they’re lazy? If so, sorry to be the one to inform you, but most Canadians disagree with you. In fact, according to a recent poll, you are among a small minority of Canadians – 23 per cent, to be precise."
-----

Welfare Food Crackdown Needed says Deputy Mayor, Doug Holyday. We’re glad to see the province take action to stop the fraud because that’s an awful escalation in cost,” Holyday, who sits on the city’s audit committee, said Saturday. “We have to make sure the taxpayers are protected — unfortunately that harms people who are legitimately entitled to get the benefits, but sometimes that’s the result of people taking advantage of the system and the system has to protect itself,” the deputy mayor said....But Councillor Joe Mihevc, who is a member of the city’s health board, said it was wrong to call those living on social assistance “fraudsters” because even with a $250 supplement a month, it’s most likely still not enough to get by.  Anyone who knows how high rent and food costs are in Toronto — people aren’t spending on frivolities, that’s so rare,” he said.  “It’s on a different ethical level than a middle-class person fraudulently robbing a bank,” Mihevc said. “I don’t think it’s fraud when someone is trying to feed themselves and their children...“This is a classic case of blaming the victim. They found a way to use the system to their benefit — then all the power to them.”

===================================

Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC)  tenants are probably worried what the one track 'gravy train' Fords are going to do about their negligent and greedy landlords.
Community Housing Scandal a "Gift from the gods" for Ford

Heads Should Be Rolling at TCHC says The Star's Joe Fiorito...

TCHC Residents Angered by Inappropriate Spending

"While staff members of the Toronto Community Housing Corporation enjoyed expensive chocolates, massages and lavish Christmas parties the agency’s tenants waited for much needed repairs and action on pest infestations.... The audit report will be discussed at a TCHC board of directors meeting Thursday, which is open to the public at the housing office on Yonge St, next to Rosedale subway station....
This audit represents another black eye for the agency that was told to review its eviction policies following the death of 82-year-old tenant Al Gosling (Here's the story on how TCHC contributed to death of an 82 year old tenant)."

SUGGESTION for Mayor Rob Ford and Toronto City Council:

* Put both Michael Shapcott  and Joe Fiorito on the board after you rol the heads there that need roling.

* Update: Civilian members of TCHC board refuse request to resign “We were appointed by City Council for a term that expires on December 31, 2011. As TCHC directors, we have a fiduciary responsibility to the Corporation i.e. we cannot simply walk away from our responsibilities,” Ron Struys said in a statement on behalf of the board’s seven non-elected, non-tenant members."

.... umm, yes you do and you blew it. Directors have liabilities and perhaps the city should use its lawyers to pursue financial redress from them? 

* Update: Former TCHC Public Housing CEO Remains Mum "...Derek Ballantyne is now the man on the hot seat, after Toronto’s auditor general released a stinging report slamming employee expenses and purchasing practices at Toronto Community Housing, the agency he once headed. While Mayor Rob Ford is calling, unsuccessfully so far, for the head of current CEO Keiko Nakamura, Ballantyne is keeping a low profile. Ford said Monday the public will “have an answer by Friday’’ as to Ballantyne’s fate...Now chief operating officer of Build Toronto, the city’s real estate and development corporation, Ballantyne served as CEO of Toronto Community Housing from 2002 to May 2009, well into the period covered in the auditor general’s reports..."

.... court proceedings to come?

* Update: A List of TCHC SpendingAbuses Example: $1,925 spent for a “divisional planning meeting” at the Elmwood Spa. The meeting included a three-course lunch, pedicures, manicures and water therapy for eight staffers.

* Update: They Resigned 

Who is on the TCHC Board

 (citizen members) All of whom refuse to quit:

•David Mitchell (chairman)

•Zahra Dhanani
•Michelle Joseph
•Greg Kalil
•Carol Osler
•Sheerin A. Sheikh
•Ronald Struys

Update: Mayor Ford wants to put only one person in charge of TCHC... someone who is very much against social housing: Case Ootes story here "Ootes has also asked for a complete list of all single-family houses owned by Toronto Community Housing, the 2006 Current Value Assessment of each and recommendations on the feasibility of selling the properties to generate revenue. Toronto Community Housing owns some 500 single-family homes throughout the city."

Affordable Housing Committee

AFFORDABLE HOUSING -
  Definitely NOT There Yet

Chair:          Ana Bailao, ward18 Davenport
Vice-Chair:  Mark Grimes,  ward6 Etobicoke-Lakeshore
Members:
- Maria Augimeri, ward9 York Centre
- Michelle Berardinetti, ward35 Scarborough Southwest
- Vincent Crisanti, ward1 Etobicoke North
- Joe Mihevc, ward 21 St. Paul's

The Affordable Housing Committee oversees the activities of the Affordable Housing Office. These activities include directing federal and provincial government investments in new affordable rental and ownership housing in partnership with private and non-profit developers. They also include delivering federal funds to repair and modify the homes of low-and-modest income seniors, disabled persons and families. The committee also facilitates the implementation of Housing Opportunities Toronto, the City's 10-year affordable housing action plan.     Weblink for more info, schedules, etc   

Weblink to overview briefing given at Feb 2, 2011 meeting.

Briefing Highlights:

*  23% or 216,070 households live in housing that is too small, in need of repairs or is too expensive
* 45% of residents rent. Much of Toronto's rental housing is aging and needs repair. 
* Vacancy rates have dropped from 3.1% to 2.2% since last year, meaning 5,532 apartments out of 254,555 were vacant
* Average rents for a bachelor, one-, two-and three bedroom apartments are $ 778, $ 950, $ 1135 and $ 1346
* There are currently 76,549 households on the wait list for subsidized housing.  In Toronto, there are 99,047 social housing units

* Population Projections: Increase from 2.6 to 2.9 million people by 2020 with more seniors (103,120), children (39,870) and working-age people (122,580).

* Related Story: Data Bank a One Stop Trove of GTA, Regional Housing Stats brings together up-to-date statistics regarding housing, poverty and population trends...The data are compiled from Statistics Canada information, municipal data and reports from the non-profit and development sectors, and provide a comprehensive picture of housing needs in the City of Toronto as well as the surrounding regions of Halton, Durham, Peel, and York...“There isn’t an area in Toronto that doesn’t have the need for more affordable housing.” ...Some other info:

* By 2036, the region's population is expected to grow to 9.1 million (over half of Ontario's population) and be home to an increasing number of seniors, new immigrants, young families and working-age people.
* Toronto's Street Needs Assessment 2009 estimated there were 5,086 homeless people in the City on April; 
* Food banks served an average of 85,881 people per month in 2009...Housing is the largest expense for most people who use food banks. Some clients are paying up to 68% of income on shelter...
*  almost one in five households (322,415) continue to struggle with finding and keeping an affordable home
* In 2006, some 26% of owners and 46% of renters were spending 30% or more of their income on shelter.
---

Greater Toronto Summit meeting will be held in Toronto next week,  Feb. 10 and 11, "a gathering of some of the city’s top thinkers and most influential figures. Weblink info

---

There is STILL no National Housing Strategy for Canada at the federal level.