Inside Toronto: Toronto tenants, politicians to talk rent control
- Article Information
- Category: Fair Housing for Toronto Tenants
- Created on Monday, 14 May 2012 14:34
Toronto politicians and tenants will talk this Saturday, May 12, afternoon about whether Ontario's government should reinstate permanent rent controls and allow the city to license its landlords.
ACORN Canada (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, Canada) has fought for a system of landlord licensing in Toronto which would force landlords to pay for repairs, but it cannot happen without changes in provincial law.
The advocacy group, which says the city's rents "continue to skyrocket" as buildings deteriorate, also wants to see the province return to rent controls which limit permitted rent increases on apartments whether or not those apartments are vacant.
Liberal and New Democrat MPPs and city councillors have been invited to a provincial housing forum on these issues at 1:30 p.m. at the Ontario Federation of Labour building on Gervais Drive, near the corner of Don Mills Road and Eglinton Avenue East.
Original article available at: http://www.insidetoronto.com/news/local/article/1353953--toronto-tenants-politicians-to-talk-rent-control
Video: Toronto Rally for Respect Featuring ACORN Canada President Kay Bisnath
- Article Information
- Category: Good Jobs Campaign
- Created on Tuesday, 03 April 2012 15:35
Press Release: ACORN Canada launches Centre for Tenant Organizing, new hub for tenant activism in Toronto.
- Article Information
- Category: Fair Housing for Toronto Tenants
- Created on Thursday, 29 March 2012 15:38
ACORN Canada, a national membership organization of low and moderate income families, is announcing today the launch of new online hub of activism and organizing for Toronto tenants.
The Centre for Tenant Organizing aims to be an online clearinghouse for tenant engagement – connecting tenants to organizing materials, campaign support City services. The launch is in response to demand from tenants across Toronto for resources to help them to unite their neighbours in campaigns and projects to win improved housing standards.
The site was launched with a Vital Ideas grant from the Toronto Community Foundation.
The site is available at: http://www.tenantorganizing.ca
Group protests rental conditions at St. Clarens Avenue Apartments
- Article Information
- Category: Fair Housing for Toronto Tenants
- Created on Tuesday, 21 February 2012 14:54
Tenants of a Dupont Street and Lansdowne Avenue area tower say they're suffering with rental conditions they are unable to live in.
A dozen residents of 730 St. Clarens Avenue Apartments rallied outside their building this week to bring attention to the issue. They claim they're dealing with poor maintenance, safety hazards and an insect infestation, including cockroaches and bedbugs.
Ana Dinar and her sister Mary Francisco began renting an apartment there in 2008 and said the longer they lived in the building, the more maintenance issues arose. Their shower ran continuously for months, they said.
"There's mold and mildew growing because of the constant running water," said Dinar at Wednesday's rally.
Fellow tenant Ahmed Rahman, who has lived at 730 St. Clarens for six years, said he waited for months to get his toilet repaired.
"Yes, it got fixed, but it took three months," said Rahman, who along with fellow tenants held signs that read, 'Honk for Better Housing.'
Heather Kilgour, the building's office manager, said she couldn't figure out what all the fuss was about.
"I don't know what people were trying to prove," she said. "We take care of our tenants. We do repairs. We fix what needs to be done."
Toronto ACORN Stands Up for Fair Transit
- Article Information
- Category: Save the TTC
- Created on Thursday, 16 February 2012 22:12
On February 8th, Toronto ACORN members rallied at City Hall to support a motion put forward by TTC Chair Karen Stintz to create above and below ground rapid transit in neighborhoods across the city. The motion was put forward as an alternative to Mayor Rob Ford's unfunded subways-only transit plan which would take decades to implement, leaving residents of Toronto's suburbs without decent, efficient rapid transit for years to come.
Council voted against the mayor in a stunning 25-18 victory for the Stintz motion. This victory came as the result of intense and persistent organizing by Toronto ACORN and community labour organizations across the city, proving that with good organizing, we can make real changes at City Hall.
People Power Blocks Mayor Fords Cuts
- Article Information
- Category: Toronto Tenants Vote
- Created on Wednesday, 18 January 2012 19:24
Last night, following an intensive grassroots campaign, City Councillors from across Toronto voted 23-21 to defeat the majority of the cuts proposed by Mayor Rob Ford in his 2011 Budget. The campaign was organized by labour and community groups, including many Toronto ACORN members in wards across in the City who called on their councillors to oppose the budget and its cuts to vital services across Toronto.
When it came time for a vote on the budget, nearly 50 Toronto ACORN members helped pack the chambers of City Hall to remind their elected officials that Toronto opposes these cuts.
Council debated various items on the agenda from 4:00 - 5:30, when we moved outside to join a massive rally put on by the Respect Toronto Coalition. Members carried signs and chanted to protect TTC services, subsidized child care, and affordable housing.
Members were overjoyed to see that after months of intense organizing and active engagement, over $20 million in proposed cuts were rejected by council.
