The other side of eviction — one co-op’s story shows the gaps in our system

March 25th, 2021 by Celia Chandler

 

It’s been a tough year to be a landlord-side housing lawyer with a social conscience. Our tenant-side colleagues post horror stories of evictions happening by the dozen without tenants getting notice or benefiting from other procedural fairness protections. Continue reading “The other side of eviction — one co-op’s story shows the gaps in our system”

Equity Housing Co-ops – the Forgotten Cousins

March 24th, 2021 by Celia Chandler

This article was first published in The Co-op Current, by Ontario Co-operative Association.

The neat thing about the co‑operative model and its principles is that you can apply them to just about any endeavour.

We see the third principle, Member Economic Participation, driving large commercial enterprises like Gay Lea Foods Co-operative or Co‑op Cabs in Toronto. We see Autonomy and Independence, principle 4, fueling the workers at Urbane Cyclist in Toronto and Planet Bean in Guelph – both worker co‑operatives. We see non‑profit housing co‑operatives enriched by their Voluntary and Open Memberships, Democratic Member Control, and Concern for Community, principles 1, 2, and 7. Continue reading “Equity Housing Co-ops – the Forgotten Cousins”

Lack of diversity on non-profit boards is rooted in privilege

February 25th, 2021 by Shelina Ali

 

Last December, Statistics Canada undertook a crowdsourced survey of non-profit and charity boards in Canada to assess the diversity of individuals serving on those boards. The survey was completed by 8,835 board members. Of those members who responded, 14 per cent identified as being immigrants to Canada; 11 per cent identified as belonging to a visible minority group; eight per cent identified as LGBTQ2+; six per cent identified as persons with a disability; and three per cent identified as First Nations, Métis or Inuit. Continue reading “Lack of diversity on non-profit boards is rooted in privilege”

COVID-19 restrictions are a reminder that Charter rights have limits

January 28th, 2021 by Michael Hackl

This article was first published on rabble.ca

While the passage of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms in 1982 heralded a new age in the protection of individual rights in Canada, the rights protected by the Charter are not absolute. Continue reading “COVID-19 restrictions are a reminder that Charter rights have limits”

Year in review – Iler Campbell LLP – 2020

December 23rd, 2020 by Iler Campbell LLP

2020 began like a normal year. We were gearing up for our regular work, conferences, vacations, and personal milestones.   Suddenly we were thrust with our clients and the rest of the world into uncharted waters. Like everyone else, we started “pivot”, “social distance”, “mask‑up”, “zoom”, and, of course, figure out how to work mostly from our home offices. Continue reading “Year in review – Iler Campbell LLP – 2020”

Reflections on the WE fiasco

December 18th, 2020 by Brian Iler

This article was first published on rabble.ca

I watched last summer’s WE Charity brouhaha with particular interest.

An apparently hugely successful charity and social enterprise empire, WE Charity found itself vilified in the media, resulting in the loss of donors and the eventual closing of its Canadian operation. The fallout even saw the resignation of Finance Minister Bill Morneau. Continue reading “Reflections on the WE fiasco”