A shattered supply chain and unprecedented online demand; how Coach House Books has weathered the pandemic

July 28th, 2020 by Iler Campbell
Coach House Books' Heidelberg printing press

Coach House Books’ Heidelberg printing press

Having some time at home — okay, a lot of time at home — during the pandemic has reminded many Canadians how edifying, relaxing, and downright satisfying it is to read a good book. The pandemic also reminded a lot of us how important it is to support smaller and local businesses. So, as people settled into lock-down, demand for Coach House books was high. But with a shattered supply chain, it was difficult for them to meet that demand.

Coach House Books publishes literary fiction, poetry, and non-fiction, and is one of only three publishers in Canada to print their own books; they have a Heidelberg press in their office, an old coach house in an alley at Bloor and Spadina in downtown Toronto. But the shut-down order issued by the province in mid-March meant that they had to close down the printing shop — at a time when only half of their Spring 2020 books had been printed. Those titles have now been rescheduled for times throughout the rest of the year.

Continue reading “A shattered supply chain and unprecedented online demand; how Coach House Books has weathered the pandemic”

Client Profile: How the Centre for Independent Living in Toronto is navigating COVID‑19

July 9th, 2020 by Iler Campbell

Audrey King, a Direct Funding program participant since 1995, and her attendant, Louis George wearing face shields as part of the personal protective equipment used to keep each other safe.

Through the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic, information about where to find precious commodities like masks and gloves and other personal protective equipment (PPE) items was shared and traded by many, particularly by individuals with disabilities who need regular physical assistance with activities of daily living like showering and dressing. Many people checked with traditional sources like medical supply stores, online retailers and big box stores, but not everyone would think to order surgical masks from their local convenience store to be delivered the same day, no less, via a food delivery and takeout app.

This unique suggestion came from one Toronto man in a Zoom call with a few dozen other participants of the Direct Funding program, which is administered by the Centre for Independent Living in Toronto (CILT). The participants are funded by the program to hire and manage the workers who assist them through the day; since it is impossible to maintain physical distance when one person is helping another to take a shower, PPE is critical for the health and safety of both individuals.

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Client Profile: Parkdale Neighbourhood Land Trust

July 2nd, 2020 by Iler Campbell
PNLT members and supporters celebrate the purchase of a 15-unit rooming house in Parkdale, the first affordable housing project of the land trust.

PNLT members and supporters celebrate the purchase of a 15-unit rooming house in Parkdale, the first affordable housing project of the land trust.

Parkdale Neighbourhood Land Trust (PNLT) was forged from the collective vision of community members and non‑profit organizations active in the Parkdale neighbourhood of Toronto: to create an organization focused on preserving affordability, diversity and community‑owned assets.

As a result of steep increases in land values in Toronto, the neighbourhood has seen significant changes. Parkdale is home to a high concentration of affordable housing, including rental, social and supportive housing, and rooming houses. As rising prices see progressively more affluent residents moving in, PNLT’s goal is to ensure that everyone, particularly those with fewer resources and lower incomes, can also benefit from the changes in the neighbourhood.

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Free webinar: Balancing Rights and Responsibilities for Housing Providers in COVID-19

July 2nd, 2020 by Iler Campbell

Update: a video of this webinar is now online. You can watch it below:

Join us Wednesday, July 8, 2020 at 2 PM for a free webinar hosted by Neighbourhood Legal Services and Iler Campbell.

As emergency restrictions lift across Ontario, the medical community is alerting us to a so-called “fourth wave” of the pandemic: mental health and trauma. Supportive housing providers, residential care facilities, transitional or therapeutic homes, and non-profits and co-ops have had to quickly find ways to ensure the physical safety of staff and residents. While these precautions may prevent the spread of the virus, they can also lead to increased isolation and deteriorating mental health for residents. As restrictions begin to lift, organizations will be facing more questions about how to strike a balanced approach which fulfills their legal obligations to provide a safe living environment, with other legal obligations – including the Human Rights Code.

This webinar will talk you through some of these tough questions. Safia Lakhani (lawyer, Iler Campbell LLP) and Linette King (NLS staff housing lawyer) will discuss some of the common legal questions and concerns being raised by both housing providers and residents, and will provide perspectives on how your organization can strike the right balance.

Register to attend on Zoom.

We welcome your questions in advance. You can post them on the event page on Facebook or send them to the hosts privately.

**This event is for legal information only, and will not provide legal advice. No solicitor-client relationship is created with either Iler Campbell LLP or NLS Toronto by participating in this event.**

Federal government should prioritize moving MAID back up its legislative agenda

June 25th, 2020 by Celia Chandler

This article was first published on rabble.ca

Think back.

March 13, 2020.

While many of us moved our offices to our homes, scrambled to figure out how to school our children, fought for scarce toilet paper and Lysol, and started to get used to a completely different way of living, the government released its “What We Heard Report A Public Consultations on Medical Assistance in Dying.” The report resulted from a 14 day window in January when Canadians commented online about the medical assistance in dying law in Canada (called MAID).

Regular rabble.ca readers will know that I wrote a three-part series about the legalization of MAID and its implementation from my first-hand experience: my husband, Jack, died with medical assistance in November 2018.

The federal government legalized MAID in 2016. You’ll know from my account and those of many others, that the MAID law is not without its critics because of those excluded from the legislation: mature minors; those wanting to make “advance requests”; those whose only medical condition is mental illness; and those with physical illness but for whom death is not reasonably foreseeable. The Council of Canadian Academies has studied and reported on the first three of these issues.

Continue reading “Federal government should prioritize moving MAID back up its legislative agenda”

Landlord and Tenant Board Application Fees Increasing July 1

June 25th, 2020 by Iler Campbell

Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) application fees were scheduled to increase on April 1, 2020 but were delayed due to COVID‑19.

Effective this July 1, 2020, most application fees for Landlords, Tenants and Non‑Profit Co‑operatives will increase by six per cent. Application fees are increasing for the first time since January 16, 2017. Fees for items such as copies of documents, hearing recordings, orders and Rules and Guidelines are not increasing. Application fees must be paid at the time an application is filed and the method of payment for applications filed with the LTB remains unchanged. Individuals (not corporations) may be eligible for fee waivers.  See Direction on Fee Waiver and the Fee Waiver Request.

The LTB continues to accept and process all applications during COVID‑19. When possible, telephone and written hearings are being scheduled for non‑eviction matters and urgent eviction matters. Orders are being issued for these matters only.

Though news of application fee increases doesn’t ring well with your pocketbook (especially during this current climate), our team is still providing cost‑effective and high quality service to respond to your goals. Please feel free to discuss any of your LTB needs with us.  We would be happy to assist you.