The cost of lost amenities in COVID-19

May 11th, 2020 by Karly Wilson

A young couple is renting a one‑bedroom plus den unit in a building. They both work from home, and when looking for a new place they were concerned about the cost of renting a place large enough for them both to have a workspace. They chose this building because of its amenities: a gym, a party room, and a common workspace with couches, large tables and free internet access. One of the tenants was able to use the den in the building as a home office and the other used the common workspace in the building. However, with the onset of the global pandemic, all of the shared spaces in the building have been closed, forcing them both to work in the apartment.

Amenities like gyms, pools, business centres, and party rooms are used to induce tenants to move to certain buildings, and often pay higher rents. Now in the age of COVID‑19, tenants have yet to receive any rent relief and are unable to access common spaces that encouraged them to accept these higher costs.

What options do tenants have for relief? And what will that mean for landlords? Continue reading “The cost of lost amenities in COVID-19”

The right to refuse work: How does it work during a pandemic?

May 7th, 2020 by Safia Lakhani

Join Safia Lakhani on Wednesday May 13 for her webinar “Considerations for employers during COVID-19” where she will discuss the right to refuse work among other topics.

For those working during the pandemic ‑ and for those who will return to work in the coming weeks and months – the question of work refusals remains front of mind. Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act RSO 1990, c. O. 1 (Section 43), a worker in Ontario may refuse work where s/he has reason to believe that:

 (a) any equipment, machine, device or thing the worker is to use or operate is likely to endanger himself, herself or another worker;

(b) the physical condition of the workplace or the part thereof in which he or she works or is to work is likely to endanger himself or herself [emphasis added];

(b.1) workplace violence is likely to endanger himself or herself; or

(c) any equipment, machine, device or thing he or she is to use or operate or the physical condition of the workplace or the part thereof in which he or she works or is to work is in contravention of this Act or the regulations and such contravention is likely to endanger himself, herself or another worker.  R.S.O. 1990, c. O.1, s. 43 (3); 2009, c. 23, s. 4 (2).

Continue reading “The right to refuse work: How does it work during a pandemic?”

Community living in the time of COVID-19: navigating the law

May 6th, 2020 by Iler Campbell

This is part of a series of webinars we’re running all May long. Check out the other events here!

We’ve just posted a recording of Celia Chandler’s webinar, “Community living in the time of COVID-19: navigating the law.” Check it out below.

 

Continue reading “Community living in the time of COVID-19: navigating the law”

Webinar recording: COVID-19 Essential Human Resources Issues

May 6th, 2020 by Iler Campbell

Just posted: a recording of a webinar organized by United Way Greater Toronto featuring Iler Campbell lawyer, Safia Lakhani. This webinar took place on April 20th. View it below. If you’re interested in the topic (and in the most up-to-date information) be sure to sign up for Safia’s May 13th webinar, “Considerations for employers during COVID-19.”

Continue reading “Webinar recording: COVID-19 Essential Human Resources Issues”

Defining ‘urgent’ in the global pandemic

May 1st, 2020 by Karly Wilson

This article was first published on rabble.ca

Seven weeks ago, we rolled our eyes when an email was labelled “Urgent.” It felt like a term thrown around too often, and with little meaning or weight. Like new alerts popping up on cell phones, there didn’t seem to be enough discernment about what was and was not worthy of panic and alarm.

Now, everything is urgent. There is an urgent need for medical supplies, for funding, for mental health support, for employment insurance reform, for a vaccine, for a cure. This has created an awkward and noticeable push to fill needs that social justice advocates have always considered urgent, but are suddenly (urgently!) gaining widespread support.

Individuals with disabilities, long having been told that their needs are too big to accommodate, are watching mass support roll out to assist the workforce. Advocates for a universal basic income are watching as the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) is instituted in a matter of weeks. At our firm, a large part of our practice focuses on supporting affordable housing initiatives, and we too have watched as our city (Toronto) has suddenly been at the forefront of creating new housing solutions for individuals experiencing homelessness.

In short, we are seeing concerns long considered urgent to finally be met with a sense of … well … urgency. Continue reading “Defining ‘urgent’ in the global pandemic”

Provincial Emergency Order extended to co‑operatives and condo corporations

April 27th, 2020 by Karly Wilson

On April 9, we posted about the provincial government’s Emergency Order giving non‑profits flexibility in meeting their governance obligations. As we noted at the time, the order did not extend to organizations governed by the Co‑operative Corporations Act, leaving many of our clients in a difficult position as they tried to balance governing and social‑distancing.

Thankfully, the provincial government has amended this oversight, extending flexible options to co‑operatives and condo corporations by issuing an amendment to the emergency order. The order is retroactive to March 17, 2020, validating any meeting postponements or virtual meetings that occurred in the interim. Continue reading “Provincial Emergency Order extended to co‑operatives and condo corporations”