Posts Tagged ‘COVID-19’

UPDATE: Some Helpful Clarifications from the LTB Regarding Evictions

August 5th, 2020 by Iler Campbell

This post is an update to our April 9, 2020 blog post.

The Ontario Superior Court issued an Order on March 19, 2020, suspending evictions until the end of the calendar month in which the provincial state of emergency is terminated. In accordance with the Order, the Landlord and Tenant Board stated that it would be suspending all hearings related to evictions unless the matter is urgent, such as a serious and ongoing health or safety issue at the residential complex or a serious illegal act that occurred at the residential complex. Despite the suspension of non‑urgent evictions, Landlords were still able to serve eviction notices and subsequently file an eviction application.

The Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to Covid‑19) Act, 2020 became law on July 24, 2020. Section 17 of this statute states “Unless it has been terminated before this section comes into force, the COVID‑19 declared emergency is terminated and Ontario Regulation 50/20 (Declaration of Emergency) is revoked.”  Therefore, as of August 1, 2020, residential evictions are no longer suspended. Continue reading “UPDATE: Some Helpful Clarifications from the LTB Regarding Evictions”

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.

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

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.**

Free event: the Future of Live Music in Toronto – with Brian Iler

June 11th, 2020 by Iler Campbell

UPDATE: video of this event is now online. Watch it below:

https://youtu.be/ZLtSKj5qwIY

 

Brian Iler will be taking part in a virtual panel discussion on Tuesday, June 16 at noon.

Broadcaster Garvia Bailey will host a discussion on the future of live music in Toronto with panelists Molly Johnson providing the artist perspective; Andrew Burashko, Art of Time Artistic Director on producing live music; Aida Aydinyan, GM at Koerner Hall; Mike Tanner Music Sector Development Officer, City of Toronto; and Brian Iler, in his role as Chair of Hugh’s Room Live. The event is hosted by the Empire Club of Canada.

From the event description:

The live music industry in Toronto has been decimated by the forced shutdown of public gatherings in the city. Many venues where musicians perform were already under pressure due to rising real estate costs.  Many were forced to close and some will never re-open.  But even for those that will, who knows when performers will be able to share their work in front of a large audience again?  Live performance has been key in the career development of so many artists. Who knows what the live music scene will look like as we begin to emerge from shutdown.

Our panel will speak to the future of venues that feature our artists and several artists will talk about how important live performance has been in their careers.

The right to know? Balancing health risks and privacy rights for landlords during COVID-19

May 29th, 2020 by Claudia Pedrero

This article was first published on rabble.ca

What is a landlord’s responsibility when a tenant in a multi-residential building tests positive for COVID-19? Is a landlord obligated to share this information with other residents so they can take extra precautions? On the flip side, what expectation of privacy do tenants have if they share this information with their landlord?

Many of our firm’s housing clients have had to grapple with this difficult balance over the past few months as they weather the challenges brought on by the pandemic. Continue reading “The right to know? Balancing health risks and privacy rights for landlords during COVID-19”