Posts Tagged ‘Housing Co-operatives’

Prorogation stops co-op housing eviction law reform bill in its tracks – for now

October 17th, 2012 by Celia Chandler

At the beginning of October, in an unusual moment of unanimity, all parties at Queen’s Park showed enthusiasm for Bill 65, a bill to put in place a new eviction process for housing co-ops. In our earlier blog on this bill, we summarised comments from the second reading debates, and predicted that, with some minor tweaking, the legislature would quickly pass this bill.

When we wrote that blog, like the rest of the world, we did NOT anticipate McGuinty’s bombshell on Monday evening – resignation and proroguing parliament until a new Liberal leader is in place. Prorogation cleans the legislative slate. When MPPs return to Queen’s Park, all bills caught in the prorogation will need to be reintroduced. Will the co-op housing sector be able to get this back on the government’s radar? Stay tuned…

The “Unco-operative Co-oper”

October 17th, 2012 by Celia Chandler

Ever had a housing co-op member who dominated the board agenda with demands for action? How about someone who bullied the co-op’s staff either in person or on-line? And then there are those who bombard other members of the co-op with endless paper or who post endless notices in the co-op’s hallways?

If these circumstances sound familiar, you are not alone. More and more of our housing co-op clients are reporting having members who take up valuable board energy and time at the expense of other matters being dealt with. If you’re interested in sharing ideas about the “uncop-operative co-oper” please join us Saturday at the Co-operative Housing Federation of Toronto’s Fall Member Education Event. For more information, check out the CHFT website at: www.coophousing.com

Bill 65: All parties highlight the need for affordable housing in Ontario

October 9th, 2012 by Celia Chandler

Debate began this week on the Non‑Profit Housing Co‑operatives Statute Law Amendment Act, 2012, Bill 65 –  the co‑op eviction law reform bill.  You’ll remember that this bill, first introduced in the house in April 2012, has been enthusiastically received by housing co‑ops and is supported by all parties in the Legislature.  Of 107 ridings in Ontario, 95 contain housing co‑ops, so indeed this is a bill that has a province‑wide impact!

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Court reinforces its hands-off approach to housing co-ops

August 1st, 2012 by Celia Chandler

This spring, one of our housing co‑op clients was served with a Superior Court application from a member under section 178 of the Co‑operative Corporations Act.   The application requested an order of compliance against the Co‑operative for five alleged breaches of the Co‑operative’s by‑laws and the Act.

This was uncharted territory for our client, and indeed for us.  Section 178 has been on the books for years, but has received minimal attention.

Continue reading “Court reinforces its hands-off approach to housing co-ops”

Iler Campbell celebrates the International Year of Co‑operatives!

June 5th, 2012 by Iler Campbell LLP

With some 300 co‑ops on our client list, every year at Iler Campbell is a year of co‑operatives. However, the UN’s designation of 2012 as the International Year of Co‑operatives makes this year special. To mark this occasion, we stepping up our efforts to know and serve the housing co‑op sector in particular.

And in fact, we’re stepping out!

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A Question of Fairness: Recent Court Decisions on Evictions by Non-profit Housing Co-operatives

May 29th, 2012 by Shelina Ali

Housing co‑operatives occasionally have to face the unpleasant task of evicting one of their members, usually for arrears, but often for serious behavioural problems.  These evictions can be based on committing a crime on the property, or “lesser” behavioural problems, such as frequent loud parties or errant, but frightening, dogs which are a safety risk. The co‑operative board can make a decision to evict the member, but if the member does not voluntarily leave, then the co‑op must make an application to the Superior Court to have the court order an eviction.

Continue reading “A Question of Fairness: Recent Court Decisions on Evictions by Non-profit Housing Co-operatives”