Posts Tagged ‘Ontario’

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…

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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Ontario Court of Appeal decision upholds P3 arrangements, reduces taxpayer accountability at municipal level

July 10th, 2012 by Laura Bowman

A recent Court of Appeal decision in Friends of Lansdowne v. City of Ottawa et. al. confirms that procedural irregularities are not grounds to overturn a municipal decision.

This case dealt with a redevelopment of Lansdowne Park in Ottawa. The community park is home to a football stadium , a hockey arena and the historic Aberdeen Pavilion exhibition hall. In late 2009 the City approved a redevelopment plan proposed by a private consortium named Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group which hoped to house a CFL franchise at the redeveloped park. The redevelopment plan would renovate the existing arena and stadium, build 330,000 square feet of office, retail and residential space, add underground parking and a new urban park. Heritage buildings would be relocated.  Under the plan, the City would (among other items) contribute $3.8 million per year, pay for some of the costs of the Plan, enter into a 50 year lease for 10.2 acres for an annual rent of $1.00 for the first 30 years, and grant construction and management contracts to the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group.

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