Review and Consideration for a Housing Commissioner Role or Function at Ombudsman Toronto

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The decision

2023-02-07 · Toronto City Council · deferred

As filed

City Council on February 7 and 8, 2023, deferred Item CC3.1 to the March 29, 2023 City Council meeting with a request that the Toronto Ombudsman bring a report with additional details about the Deputy Ombudsman, Housing function within the Ombudsman's office, the roles and responsibilities of the proposed new unit, and the relationship of the work of this new unit to the other actions being undertaken by the City that

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Council adopted in July 2022 to further the City's commitment to the progressive realization of the right to housing, including training, a Council Advisory Body, and an independent review of the HousingTO 2020 - 2030 Action Plan.

The vote

Defer Item · Carried, 21-4

Against (4)Jaye Robinson, Jon Burnside, Mike Colle, Stephen Holyday

Absent (1)Vincent Crisanti

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On the agenda

As the city filed it

On July 19, 2022, Toronto City Council approved EX34.7 - Review and Considerations for a Housing Commissioner Role or Function. Following its approval, Council requested that Ombudsman Toronto consider the May 2022 Maytree Consultant Report ("Crean and Maytree Report"), as well as the June 2022 City Manager's Report and Recommendations to Council ("City Manager's Report"), and provide Council with recommendations related to the resources and structure required for the office to focus on investigations and reports related to systemic housing discrimination and systemic hurdles in the City of Toronto's housing planning and service delivery roles, including the consideration of a dedicated Deputy Ombudsman, Housing.

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This report will outline the structure and identify the resources required to take on the proposed role, should Council provide its approval. Our review, requested by City Council, included an examination of Council's July 19, 2022 decision, the HousingTO 2020-2030 Action Plan, the Housing Charter, the Crean and Maytree Report, and the City Manager's Report. The Crean and Maytree Report notes that "a single action, individual or office may not be an effective way to advance Toronto's objectives outlined in the Housing Charter."[1] This was also the conclusion reached by the City Manager, who wrote in his June report that "a suite of actions delivered in concert with each other is more likely to achieve Council's goals." Providing Ombudsman Toronto with the resources to conduct systemic investigations and reports that focus on housing would be one of several activities the City has proposed to achieve its housing goals.

Staff recommended

The Ombudsman recommends that: 1. City Council authorize Ombudsman Toronto to establish a dedicated unit within the office that will focus on investigations and reports related to systemic housing discrimination and systemic hurdles in the City of Toronto's housing planning and service delivery roles. The unit will report to the Ombudsman and be led by a Deputy Ombudsman, Housing, with appropriate staff. Ombudsman Toronto will report to Council on investigations undertaken by the unit and will make public related findings and recommendations.

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In addition, Ombudsman Toronto will report back to Council on all housing-related complaints handled by the unit, as part of its annual reporting to Council.

On the record

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