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

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The decision

2023-03-29 · Toronto City Council · amended

As filed

City Council on March 29, 30 and 31, 2023, adopted the following: 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.

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Ombudsman Toronto will report to Council on investigations undertaken by the unit and will make public related findings and recommendations. 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. 2. City Council direct the Ombudsman to develop a job description reflecting the appropriate duties and responsibilities of Deputy Ombudsman, Housing in line with the Role of a Housing Commissioner on page 32 of Attachment 1 to 2022.EX34.7, Headed "Review and Considerations for a Housing Commissioner Role or Function." 3. City Council direct the Ombudsman to ensure the work of the Deputy Ombudsman, Housing would have a strong focus on systemic reviews as well as systemic investigations. 4. City Council request the Ombudsman to create a hiring process for the role that takes full advantage of internal and external expertise related to the Right to Housing. 5. City Council request the City Clerk to advise Council on any procedural changes that would allow the Deputy Ombudsman, Housing to report directly to Council.

The vote

Amend Item (Additional) · Carried, 22-2

Against (2)James Pasternak, Stephen Holyday

Absent (1)Lily Cheng

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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

The item as the City filed it

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