Item - 2024.EC16.7

The Economic and Community Development Committee:

1.  Deferred consideration of the item to the November 26, 2024 meeting of Economic and Community Development Committee and request the City Manager in consultation with City Solicitor to advise on the statutory powers, obligations, and any limitations related to the Office of the Ombudsman as an accountability officer that may exist in the fulfillment of the functions set out by City Council decision 2019.PH11.5.

City Council on July 24 and 25, 2024, referred Item CC20.3 to the Economic and Community Development Committee for consideration. 

Summary from the report (July 17, 2024) from the Ombudsman on Ombudsman Toronto Housing Unit Status Report 2024.

Pursuant to section 170(2) of the City of Toronto Act, 2006 (COTA), the purpose of this report is to provide City Council with a status report describing the activities of Ombudsman Toronto’s Housing Unit since its creation in July 2023. In less than a year, the Housing Unit has been fully staffed, developed its infrastructure, launched two investigations, provided consultations to City staff, and met with more than 170 people through their engagement work. Notably, the Housing Unit has also developed a framework that uses the concept of housing as a human right to guide their investigations, the first of its kind for an Ombudsman organization in Canada.

At its meeting on September 23, 2024 the Housing Rights Advisory Committee considered Item HS3.3 and made a recommendation.

Summary from the presentation (September 13, 2024) from the Acting Deputy Ombudsman (Housing):

Luke Brown, Acting Deputy Ombudsman (Housing) will present Housing Unit’s Status Update, which overviews the Unit’s activities since its inception in July 2023. This will be followed by a presentation on the Unit’s Housing Rights Framework.