Investigative Reports

Showing 11 to 20 of 41 items

Enquiry into Toronto Hydro’s “Project Carlaw” Pole Replacement in the Former Ward 30

February 13, 2019

We received six complaints from Toronto residents about “Project Carlaw,” Toronto Hydro’s capital project to replace old hydro poles in Toronto Danforth (the former Ward 30). All six people complained that Toronto Hydro was installing new hydro poles in front of their homes without notice.

Enquiry into the Section 37 Agreement for the Historic Mimico Train Station

July 9, 2018

In 2004, a community group began a project to restore a historic train station in Mimico. Four years later, a condominium developer submitted a rezoning application to allow it to build across from the station, and City staff recommended Council approve the application as well as a Section 37 agreement. After another development sale, the station remains empty and unsafe.

Enquiry into the City of Toronto’s Handling of a Building Permit for Construction of a House

May 15, 2018

The City revoked Mr. L’s permit to demolish an existing house and build a new one on his corner lot after discovering that it had issued the permit in error after misinterpreting a section of the new zoning bylaw relating to the location of the driveway, causing Mr. L money and delaying the sale of his house.

Enquiry into How the City Handled the Sale of a Tenant’s Business at St. Lawrence Market

April 6, 2018

A St. Lawrence Market tenant complained that the City’s Real Estate Services division had delayed the sale of his business, and unfairly charged him interest on rental arrears and administration fees. He also said that staff had behaved unprofessionally throughout the sale process.

Enquiry into the City’s Delay of Almost Nine Years Collecting a Provincial Offences Act Fine

April 6, 2018

In August, 2016, a collection agency contacted a member of the public, saying that he owed the City of Toronto $849 from a Highway Traffic Act conviction almost nine years earlier. This was the first time he was hearing about the outstanding fine. In fact, he thought he had already paid the fine at the time of the offense. The City, however, said it had no record of the payment.

Enquiry into City of Toronto Winter Respite Services, 2017-18 Winter Season

March 19, 2018

Last winter, in response to media reports that the City was providing inadequate space for Torontonians facing homelessness in the winter months, Ombudsman Toronto conducted an Enquiry into Cold Weather Drop-In Services.

An Investigation into Toronto Community Housing Corporation’s Medical and Safety at Risk Priority Transfer Process For Tenants

January 24, 2018

We had concerns about whether TCHC’s priority transfer process is fair and responsive to the needs of TCHC tenants. We therefore decided to launch an Investigation into how TCHC handles Medical and Safety at Risk priority transfers.

Enquiry into a Vulnerable Homeowner’s Claim to Surplus Proceeds After a Tax Sale by the City

September 25, 2017

We were contacted by a vulnerable, low-income senior who had owned a house in Toronto with his late mother. After she died, he did not pay the property taxes and the City of Toronto sold the house to recover the tax owing. He asked the City for the surplus money from the sale of his house — the City would not give him the money.

Enquiry into the City’s Process for Out-of-Province Licence Plate Owners to Challenge Parking Tickets

September 19, 2017

Mr. T, a Quebec resident, complained to us that City staff weren’t letting him fight three Toronto parking tickets. He said that staff at Parking Tag Operations had told him there was no way to challenge the tickets in court because his car was registered in Quebec, not in Ontario.

An Investigation into the City’s Process for Handling Development Charge Complaints and Education Development Charge Complaints

June 23, 2017

A member of the public complained to Ombudsman Toronto after he was denied a hearing concerning a development charge. When deciding whether or not to send a complaint to a hearing, City staff are essentially deciding whether complainants will have access to an appeal body. This raised serious questions of administrative fairness.