Item - 2021.EX20.9

The Executive Committee recommends that:

1. City Council approve the Terms of Reference for the City of Toronto's Seniors Housing Corporation Board in Attachment 1 to the report (January 13, 2021) from the Deputy City Manager, Community and Social Services, as amended by Part 2 below.

2. City Council amend the Terms of Reference for the Seniors Housing Corporation Board:

a. by replacing the Appointment Process with the following to ensure that it's consistent with the selection process for the tenant directors to the Toronto Community Housing Corporation:

The appointment of public members to the Seniors Housing Corporation will follow the provisions of the City's Public Appointments Policy.

For the five (5) public members at large, the Corporations Nominating Panel will review applications, conduct interviews, and recommend nominees to City Council for appointment to the Board.

For the two (2) public members that are current tenants of seniors housing corporation buildings, City staff, with input from seniors housing corporation tenants will conduct outreach, review applications, conduct interviews, and recommend nominees to the Corporation Nominating Panel. The Corporation Nominating Panel will recommend nominees to City Council for appointment to the Board; and

b. by amending the composition to require that the majority of the Board members be senior citizens, including but not limited to those seniors living in Toronto Community Housing. 

3. City Council direct that, for the first two years following incorporation, the composition of the City of Toronto's Seniors Housing Corporation Board shall include the City Manager or designate sitting in an ex-officio non-voting capacity. 

4. City Council direct the City Clerk to immediately initiate the recruitment process for the City of Toronto's Seniors Housing Corporation Board in accordance with the Public Appointments Policy, the Business Corporations Act (Ontario), the Striking Committee Process and the Board Terms of Reference in Attachment 1 to the report (January 13, 2021) from the Deputy City Manager, Community and Social Services, as amended by Part 2 above.

The City of Toronto's new seniors housing corporation will operate affordable rental and social housing for approximately 14,000 low and moderate-income senior households in 83 senior-designated buildings. These housing units are currently operated by the Seniors Housing Unit of Toronto Community Housing Corporation.

While Council has approved in principle the creation of the seniors housing corporation, it has yet to be legally incorporated due to the impact of COVID-19 on City resources. Staff will be reporting back on timing for incorporation in spring 2021.

Despite the delay, two key decisions necessary to establish the corporation are recommended at this time. In anticipation of legal incorporation of the seniors housing corporation, this report recommends the Terms of Reference for the Board of Directors for the seniors housing corporation, and directs the City Clerk to initiate recruitment of the Board. Starting the Board appointments process at this time will accelerate the process to establish the seniors housing corporation, and position the Board to guide the initial development of the organization.