Hey Landlords, This Will Encourage You to Want That Multiplex

As you may or may not know, I am an advocate for women and children exercising their rights and opportunities to get ahead. I would like to explain this as I applaud the work that MPP Cheri DiNovo of Parkdale-Highpark does on their rights as well. Most especially because of her very humble and raw beginnings. Recently though, Cheri DiNovo, a female, NDP member of Parliament has done something that has totally struck a nerve.

She was a business owner and though her very private situation happened, it's not the case of everyone ** Perhaps she's taking things too far with a new Reading of a Bill to Parliament that just seemed to "slip by"

Landlords, as if things weren't tough already, read the Bill that somehow got under the radar: Bill 112, Residential Tenancies Amendment Act (Tenants' Rights), 2010

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Here's the PDF

On September 16th: Cheri held a press conference at Queen’s Park calling for better tenants rights. Cheri is taking action on the bed bug issue by tabling a Private Member’s Bill calling for landlord licensing. On the panel were Kenn Hale from Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario (ACTO), Edward Lantz from Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) and Carolyn Peters, a rental agent who was told that she had to show apartments that were known to be infested with bedbugs. The Bill also calls for real rent control, extending protection to more tenants and improving access to justice for tenants.

Is the same woman that said in a National Post Interview back in May:

"We're politicians, we're important. We make these laws for other people, who aren't so important." *source below


An outspoken critic of The Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) and the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB), Cheri has called for more affordable housing and action. Thankfully, she also calls for making amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act. Here are some of the following:

214.1 (1) No landlord shall enter into a tenancy agreement with respect to a rental unit in a residential complex containing six or more rental units on or after the day section 22 of the Residential Tenancies Amendment Act (Tenants’ Rights), 2010 comes into force unless the landlord has obtained a licence in accordance with this Part and the regulations.

(2) No landlord shall renew a tenancy agreement with respect to a rental unit in a residential complex containing six or more rental units that was entered into before the day section 22 of the Residential Tenancies Amendment Act (Tenants’ Rights), 2010 comes into force unless the landlord has obtained a licence in accordance with this Part and the regulations.

Now, I agree bedbugs have become a problem (and I would also say because certain things have been banned so we're not able to eliminate them). So be advised they're also stipulating that they will not renew your license:

5) The Board shall not issue a licence to a landlord who, at the time of application, (a) has not complied with one or more of the terms set out in a work order given to the landlord under section 225 if the time period for compliance with the terms of the work order has expired; (b) has not complied with one or more of the terms and conditions of an order served on the landlord under section 15.2 of the Building Code Act, 1992 if the time period for compliance with the terms and conditions of the order has expired; or (c) is party to a tenancy agreement with respect to a rental unit that is, in the opinion of the Board and subject to the regulations, infested with bedbugs, cockroaches or other vermin, regardless of whether the presence of such vermin is the subject of an order under this or any other Act, if the landlord has not, in the opinion of the Board and subject to the regulations, made sufficient attempts to eliminate the vermin from the rental unit.Refusal to issue licence (

5) Subject to the regulations, if the Board intends to refuse to issue a licence to a landlord under subsection

(6), the Board shall give notice to the landlord of its intention to refuse and the landlord shall have an opportunity to make submissions to the Board.Renewal of licence 

(7) A licence issued under this Part expires two years after the date of issue.

TO BREAK IT DOWN, HERE'S THE EXPLANATORY NOTE THEY PROVIDE:

The Bill makes several amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006, including the following: 

1. The Bill increases the time limit for most tenant and some landlord applications to the Landlord and Tenant Board from one to two years. 

2. The Bill requires a landlord who terminates a tenancy for personal use to compensate the tenant and expands the circumstances in which a landlord is required to compensate a tenant if the landlord terminates a tenancy for the purpose of demolition or conversion to non-residential use. 

3. The Bill prohibits a landlord from increasing the rent charged to a new tenant by more than the guideline and abolishes landlord applications to the Board for above guideline rent increases where there has been a significant increase in the cost of utilities. 

4. The Bill requires that the Board dismiss an application from a landlord who has been given a work order under section 225 of the Act or an order under section 15.2 of the Building Code Act, 1992 and has not completed the items in the work order or the order. 

5. The Bill requires a landlord to obtain a licence with respect to a rental unit in a residential complex containing six or more rental units in order to enter into a tenancy agreement or renew an existing tenancy agreement.

I agree there are some irresponsible Landlords out there but there are quite a few of us that are VERY responsible. To bring in rent control when costs to Landlords are already inundate with high costs would not bring in affordable housing and would do the total opposite if we have to spend more. We have the implementation of HST, rising taxes, assessments, utilities, etc


To Contact Your Local MPP, click here: 

National Post Quote Source:
* http://network.nationalpost.com/NP/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2010/05/20/new-bicycling-law.aspx

** humble beginnings source: http://www.upwithwomen.com/Cheri.htm

How To Be A Good Wife: Then (1950's) And Now (2010)

HOW TO BE A GOOD WIFE: Then: 1950's and Now 2010 

The following is supposedly an excerpt from a 1950's high school home-economics textbook:

• •  Have dinner ready: Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal -- on time. This is a way of letting him know that you have been thinking about him and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they come home and the prospect of a good meal are part of the warm welcome needed.
  • Prepare yourself: Take 15 minutes to rest so that you'll be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your makeup, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh-looking. He has just been with a lot of work-weary people. Be a little gay and a little more interesting. His boring day may need a lift.  
  • Clear away the clutter: Make one last trip through the main part of the house just before your husband arrives, gathering up school books, toys, paper, etc. Then run a dust cloth over the tables. Your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order, and it will give you a lift too.  
  • Prepare the children: take a few minutes to wash the children's hands and faces (if they are small), comb their hair, and if necessary, change their clothes. They are little treasures and he would like to see them playing the part.  
  • Minimize all noise: At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of the washer, dryer, dishwasher, or vacuum. Try to encourage the children to be quiet. Be happy to see him. Greet him with a warm smile and be glad to see him.  
  • Some don'ts: Don't greet him with problems or complaints. Don't complain if he's late for dinner. Count this as minor compared with what he might have gone through that day. Make him comfortable. Have a cool or warm drink ready for him. Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes. Speak in a low, soft, soothing and pleasant voice. Allow him to relax and unwind.
  • Listen to him: You may have a dozen things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time. Let him talk first.
  • Make the evening his: Never complain if he does not take you out to dinner or to other places of entertainment. Instead, try to understand his world of strain and pressure, his need to be home and relax.
  • The goal: Try to make your home a place of peace and order where your husband can renew himself in body and spirit.

Now: 2010 (Shannon's Version)

Have dinner ready: if possible, put whatever you can into the crock pot and have it on simmer so it's ready when you both get home from a long day of work. If possible, have the kids have the dinner table set and away you go to have a nice dinner! If they're old enough to make it and home before you are, even better! They have to learn how to cook sometime for when they're going to leave the house. If not, what's on the takeout/delivery menu OR if hubby is home first, ask what he's cooking.

Prepare yourself: you've had a long hard day at work or scheduling play dates, etc with the kids. Take at least 15 minutes to yourself if hubby's home and let him have the opportunity of catching up with the kids while you gather your thoughts and have some "me" time. If you can't have quiet time at home, just excuse yourself, go grab a Timmy's or Starbucks tea, juice or coffee and take a quick drive to a park or waterfront. Have a meditation CD playing quietly or just enjoy the silence.

Clear Away The Clutter: ah, everyone should take care of themselves. If they put it there, they can clean it up too. You're not a maid and they all have to learn responsibility and cleaning up! Make a chore list and have everyone scheduled to do certain chores. If you can afford it, hire a maid and you're helping to support another person and their business while they help make your life easier.

Minimize all noise: Ask Johnny to turn down the ear buds that is blaring his music and probably destroying his ear drums. Otherwise, everyone should run up to you (or dad) when you come home. If there's music on in the background, dance and say "oh yeah, let's celebrate - I'm home!" If hubby's home, great! If hubby's not home, great! Enjoy that one on one time with the kids or, just take that moment again for yourself.

Listen to him: well, if he's only going to grunt a few words when he comes home, then it won't take long. If you have to, grab a glass of wine so you can swish it in your mouth and preoccupy your mind

Make The Evening His: Go out with the girls for a "girl's night" or lock yourself in your bathroom with wine, candles, a good book and bubbles. I'm sure he can find something of his own to do. Get him the new "Maxim" or tell him the remote is all his for the night.

The Goal: to get through the fast paces that life has to offer on a daily basis with as much sanity as you can....all the while feeling a sense of accomplishment, purpose and hopefully hearing the words "thanks", "I love you mom", "I love you honey" and "you're the best"...even if you have to pat yourself sometimes. Everyone else will come around.

Thanks for viewing! As always, have a great day and remember to "Empower yourself and inspire change in others"

Narrow-Minded Thinking and Power of the Internet

Narrow-Minded Thinking and Power of the Internet

Well I guess this "small-time" girl with big ambition and drive had a wake-up call this morning. It's funny how one can think about things that they THINK they're going to blog about and then in one instant whether an action, call or thought can change all this.

In keeping with my "empowerment" I originally wanted to write to you about my nutrition plan and what steps I took to get into being a healthier me and that it wasn't about the "d" word (diet) but a chosen lifestyle. I think I will save this thought for another day.

Why? Because something "bigger than life" happened to me and I had an epiphany. I was asking myself "why blog?" Do I even have an audience or am I just typing words into thin air and what would make anyone in the world want to read my blogs over hundreds upon thousands others. What do I bring to the table? I'm just one person in this City just North of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. So out of curiosity I checked stats which I had never done before. I was amazed. To the readers that hail from my home Country of Canada that have freedoms, I thank you. For those that are reading from Italy, Australia, United Kingdom, Alaska, US, Poland, India, Ukraine, Russia and Philippines, a HUGE thank you and I hope that across the miles, you are finding some enlightenment, hope, humour and support from reading this.

So in knowing this, I feel a sense of responsibility and honoured with the opportunity of offering support and showing that everyone has the right to be free; a right to be empowered and know that whatever situation you're in there's hope. That no matter what challenges you face every day that the same patterns do not have to be repeated and no one ever has the power to tell you how to think because you are the only one responsible for your thoughts. For anyone reading this that is facing abuse whether physical or verbal or living in a Country where women are not treated as "persons" or facing persecution for even "looking at a man" and accusations of being unfaithful, I pray for you.

For those people that offer hope and support for these women and it sometimes feels like a "thankless" job (or volunteer work), keep on making a difference. For those that put their lives in danger to help people, thanks for making a difference. This world must be made a better place and we all need to reach out to each other whether in word or other actions, we have to make a difference. No one, whether female or male, should ever feel they're worthless or inferior. We truly need to watch our words and keep negative thoughts out of our minds and hearts and speak words of encouragement, love and support. We must always "pay it forward" and even if it doesn't feel like what we're saying or doing isn't making a difference, we have to believe IT IS touching the lives of at least one person.

I am truly honoured and humbled and no longer shall I be "narrow-minded" and think I'm writing in a cocoon. I trust these words find you well. Continue to look for strength and you can make any changes. Put yourself first. In the words of MJ and friends: "We are the world, we are the children; We are the ones who make a brighter day so lets start giving. There's a choice we're making, we're saving our own lives, its true we'll make a better day....Just you and me"

Thanks for viewing! As always, have a great day and remember to "Empower yourself and inspire change in others"