Resources for Peel Living tenants

Peel Living is the Region of Peel's non-profit housing company. Also known as Peel Housing Corporation, it operates as an independent Corporation of the Region of Peel and is administered by the Region's Human Services department.

Peel Living is a recognized leader in creating innovative housing solutions. It is the largest landlord in the Region of Peel and the third largest social housing provider in Ontario. Peel Living provides home to over 7,100 residents in our 70 sites.

Peel Living's hallmark approach to building stronger communities is based on mixing tenancies with varying income levels and a commitment to providing safe, well-maintained living environments in each of it thousands of apartment and townhouse units.

Contact us at 905-790-7335 for more information.

Peel Living Board of Directors

In 2018, Regional Council approved the new Peel Living Board of Directors, which is comprised of staff of the Region of Peel. Serving on the board are:

• Patricia Caza (Chair), Director, Legal Services and Deputy Regional Solicitor
• Steve Fantin (Vice-Chair) Operations Support, Public Works
• Kathryn Lockyer (Secretary) Regional Clerk and Acting Commissioner, Corporate Services
• Sean Baird (Director), Commissioner, Digital & Information Services
• Cathy Granger (Director) Acting Commissioner, Health Services

To contact the board, please email: zzg-peelliving@peelregion.ca

Annual reports

• 2019 Annual Report (PDF)
• 2018 Annual Report (PDF)
• 2017 Annual Report (PDF)
• 2016 Annual Report (PDF)
• 2015 Annual Report (PDF)
• 2014 Annual Report (PDF)

Peel Living Agendas

All minutes are in Adobe PDF format.

2018 Minutes

• February, 1 2018
• March, 1 2018
• May, 3 2018
• June, 7 2018
• July 5
• September 6

2017 Minutes

• February 16 2017
• April 6, 2017
• May 11, 2017
• June 1, 2017
• June 22, 2017 – Annual General Meeting
• July 6 2017
• September 7 2017
• October 5, 2017
• December 7, 2017

2016 Minutes

• January 7, 2016
• February 4, 2016
• March 3, 2016
• April 7, 2016
• May 5, 2016
• June 2, 2016
• June 23, 2016 – Annual General Meeting
• September 15, 2016
• October 6, 2016
• October 13, 2016 – Special Shareholders Meeting
• November 3, 2016
• December 1, 2016

2015 Minutes

• March 5, 2015
• April 2, 2015
• May 7, 2015
• June 4, 2015
• June 25, 2015 – Annual General Meeting
• September 3, 2015
• October 1, 2015
• November 5, 2015
• December 10, 2015 – Special Shareholder Meeting

2014 Minutes

• January 23, 2014
• February 27, 2014
• March 27, 2014
• April 24, 2014
• May 22, 2014
• June 26, 2014
• June 26, 2014 – Annual General Meeting
• September 11, 2014 – Special Shareholders Meeting
• September 25, 2014

What is the smoke-free policy?
The smoke-free policy is a comprehensive strategy which will protect tenants, visitors, and staff from involuntary exposure to second-hand smoke and related health risks. It prohibits smoking in residential units (including patios, balconies, backyards and front lawns) that have leases effective on or after November 1, 2018.

Why are we implementing the smoke-free policy?
We heard you. Here are the results of the 2017 Peel Living Smoking and Tobacco Survey (PDF)

Which products fall under the Smoke-Free Living policy?
Lit tobacco, lit herbal material (e.g. shisha) and lit cannabis (i.e. marijuana, weed) will be prohibited. Vaping is permitted and is not included in this policy because there is less evidence to suggest that the second-hand aerosols from vapour products travel from unit to unit in the same way that smoke does.

Do all Peel Living and Region of Peel buildings fall under the Smoke-Free Living policy?
Yes. Over time, this will impact approximately 7,000 households. The policy applies to new leases effective on or after November 1st, 2018. Also note that Peel Living shelters, group homes and mobile homes are not included in this policy. The shelters and group homes are already smoke-free under provincial legislation and mobile homes are not included in this policy because they are not Multi-Unit Housing buildings.

How and when will a smoke-free policy be implemented?
Peel Living will begin transitioning towards 100% smoke-free buildings using a phased approach.

• Phase 1 (Fall 2018): All new leases effective on or after November 1, 2018 will contain a clause that bans smoking inside their residential unit (including balconies, patios, backyards and front lawns). Please Note: Previously-signed lease agreements will not be forcibly changed.
• Phase 2 (Early 2019): Grandfathered Tenants (i.e., those who signed lease agreements prior to the policy's adoption) may voluntarily sign a no-smoking agreement as an addendum to their lease.

Once all units have a no-smoking agreement, Regionally-owned MUH will be 100% smoke-free.

How will a smoke-free policy be enforced?
Tenants can make complaints in writing and the housing provider will follow-up with the complainant. It is not usually necessary to legally enforce a smoke-free policy, but Canadian court tribunal decisions have shown support for smoke-free policies in multi-unit housing.

Are people who smoke allowed to live in a smoke-free building?
Yes. Tenants who smoke can still live in buildings that have a no-smoking policy. Smoking will be permitted outside of the unit, in areas that are not regulated by the Peel Outdoor Smoking By-law, 2013 or the proposed Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017. People who smoke may choose to quit or reduce their smoking, while some may choose to use aids to help them stay smoke-free in their homes, such as using nicotine replacement therapy (i.e., the patch or gum).

Don't I have a right to smoke in my own apartment?
From a legal perspective, there is no statement in the Human Rights Code or Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms asserting that there is an absolute right to smoke. You do not have the right to expose others in the building to the risks associated with smoking. There are Canadian cases where landlords have been taken to court for their smoke-free policies, and court tribunal decisions have upheld the policies.

Do housing providers have the legal right to ban smoking in private rental units?
Yes. Housing providers legally have the right to put policies in place to protect the health and safety of all residents and to protect their property. Implementing a no-smoking policy is similar to creating other policies, such as noise restrictions.

Where will smoking be allowed if people can't smoke inside their units?
Tenants and visitors entering a no-smoking unit will have to leave the unit to smoke. Smoking will be permitted in spaces that are not regulated under the proposed Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 or the Peel Outdoor Smoking By-law, 2013.

How do housing providers ensure compliance with the duty to accommodate' (sometimes it's necessary to treat someone differently in order to prevent or reduce discrimination) when implementing smoking bans?
To comply, housing providers will accommodate tenants by considering policy exemptions. If a tenant's accommodation would cause undue hardship, a second-best measure would then occur (e.g., offering smoking cessation support).

What type of support is available for people who smoke in Regionally-owned multi-unit housing who want to quit or reduce their smoking?
There are various stop smoking resources (PDF) within the community available to tenants interested in quitting or reducing their smoking. Find support for quitting or reducing your smoking or contact Smokers Helpline or by texting 123456 to iQuit.

Cannabis use

Cannabis is also known as marijuana or weed.

Will there be any exemptions made for medical use of cannabis?
Exemptions for the medical use of cannabis will be considered on a case by case basis. If you require an exemption you must maintain a valid Authorization to Possess Marijuana from Health Canada and provide this authorization to Peel Housing Corporation. You must also provide medical documentation (e.g. doctor's note) stating that you must smoke cannabis (i.e. you cannot use cannabis in another way, like vaping or eating) and you are medically advised against leaving your unit to smoke. If you are interested in an exemption, please speak with your TSA.

If I want to appeal the decision about not meeting requirements to allow smoking cannabis in my unit, who will resolve this issue?
Any appeals would be made to the Landlord and Tenant Board. You can contact the Landlord and Tenant Board toll free, Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at 1-888-332-3234.

What are the regulations around personal cultivation of cannabis?
For cultivation of medical cannabis, a number of conditions are set out by the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations (ACMPR). Individuals must:

• be authorized by their health care practitioner
• register with Health Canada to produce a limited amount of cannabis for their own medical purposes
• only start producing cannabis plants upon receipt of a Health Canada registration certificate
• operate within the limits set out in the registration certificate, and abide by the maximum plant limit, maximum storage limit and maximum possession limit 
• comply with all relevant provincial/territorial and municipal laws including local bylaws about zoning, electrical safety, fire safety, together with all related inspection and remediation requirements.

The number of plants allowed is calculated by the number of grams of cannabis the physician determines is necessary for treatment (e.g. 3 grams/day = 15 plants). Health Canada states the average is between 1 to 3 grams per day.

Cultivation of recreational cannabis is set to become legal on October 17, 2018. The provincial legislation for cannabis (medical and recreational) has not yet been passed. It is proposed to allow up to four plants for cultivation of recreational cannabis.

The path to quitting looks different for everyone. What works for some people won't work for others. For many people, it takes multiple quitting attempts to succeed.

The odds of your success increase with every quitting effort. Free stop smoking resources (PDF) are available to help you find your way.

Whether the best route for you is telephone or online support, medication, counseling or a combination of these, there's never been a better time to start your quit smoking journey. Call us at 905-799-7700

Find information on Peel Living's redevelopment of the Twin Pines lands in Mississauga, including project timelines and progress reports.

Twin Pines Redevelopment Project