Above-guideline rent increases in Toronto up 250 per cent in six years: report
Corporate landlords are responsible for 84 per cent of all above-guideline rent increases in Toronto, according to RenovictionsTO By Julia Mastroianni
Justin Wei / Unsplash
The number of applications for above-guideline rent increases (AGI) between 2019 and 2020 was two and half times than in 2012 to 2013 in both Ontario and Toronto, according to a new report.
On Wednesday, RenovictionsTO released data that found there were 296 AGI applications in the 2012-2013 fiscal year in Ontario, versus 758 in from 2019-2020.
In Toronto during the same period, the number went up from 117 to 294.
AGIs refer to rent increases that surpass the provincially mandated yearly percentage limit on rent increases. Usually, that amount hovers around two per cent, though currently the Ontario government implemented a rent freeze at 2020 levels for 2021.
NOW Magazine
Here are two alternative proposals for the Foundry development
Local designers and architects are proposing designs that incorporate heritage elements and add more affordable housing By Julia Mastroianni
KPMB Architects/Norm Li
Friends of the Foundry released design renderings on Wednesday in collaboration with local architects demonstrating what the future of the Dominion Foundry site could look like.
Community groups, local architects and designers have revealed design concepts for the much-contested Dominion Foundry that would preserve heritage elements while still providing affordable housing.
The designs – one was released February 24 in collaboration with community advocate group Friends of the Foundry and another was unveiled a day later – come after weeks of legal battles and protests over the Ford government’s plan to demolish the West Don Lands site.
Jobs in demand: The pros and cons of becoming a nurse in Ontario
Jobs in demand: The pros and cons of becoming a nurse in Ontario
Many nurses consider the profession a calling, but the country is facing a job shortage By Julia Mastroianni
dimarik / Getty Images
In the era of COVID-19, it’s no surprise nurses place in the top 10 on most lists of fastest-growing and highest-demand jobs.
But as demand grows, the pandemic has only put more pressure on the understaffed hospital units. A study released by the Registered Practical Nurses Association of Ontario in January found that 34 per cent of RPNs surveyed are considering leaving the profession.
Jobs in demand: The pros and cons of becoming midwife
In Ontario, midwives still face barriers despite high interest in their services By Julia Mastroianni
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Like many career paths in the health-care industry, midwives are in high demand, and have been for many years. Midwifery experts in Ontario say that only around half the amount of people who seek midwifery services are able to obtain them. Just over 25,000 people gave birth in midwifery care between April 2018 and March 2019.
But for a career that has historically been around almost as long as people have been giving birth, the industry still has challenges, making it difficult for Ontario midwives to meet the growing demand for their services.
NOW Magazine
It’s time to care about Ontario’s caregivers
Personal support workers say caring for the elderly is a privilege, but Ontario s workforce is low paid, short staffed and burnt out By Julia Mastroianni
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When Crystal considered getting back into the workforce, she thought about a few different career paths before landing on personal support worker. She just knew she wanted to help people.
She’d heard that the hours could be difficult and that it was not unusual for PSWs to have to work multiple shifts in a row. But “it seemed like a very rewarding job, the kind of job where you feel good going home,” she says.