Good evening all!

This is longer post than usual and also a little dry - so I apologize in advance. The next one's will be shorter I promise!

It's no secret that I have been advocating for landlords as a private citizen at the city since about 2014.

As a result, there will be no need to create or change an executive position to do this type of work because it's something I'm involved with already outside of OREIO. 

If I am elected President, I will work to establish an OREIO presence at city hall and for city hall to become an active participant at OREIO.  In a nutshell, OREIO will advocate for its members at the city. Here are some ways we can accomplish this.

• OREIO doesn't have an on-going and active presence at city hall. Few councilors know about OREIO which means the city isn't aware of the membership's concerns and issues. (There's no blame here - this is because OREIO has always been a solid information provider and educator, but not a landlord advocate.) So, the first step will be for OREIO to establish and maintain relationships with the city councilors and the chairs of the Planning Committee and the Community & Protected Services Committee.
• As an organization, we will educate the city about the challenges that investors face in Ottawa by inviting councilors or the appropriate staff to all of our meetings and events. For example, how many councilors are aware that COVID-19 continues to hurt residential landlords with lost rental income, prolonged vacancies, rent strikes, poor messaging from government leaders, and construction permit delays? The councilors will know about these types of things when they start attending our meetings which might influence some of their decisions.

• OREIO will not become a registered lobbying group if I am elected President. With the membership's consent, there may be opportunities for OREIO to participate in the advocacy work being done by other landlord groups (Eastern Ontario Landlords Organization) and provincial levels (Ontario Landlords Watch). 

• Here are some projects and regulations that the Executive will keep the membership informed on: the R4 Zoning Review, Property Management Bylaw, Long Term Rental Bylaw, Short Term Rental Bylaw, Rooming House Update Bylaw, the "613 Flats zoning initiative", Bill 108 that will require policies to allow 2 residential units in a house and a residential unit in a building ancillary to a house, and Bill 184 that makes the RTA even more tenant friendly!

Thanks for taking the time to read the post!

Tony