Ontario ethics watchdog closes Greenbelt-related inquiry
NDP Leader Marit Stiles had asked the commissioner in October 2023 to examine a 2020 trip to Las Vegas that included Rasheed, Doug Ford's then-principal secretary Amin Massoudi, and developer Shakir Rehmatullah, who stood to benefit from Ford's now-reversed plan to remove land from the Greenbelt for housing.
Rasheed, Massoudi and Jae Truesdell — who was in the private sector at the time but served as Ford's director of housing policy starting in January 2022 — initially told the integrity commissioner they 'briefly' encountered Rehmatullah on a trip to Las Vegas in 2019.
They later said the trip occurred in 2020 after reports from The Trillium and CTV called Rasheed's timeline into question, and Rasheed has said it was an honest mistake.
A spokesperson for Integrity Commissioner Cathryn Motherwell says the office is required to suspend any inquiry when an election is called.
A probe can resume if the original requester asks for a restart within 30 days after an election, but the spokesperson says that did not happen.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 6, 2025.
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Chicago Tribune
7 hours ago
- Chicago Tribune
Illinois' rental assistance program has restarted. Here's what you need to know.
Struggling to pay your rent? Need to get paid for rent you are owed? There's a solution for those issues again after a two-month hiatus: Illinois' court-based rental assistance program reopened on July 31. While the program saw a third of its funds wiped away for the 2026 fiscal year that began July 1, $50 million in state funds are available. The reduction came as rents in Chicago keep rising and after the state grappled with serious fiscal challenges when balancing its budget this year, issues exacerbated by a federal government focused on axing spending. State lawmakers cut spending in various areas beyond housing as well. The state rental assistance program was previously funded by federal aid distributed during the COVID-19 pandemic and focused on helping tenants experiencing COVID-19-related hardships and at risk of eviction. The program has helped tens of thousands of renters and landlords since its inception in 2020. In the 2025 fiscal year, the inaugural year as a state-funded effort, more than $63 million in aid was distributed to help more than 7,680 families facing eviction. Around 39% of aided households were extremely low income, earning less than $36,000 a year for a household of four, the state said. The need was greater than the Illinois Housing Development Authority, the group in charge of administering the funds, expected, the agency said, which is why the program closed about three weeks before the end of the last fiscal year. Eviction filings in Cook County have hovered around pre-pandemic levels since 2022. Here's what you need to know about the state's court-based rental assistance program: Eligible tenants have to make 80% or less of the area median income and do not have to be facing a COVID-19-related hardship. For a household of four in Chicago, the income eligibility threshold is $95,900 or less, according to the Chicago Department of Housing's area median income calculations. For this year's round of assistance, the state said tenants will be ineligible if they have received aid in the last 18 months. Renters do not have to prove their citizenship status and must have an active eviction case due to nonpayment of rent to qualify. Housing providers are not allowed to evict tenants during the grant's coverage period for nonpayment of rent. For tenants whose landlords are unwilling to participate in the program, the state offers up to two months of future rent payments to help them find a new place to live. Renters in Chicago and Cook County maintain the right to stay in their homes if they pay their debts in full to their landlord at any time before an official eviction order is filed. Tenants and landlords can receive up to $10,000 in rental assistance per eviction case. This is a reduction from last year's $15,000 ceiling when the program was better funded. Kristin Faust, the Illinois Housing Development Authority's executive director, previously told the Tribune this decision was made based on data from last year's program and conversations with legal aid, tenants and landlords. The average grant amount last year was around $8,300, or eight months of rent. The authority estimates about 6,500 households will be able to receive assistance this year. The money can go toward paying past-due rent, up to $700 in court costs — up from $500 last year — and up to two months of future rent. To apply for the Illinois Court-Based Rental Assistance Program, go to The court-based rental assistance program is just one aspect of the state's eviction diversion program, known formally as the Early Resolution Program. Tenants and small landlords can also receive legal aid to help settle eviction cases before they go to trial. Those resources can be found at or by calling (855) 956-5763. The central hub for eviction help in the state is a website called Eviction Help Illinois: There are also separate rental assistance dollars allocated to the Illinois Department of Human Services, with $89.5 million total (including the $50 million court-based program) earmarked to support those efforts this fiscal year, the state said. More information for IDHS housing support programs can be found here: A three-year Chicago pilot program aiding low-income households with legal representation was recently extended through the end of the year thanks to carryover funds from its initial grant (federal stimulus money from the pandemic era) and city dollars, said Michelle Gilbert, legal and policy director for Law Center for Better Housing, one of the organizations involved in the program. The city will need to appropriate more funds in next year's budget (starting Jan. 1, 2026) for the program to continue.
Politico
14 hours ago
- Politico
Poilievre's pivot
Presented by Send tips | Subscribe here | Email Canada Playbook | Follow Politico Canada Thanks for reading Canada Playbook. Happy Friday! In today's edition: → The trade war lands on PIERRE POILIEVRE's doorstep. → DONALD TRUMP and VLADIMIR PUTIN meet in Canada's backyard. → Ontario heralds an end to the work-from-home era. Trade war EAST VS. WEST — Conservative Leader PIERRE POILIEVRE has been forced to contend with DONALD TRUMP's trade disruption as he door knocks in rural Alberta. Poilievre, who largely focused on affordability and crime during the federal election and was mocked for not pivoting enough to address trade challenges, has turned his attention to tariffs. — New audience: The Conservative leader is running in the riding of Battle River–Crowfoot where many communities are separated by large swaths of canola fields. Producers in the area have been taking financial hits from both Chinese tariffs on canola imports and Canada's retaliatory tariffs that target Trump's allies and red states. Those measures are also driving up the costs of some supplies for farmers. Poilievre can't ignore the issue. These producers feed the world — and they're future constituents. — Another blow: China slapped a 75.8 percent preliminary tariff on Canadian canola seeds on Thursday, on top of 100 percent tariffs that country puts on canola meal and oil. — How it started: The tariffs are in response to Canada's 100 percent tariff on Chinese electric vehicles — a policy the Trudeau-era Liberals adopted in lockstep with the U.S. — Blame game: At a farm outside of Saskatoon on Thursday, just hours from his riding that borders Saskatchewan, Poilievre took aim at the prime minister. 'These tariffs are unfair and unjustified, and we lament the fact that MARK CARNEY has been so silent and so weak, failing to stand up for our farmers against these tariffs,' Poilievre said. 'The Liberals don't care about western farmers and western producers.' — Demands: The Conservative leader wants Ottawa to use tariff revenue from Chinese EV imports to help canola producers. Manitoba's NDP Premier WAB KINEW, who has raised concerns about western alienation, made a similar ask. → That's because: Ottawa has stepped in to help the steel, aluminum and auto sectors, which are large economic drivers in Ontario. → Despite: The canola industry in the Prairies being larger, suggests western premiers. Canola Council of Canada says canola contributes annually more than C$43 billion to the country's economy. 'Our federal government cannot sacrifice a C$43 billion canola industry, 200,000 jobs in that industry that is largely based, in fairness, in Western Canada to protect a fledgling electric vehicle industry largely based in Eastern Canada,' Saskatchewan Premier SCOTT MOE said Wednesday. — By comparison: We looked at a mix of industry and government data — methodologies may vary, but here is the gist: The steel industry contributed C$3 billion to Canada's GDP in 2024, and the aluminum sector contributed C$4.3 billion in the same timeframe, the Canada Gazette shows. The Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers' Association says the auto industry contributed C$16.5 billion to the economy last year. — Alberta wants: Ottawa to work out a deal with China, which is Canada's second-largest trading partner, behind the U.S. — Saskatchewan wants: Carney to talk with China's President XI JINPING. Carney spoke with China's Premier LI QIANG in June. — Ontario wants: The tariffs on Chinese EVs to stay put. — Playing favorites: Western premiers and MPs have accused Carney of prioritizing Ontario, a region central to Carney's political fortunes — and where he continues to reap high approval ratings. — No pressure from the inside: Liberals have just nine MPs from the Prairies. And despite having two sitting at the Cabinet table, ELEANOR OLSZEWSKI and REBECCA CHARTRAND have been publicly silent on the issue, as has Rural Development Secretary of State BUCKLEY BELANGER. Ag Minister HEATH MACDONALD and International Trade Minister MANINDER SIDHU met with industry groups this week. 'We're looking at all options to support the sector,' MacDonald's office told Playbook. — His majesty's loyal opposition: The absence of internal pressure has created an opening for Poilievre and his Prairie MPs to call out Carney's big talk around tariffs. Poilievre took a cheeky shot at Carney's X account. 'He hasn't tweeted a single thing about canola. Yet he's been able to tweet about international cat day. So isn't that nice?' — Five hours later: Carney posted about canola from his staycation. DRIVING THE DAY TODAY: TRUMP-PUTIN IN ALASKA — The ratings will be high. Europe is on edge. And Kyiv is skeptical. President DONALD TRUMP and Russian President VLADIMIR PUTIN are meeting today to discuss how to achieve peace in Ukraine. — What Trump wants: 'To sit down and look the Russian president in the eye and see what progress can be made to move the ball forward,' White House press secretary KAROLINE LEAVITT said on 'Fox & Friends' Thursday. — What Ukraine wants: A deal that has meaningful security guarantees and doesn't simply allow Trump and Putin to team up on reintegrating Russia into the global economy, POLITICO's VERONIKA MELKOZEROVA reports from Kyiv. And also via POLITICO's JAKE TRAYLOR: Trump relishes his diplomacy as he jockeys for Nobel prize. — What Russia wants: Deeper normalization of diplomatic and business relations between America and Russia, including a lifting of sanctions per The Economist. — What Canada wants: The ending of 'Russia's barbaric war of aggression' and 'a just and lasting peace and security for Ukraine' the Prime Minister's Office said. — Meanwhile: Europe lurches between hope and fear. — Odds: Trump says there's a 25 percent chance the talks fail. — Then what?: Trump said Putin could face 'very severe consequences' if he decides Putin is still not serious about ending the war, POLITICO's ELI STOKOLS and MEGAN MESSERLY report. Sanctions are also on the table. — Expect the unexpected: Who can forget earlier this year, when Trump was touting his close relationship with Putin, and dressed down Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy with JD VANCE in the Oval Office. But in the past few months, Trump has shifted his tone, saying Putin may not want to 'stop the war' in Ukraine. — If all goes well: Zelenskyy could be on a plane set for Alaska this weekend, Trump said. — Full agenda: Trump and Putin will have a one-on-one at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska. The U.S. and Russian delegations will then have a bilateral lunch, and then Trump and Putin will have a joint news conference, the White House says. Trump has said he will call Zelenskyy after the summit on Friday. The meeting is set to begin at 11 a.m. local time (3 p.m. in Ottawa), followed by a working breakfast, then potentially a press conference. — But, but, but: 'If it's a bad meeting, I'm not calling anybody,' Trump said on the 'Brian Kilmeade Show' on Fox News Radio Thursday morning. 'I'm going home.' THE ROOMS THAT MATTER — PM CARNEY is on a lighter work schedule somewhere in the National Capital Region. — Energy and Natural Resources Minister TIM HODGSON is in Markham at 9 a.m. with funding news on clean energy projects in Ontario. MPP RUDY CUZZETTO and Markham Councillor KEITH IRISH will join. For your radar NO MORE HOMEWORK — Premier DOUG FORD says Ontario public servants will get back to the office on a full-time basis starting in 2026. 'Everyone needs to go back to work,' he said Thursday. After Labor Day, the province will up its in-office requirement to four days from three. 'Everyone's more productive when they're at work,' the premier said. 'How do you mentor someone over a phone? You can't. You gotta look at them eye to eye over the water cooler.' 'It's just time,' he added. — Watching closely: Federal public servants who don't (yet) face the same in-office rules. WHO'S UP, WHO'S DOWN Up: GENE SIMMONS and the rock band KISS, among the 2025 Kennedy Center honorees — the first recipients selected by DONALD TRUMP since his takeover of the Washington institution. Down: Violent crime in Washington — on the decline since 2023. Want more POLITICO? Download our mobile app to save stories, get notifications on U.S.-Canada relations, and more. In iOS or Android . MORNING MUST-CLICKS — 'Canada is the country that has pulled the rug out from USMCA,' U.S. Ambassador PETE HOEKSTRA told Global News on Thursday evening. — Parliamentary Budget Officer YVES GIROUX tells CATHERINE MORRISON of CP that he has 'no idea' who will take over his job when his term ends next month. — From TALYA MINSBERG and AMY GRAFF In the NYT: Canada's wildfire season is one of its worst ever, and it's not over yet. — PAUL WELLS previews Ontario Premier FORD's visit to Ottawa. — DAVID ZIPPER of Bloomberg reports: The U.S.-Canadian road safety gap is getting wider. — SARA CONNORS of APTN writes on a defense report that advises that First Nations in Yukon need to be more involved in Arctic security. — Our colleagues in Brussels rounded up some reading suggestions for the tail end of summer. LOBBY WATCH Our daily check-in on federal lobbyist registrations and notable meetings around town: — J.D. Irving Ltd. logged two recent meetings with Transport Minister CHRYSTIA FREELAND about funding for potential New Brunswick-based rail projects. The company also talked softwood lumber tariffs in meetings with KIRSTEN HILLMAN, Canada's top envoy in Washington; AARON FOWLER, Canada's chief trade negotiator; and CHRISTIANE FOX, deputy clerk of the Privy Council. — Gowling WLG's JONATHAN INGRAHAM registered to lobby for the Pacific Whale Watch Association, which is focused on the government's intention to extend the regulated 'approach distance' for southern resident killer whales to 1 km. — Glencore Canada, which operates mines and metals processing facilities, posted a July 8 meeting with Energy and Natural Resources Minister HODGSON. PLAYBOOKERS Birthdays: HBD to Sen. MOHAMED-IQBAL RAVALIA, Enterprise Canada Vice President LAURA D'ANGELO, CBC News digital senior producer MICHAEL WOODS, former Deputy Premier of Manitoba ROSANN WOWCHUK (80!) and former Conservative MP DAVID ANDERSON. Saturday: 'West of Centre' podcast host KATHLEEN PETTY, as well as former parliamentarians IRENE MATHYSSEN, DEAN DEL MASTRO (55!) and STOCKWELL DAY (75!) Sunday: Former MP MARTHA HALL FINDLAY, now director of the School of Public Policy at the University of Calgary. Spotted: Hill reporters, trade lawyers and public affairs pros at McMillan's summer rooftop social. Noted: Council of Canadian Innovators President BENJAMIN BERGEN met with Clerk of the Privy Council MICHAEL SABIA, Procurement Minister JOËL LIGHTBOUND and parliamentary secretary JENNA SUDDS in Ottawa Thursday to talk Canada's procurement system and homegrown talent. Movers and shakers: Foreign Affairs Minister ANITA ANAND has tapped JENNIFER LALONDE as high commissioner to Fiji. JOANNE LEMAY will take over as consul general in São Paulo. PAUL THOPPIL will be high commissioner in Singapore. Cohere, a Canadian AI firm, has hired ex-Meta AI research head JOELLE PINEAU, The Logic reports. Send Playbookers tips to canadaplaybook@ PROZONE For POLITICO Pro subscribers, our latest policy headlines: — Searching for Golden Dome clues. — Switzerland sticks with US F-35 fighters despite local backlash. — Allies, in jab at Trump, threaten not to buy F-35s. — DOE puts 11 small reactor projects on a faster track. — RFK Jr.'s MAHA agenda is gaining ground across the U.S. TRIVIA Thursday's answer: Meech Lake sits immediately to the southeast of Harrington Lake in Gatineau Park. Props to MARCEL MARCOTTE, ADAM C. SMITH, ROB LEFORTE, ANDREW BALFOUR, BARRY J. MCLOUGHLIN, DAVID GRANOVSKY, ALEXANDER LANDRY, DARRYL DAMUDE, ELIZABETH BURN, BOB GORDON, JOE MACDONALD, JOANNA PLATER, AMY SCANLON BOUGHNER, BOB PLAMONDON, CHRIS RANDS, JOHN MERRIMAN, GORDON RANDALL, MARC SHAW, HUGUES THÉORÊT, JOHN ECKER, JOHN PEPPER, PAUL PARK, RAY DEL BIANCO, ROB COLTER, J. ROLLAND VAIVE, MARC LEBLANC. Also: GARY ALLEN, RODDY MCFALL, RUDOLF DAMAS, ROBERT MCDOUGALL, STEVE YANG, FAYE ROBERTS, JONATHAN MOSER, IAN FARIS, RALPH LEVENSTEIN, DAN MCCARTHY, CHRIS FARLEY, ANDREW SZENDE, MAIA EASTMAN, CAMERON RYAN, JEFFREY VALOIS, SHEILA GERVAIS, SHAUGHN MCARTHUR, MALCOLM MCKAY, DOUGLAS HEATH, JANE DOULL, JOHN ALHO, FERNANDO MELO, MICHAEL POWELL, MARK RAMZY, PATRICK ST-JACQUES and HANNAH ANSTEY. Friday's question: Where in Ottawa will you find a garden inspired by 'Terre Sauvage'? Send your answer to canadaplaybook@ Writing Monday's Playbook: MICKEY DJURIC. Canada Playbook would not happen without: Canada Editor Sue Allan, editor Willa Plank and POLITICO's Grace Maalouf.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Sask. NDP take aim at Calgary-based Boardwalk in continued call for rent control
The Saskatchewan NDP took aim at a Calgary-based rental company, as the Opposition continues to make the case for rent control in the province. At a news conference on Wednesday, NDP housing critic April ChiefCalf highlighted how Boardwalk has succeeded in Saskatchewan. Boardwalk's financial report for the second-quarter of 2025 highlights how on July 23, 2025, the company purchased three properties — two in Saskatoon and one in Regina — with a combined total of 235 suites. The same report highlights how Boardwalks' Saskatchewan business saw a 13 per cent increase in profits during the second quarter of 2025 compared to the same time period last year. "They're coming here and investing in our province because the incentive is that there's a lack of rent control and that's going to give them the freedom to increase rent, and the issue is they want to increase their profits," ChiefCalf said. ChiefCalf said Boardwalk is a prime example of why rent control is necessary in Saskatchewan. Sam Kolias, CEO of Boardwalk, rejected ChiefCalf's assertion. In an interview on Wednesday, Kolias said a lack of rent control in Saskatchewan has helped the province. "New supply is new competition. New competition creates more affordable rents. Saskatchewan, with no rent controls, has the most affordable rents in Canada," Kolias said. 'That's just not right' Last month, ChiefCalf announced she'd introduce a rent control bill in the legislature this fall. B.C., Ontario, Manitoba and P.E.I. already have rent control measures. The private members bill will be driven by public consultation through the NDP's website. ChiefCalf has said that seniors on fixed incomes are most hurt by the lack of rent caps. "Big corporate landlords should not be allowed to jack up rents 15, 20, and even 30 per cent in a single year and send the profits out of province. That's just not right," ChiefCalf said on Tuesday. Kolias said he doesn't believe rent control is a solution to high rental rates. He said there is a role for government, such as providing rental subsidies or rental supports, and setting good public policy. The Boardwalk CEO disagreed with ChiefCalf's assessment that the company is taking advantage of the Saskatchewan market. "We are redefining BFF: Boardwalk family forever," Kolias said. "We're a family, we're all family. Let's come together. We have more in common because we're all for increasing affordable housing and helping folks that need help." In a statement, the Government of Saskatchewan slammed ChiefCalf for her comments, saying it now appears the NDP are calling for "Canadian companies to be banned from investing in the province." "This would further decrease supply and make it more difficult for families to find safe and affordable housing options," the statement read. The provincial government went on to highlight Saskatchewan's affordability and rejected the NDP's call for rent control.
