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Hamilton Spectator
a day ago
- Health
- Hamilton Spectator
Why Toronto residents still aren't safe from wildfire smoke indoors
Environment Canada issued an air quality warning for Toronto and much of the GTA, as thick smoke from wildfires in northern Ontario blanketed the city — pushing the Air Quality Health Index to 10+, or 'very high risk,' early Monday morning. By the late afternoon, the warning was downgraded to a special statement, with an index of eight, or 'high risk.' Smoke from wildfires in Ontario and Manitoba is still causing poor air quality and reduced visibility, according to the updated statement, with conditions Torontonians are being urged to reduce strenuous outdoor activities and to stay inside when possible. But there's no escaping the smoke, even when indoors, experts tell the Star. Most buildings are only able to keep about half — 40 to 60 per cent — of outdoor air pollutants from coming inside, according to the research of Jeffrey Brook, an associate professor at the University of Toronto's Dalla Lana School of Public Health. As climate change advances, I cannot grasp the hugeness of the calamity. What once was notable is becoming a habit, a toxic, sinister pattern. As climate change advances, I cannot grasp the hugeness of the calamity. What once was notable is becoming a habit, a toxic, sinister pattern. That means, on especially smoky days, indoor air quality can still reach dangerous levels for susceptible individuals, Brook and other experts previously told the Star. These can include young children, pregnant people, elderly individuals and those with respiratory or cardiovascular conditions like asthma. 'There's a lot of epidemiology research that says (pollutants released by wildfires) is a major killer,' Brook explained. 'It's one of the most significant causes of premature mortality in the world.' And yet, our building codes and ventilation systems generally aren't designed to prioritize smoke and other pollutants, experts say. As the climate crisis makes wildfires a more common occurrence, policymakers are being urged to consider long-term solutions to a worsening issue. There are three main ways smoke (and other air pollutants) can infiltrate our homes, according to Amy Li, an assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Waterloo. The first is through any large openings, like a door left ajar or an opened window. 'This is why we often have the recommendation to close all windows and doors when we know the outdoor air is not good,' she explained. The second pathway is less visible — leaks and cracks in a home's enclosure through which pollutants can enter. 'Buildings are not like a spaceship,' Li said. 'There will always be some amount (of pollutants) getting into the building.' Health experts are not currently concerned about air quality in Toronto but warn prolonged exposure to moderate risk air may threaten health. Health experts are not currently concerned about air quality in Toronto but warn prolonged exposure to moderate risk air may threaten health. The third is through mechanical ventilation systems that funnel outside air indoors, said Jeffrey Siegel, a professor of civil engineering at the University of Toronto. This sort of system is present in 'most non-residential buildings,' he said. It's why large commercial and institutional buildings, like schools, offices and community centres, are often more vulnerable to smoke, Li added, although it varies from building to building. Older buildings also tend to have more cracks for pollutants to seep through and ventilation systems less able to keep smoke out, Li and Siegel explained. Meanwhile, single family homes and townhouses tend to be 'leakier' compared to highrise apartment complexes, Li said. Buildings without air conditioning are also at greater risk if windows are kept open to regulate high temperatures, Siegel added. The first rule of thumb is to close any doors and windows when it's smoky out. You might even consider taping windows shut if leaks are present, Li said. 'That's not as protective as would be ideal because of the leaks in buildings … but it will help,' Siegel added. But this may not be an option if your residence has no air conditioning and you're weathering a period of extreme heat: 'The health effects of extreme heat can be more serious than the effects of wildfire smoke,' Siegel said. If your home has a central forced air system with a MERV 11-rated air filter or better, Siegel recommends keeping your fan going continuously if possible. MERV, or 'minimum efficiency reporting values,' measures how efficiently a filter can capture particles; a MERV 13 to 15 rated filter is preferred, Siegel said. Unlike many commercial buildings, most residences in Canada recirculate the indoor air instead of pumping in fresh air from the outside, Li said. Siegel also recommended running portable air filters in crowded spaces, especially in areas with susceptible individuals. The Star previously outlined how to make an affordable filter using a fan, air filters, duct tape and cardboard. If possible, Li recommends upgrading your home's filtration system. Consult with a professional first, especially if your home's ventilation system is old, as a high-efficiency filter might overwhelm the system and lead to drops in pressure, she said. Finally, those at high risk can consider wearing a well-fitted respirator or mask, like an N95 mask, while indoors when it's especially smoky, Siegel explained. TORONTO - The Canadian Ophthalmological Society is urging people to take care of their eyes as wildfires burn across Manitoba and Saskatchewan. TORONTO - The Canadian Ophthalmological Society is urging people to take care of their eyes as wildfires burn across Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Until recently, building filtration systems have placed less emphasis on keeping wildfire smoke and other environmental pollutants out, Brook noted. And while the COVID-19 pandemic saw a shift toward improving HVAC systems in buildings like schools, experts and advocates have noted it's not sufficient to keep up with the increasing prevalence of wildfires. Almost any upgrades to a building will also make it more resistant to wildfire smoke, Siegel said, from installing new windows to heating, ventilation and air-conditioning retrofits. The problem is many of the buildings where these improvements are needed most, like schools, are unable to implement them due to budget and funding limitations, he continued. 'It's an important area that we should be thinking about for investment, because the issue isn't just wildfire smoke,' Siegel said. 'We have increasing ambient air pollution just because of urbanization. We have a lot more construction, a lot more traffic, a lot of major roadways with schools and other buildings near them.' There's another hurdle. Brook noted that improved ventilation, air-conditioning and filtration systems may end up contributing to the climate crisis. For urbanites, there's a new way to mark the calendar: the day the smoke reaches the city. For urbanites, there's a new way to mark the calendar: the day the smoke reaches the city. 'If you just start expending more energy to make the indoor air clean, it can becomes a vicious cycle of more emissions if our energy is coming from dirty sources,' he said. 'We have to think, what's our long-term strategy?' Brook continued. 'Why have we stopped talking about how we're going to meet carbon emission targets? How are we going to upgrade our housing and clean air while not increasing our energy usages?'
Hamilton Spectator
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Looking for better love: I'm a sweet, energetic man looking for a deep love
Name: Bob Gender: Male Age: 68 Looking for: A long-term monogamous relationship with a woman. A former IT consultant, this is my third year of retirement and I'm digging the freedom. I've got two kids in their late thirties plus a couple of grandkids that I adore spending time with. I'm fun-loving and like to joke around; I tend to see and vocalize the irony in just about every situation. I'm a talker who unwinds by having a good conversation. I live alone and can spend the day working on my computer or doing things around the house, so at some point during the day, I like to get out and see people. I love to spend my time socializing: meeting and making new friends, spending time with old ones. I love hearing and trading stories of life, where people came from, how they got to be who they are. I also love to help people, whether it's neighbours or friends, or volunteering at my boat club. Since 2020, I have been to, Mexico, small places on the west coast, the Caribbean, and Turkey, plus Greece three times, with a group trip to the Mayan coast thrown in. I love to go to out-of-the-way places where you get to know people and the real culture. I'm into dancing and live music, whether it's Reservoir Lounge, Drums and Flats, Cameron House, The Rex, Castro's, Drom Taberna, Handlebar … I play volleyball, too, and I love to walk. I also currently sail in Toronto at least three times a week. Sailing can be a social sport. It's not really safe to go out alone, though many people do, so I prefer a group that gets along and works as a team. Better Love — part of the Star's Toronto the Better project — is a yearlong personal ad series that connects Torontonians looking for love and offers an alternative to our swiping habit. Singles pen honest, vulnerable descriptions of what and who they're looking for, in a throwback to (photo-free) personal ads of yore. These essays will appear regularly in the Star, and interested parties can email betterlove@ to connect. Read more Better Love essays here . I like to keep busy. I can sit down and read a book, but why would I want to when there are so many opportunities to be in the moment? I'll have plenty of time to escape into a book or movie when I'm older or on a cold winter's day. (I've been in an all-male book club since 2003, regardless; even if I have not read many of the books, I do try to attend the meetings!) It doesn't matter if I'm working around the house, doing things at my cottage, helping out fellow sailors at the boat club: if I'm learning something, I'm going to be enjoying the experience. What I think makes me unique is that fact that I don't just dream about stuff: I like to do stuff. I'm one of the first people with my hand up if something interesting comes along. I truly believe that you get out of something what you put into it. If you are willing to put effort into something, it will pay off, even if it's not always in the way you thought. My first real dating experience ended in a marriage that lasted almost 30 years. After our divorce, my next dating experience turned into five years. I've been single for five years, but I'm trying to date a bit more now. I'm an old dog always willing to learn new tricks! I'm financially independent and can take care of myself; I don't need anyone but would really like to have a loving person to share passions with (mine, hers, ours). I can cook and love to chop stuff, make soups and salads, but prefer guidance with spices and sauces — and I would like to take some cooking courses one day! I'm working on balance. I'm trying to find a person that appreciates me, but also has a life and can be independent. I have bit of difficulty letting my feelings show as much as I should and am working on that, too. I would love to be in a relationship of equals. I take care of you and I know you are going to take care of me. If you're looking for a homebody, couch potato or sports fan, I'm not your man. I'm more about participating than watching. I'm social, and I love to go out and entertain, so if that doesn't interest you, its likely to be a deal-breaker. You must be able to travel and be financially stable, too. I would love to have someone to see the world with, go for walks, share my frustrations with or just hang out with. I was once in hospital for a couple of weeks. The guy in the next bed had a wife that would bring the paper in the morning and they would spend a couple of hours just reading quietly together. I was so envious. The ability to have companionship without doing anything. A shared experience without the experience. I was inspired by the idea of having the opportunity of actually meeting real people that are interested in a real relationship. As a talker, I'm not interested in spending tons of time texting. There is no emotion in texts or email. In the end, what I want is to be happy. I know I'm not going to find perfect. I just want perfect enough for me. Want to connect with Bob? Email betterlove@ to request a connection. (Note: Responses are not guaranteed.)
Toronto Sun
2 days ago
- Politics
- Toronto Sun
Toronto MP Baber calls out Mayor Chow, 'outright crazy' shelter plan
After a combative appearance at a city hall committee, the York Centre MP is urging 'any Toronto city councillor with any decency to please, stand up to' Mayor Olivia Chow. Conservative Party of Canada leadership hopeful Roman Baber takes part in a debate at the Canada Strong and Free Networking Conference in Ottawa May 5, 2022. REUTERS/Blair Gable Roman Baber started by saying he came 'humbly' and 'respectfully.' Later, the Conservative MP let them know what he truly thought. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account 'Children will be picking up needles. This is on you. You have not consulted any of us,' the representative for York Centre told City Hall's planning and housing committee. Those words concluded Baber's brief remarks at the committee, which were repeatedly derailed by Councillor Gord Perks' insistence there were things the MP could and could not say. Much as other Torontonians hear at City Hall committees these days, Perks, the committee chairman, said certain subjects aren't up for debate – and if Baber didn't comply, 'I will ask you to leave.' Baber told Perks, one policy-maker to another, that a discussion about zoning should clearly allow opposing a proposed land use – in this case, a homeless shelter at 1220 Wilson Ave., near Keele St. The committee didn't vote Baber's way. He says the fight's not done. 'I will do everything possible to get the plans for this shelter terminated or abandoned,' Baber told The Toronto Sun . 'I call on any Toronto city councillor with any decency to please, stand up to this mayor and the destructionist policies that she is unleashing on this city, and protect Downsview residents from the Downsview homeless shelter.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. City of Toronto process has become a disgrace! Watch vicious Councillor @gordperks trying to shut down debate on the homeless shelter, but I get him at the end. This isn't over. See Baber v Perks (edited). Full clip in thread. — Roman Baber (@Roman_Baber) July 16, 2025 That site on Wilson Ave. has received its share of scrutiny, as James Pasternak, the ward's councillor, has fought very publicly against it. While City Hall's aggressive rollout of shelters across Toronto appears to be growing into a major political issue, Baber said the Wilson site is 'particularly ill-conceived,' sitting between Pierre Laporte Middle School and a daycare centre. He also worries it's too close to a shelter near Jane St. — at 1677 Wilson Ave. — which was the scene of a stabbing murder last month. Pasternak told the Sun that operation is 'a case study in how a shelter comes off the rails,' lacking in day programming and essential supports. Recommended video Baber acknowledged there is an 'unprecedented challenge' – a recent city report said homelessness has doubled since 2021. He said the solution is to find 'suitable buildings in employment lands' and retrofit them. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'It seems, for lack of a better description, outright crazy to me that Toronto city council would agree to place a homeless shelter between a daycare centre and a middle school,' Baber said. 'We now know, regretfully, that Toronto city shelters are handing out drug paraphernalia to their residents,' Baber added. 'The Toronto homeless shelters are no longer just homeless shelters. They have turned into satellites for the so-called drug-injection sites.' (In a statement, the City of Toronto said the new shelters 'will not be safe consumption sites or offer safe consumption services,' but will 'provide health services' as defined in the city's shelter standards, which includes giving out 'safer drug use equipment.') This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Toronto city councillor Gord Perks is seen at an executive committee meeting on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. Photo by Jack Boland/Toronto Sun files Recent council debates have touched on an argument that attempts to debate proposed shelter sites politicize the process, as they're picked by unelected bureaucrats. Baber called that a 'complete abdication of responsibility by Toronto city council, which must know that needles from the drug-injection site will end up in the middle school and the daycare next door.' If city councillors think he won't fight, they don't know Baber. A lawyer by trade, Baber was born in the Soviet Union and immigrated to Canada as a teen. A couple of decades after, York Centre made him its MPP, in 2018. When he spoke out against the Ontario PCs' COVID policies, they booted him from caucus. When, as an Independent MPP, he urged the lockdown lawmakers to try living on what a CERB recipient made, they made a spectacle in the legislature by voting to lower Baber's salary only. (The move didn't stick as MPP salaries can't be changed in that way.) This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Baber's response? He ran for the federal Conservatives, and won, becoming Toronto's only current Tory MP. 'I don't agree with all his messaging, but I will say that he's fully entitled to speak out. This is the area he represents,' Pasternak said. 'Say what you want, homelessness touches on federal jurisdiction.' (Baber said he sees Pasternak as a colleague and a friend.) Baber's introduction to Toronto city politics last Tuesday included a short speech, just after his committee clash, at an outdoor press conference that was crashed by left-wing demonstrators and referred to in some news reports as a 'protest.' 'You'd think that when you have a CBC, CTV and Global News microphone in your face that you're not protesting,' Baber said. 'Of course, the other folks on the other side of this issue have tried to shut us down, just like Gord Perks tries to shut you down inside City Hall.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. York Centre MP Roman Baber points to Pierre Laporte Middle School, mere metres from the site of a planned homeless shelter, on a map during a group press conference on July 15, 2025, at Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto. Photo by Justin Holmes/Toronto Sun Baber was just the first of dozens of people who spoke about the shelters issue at Tuesday's committee meeting. Pasternak was also in attendance. 'I must admit I lost my temper at one point where I accused the chair of muzzling our constituents. I thought the meeting was a fiasco,' Pasternak said. At one point, committee members Jamaal Myers, Josh Matlow and Brad Bradford pressed Perks on why citizens weren't allowed to discuss the six sites in question being used as homeless shelters. 'The report mentions shelters multiple times … but the deputants are not allowed to talk about shelters,' Myers said. Bradford pushed harder. 'I know you want to keep that in a very tight little box today, but that's probably not why 80 people took their time to be here and provide feedback to this committee today,' Bradford said, to cheers from waiting speakers. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Baber said he was disappointed the committee voted 4-2 against a motion to quash the zoning change for 1220 Wilson, and was 'surprised that Councillor Frances Nunziata specifically, who typically tends to be good on this issue, decided to vote with Gord Perks and Mayor Olivia Chow.' Pasternak said his preference remains to set up a shelter not at the Wilson site but at the nearby Humber River Hospital. Baber said he'll continue to lobby against the Wilson plan, and perhaps push for the project to be defunded or for the province to intervene. 'I will not rest,' Baber said, 'until I know that the Downsview shelter is no longer in the works.' jholmes@ Read More Toronto & GTA Editorial Cartoons Toronto & GTA World Toronto Blue Jays
Hamilton Spectator
5 days ago
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Severe weather caused a record $8 billion in insured damage in 2024. Are you sure you're covered?
Damage caused by severe weather broke records last year and if this summer's forecast is any indication, we could be gearing up for another rough season. Severe weather events, including wildfires, floods and hailstorms, caused more than $8 billion in insured damage in 2024 for the first time in Canada's history, according to the Insurance Bureau of Canada. July and August were particularly bad, with four catastrophic weather events that resulted in more than 250,000 insurance claims and more than $7 billion in insured losses. Flash floods in Toronto and southern Ontario last July and August alone caused more than $940 million in insured damage. Are you a Gen Z or Millennial (18 to 44) living in the Toronto area who needs help with a financial challenge or goal? Do you have questions and want some free advice from a financial adviser? Email Lora Grady at lgrady@ and you could be featured in an upcoming story. Frequent showers and powerful thunderstorms are in store for southern and eastern Ontario this summer, according to the Weather Network, with a threat of wildfires in northern Ontario. 'It's super important to have home insurance, including tenants' insurance or condo insurance,' says Morgan Roberts, vice-president of insurance at RH Insurance, Ratehub's insurance brokerage. Fire, wind, flooding and hail can cause significant damage, and most people can't afford to shoulder the recovery costs on their own. Roberts says you could be looking at upwards of $100,000 in damages depending on the circumstances. A recent survey from found that while nearly half of Canadian homeowners feel 'somewhat confident' about their home insurance policy's coverage and terms, some 70 per cent admit to having little or no understanding of their policy exclusions. That means many Canadians won't realize what their home insurance policy covers until they're dealing with a loss and have to file a claim. 'The devil is always in the details,' says Nainesh Kotak, founder of Kotak Personal Injury Law. 'Insurance policies vary, and fire and flood coverage may depend on certain terms and conditions,' Kotak adds. Consumers should pay particular attention to what type of water damage is covered, says Anne Marie Thomas, director of consumer and industry relations for the Insurance Bureau of Canada. Standard home insurance policies will typically cover water damage caused by a pipe bursting or a leaking fridge. However, standard home insurance policies don't cover overland flooding (water entering a property from an accumulation of water from the outside) or sewer backup. Most insurance companies will allow you to purchase additional coverage to fill those gaps — but it depends on the circumstances, including where you live. 'Some insurance companies may not offer water damage coverage if you live in an area that has frequently flooded,' says Thomas. Torontonians are increasingly looking to buy their spouse out of the matrimonial home after Most policies cover fire and wind. However, if you live in an area where there's an active wildfire season, 'it's very unlikely that they're going to give you fire insurance because the insurance company could be setting itself up for a claim,' Kotak says. It's also important to be aware of any coverage limits, Thomas says. For example, some sewer backup coverage is maxed out at $25,000. 'If your basement water damage is $40,000, that other $15,000 is yours to cover,' Thomas says. 'If you think that you require more coverage, find another insurance company or buy more — ask an insurance broker what your options are.' Another couple of terms to get familiar with: replacement cost coverage (the actual cost to replace an item) versus actual cash value (the cost of the item when it was new minus depreciation). 'If you bought a 50-inch television three years ago and you paid $5,000, and today you go on Facebook Marketplace and somebody's selling that same TV for $2,000, that's the actual cash value,' Thomas says. With replacement cost coverage, the insurance company will replace that $5,000 television with a similar year, make and model. 'If that TV would cost $6,000 by today's standards, that's what they will pay.' When it comes to rebuilding costs, Roberts recommends guaranteed replacement cost coverage. Standard coverage reduces payouts based on depreciation, whereas this protection pays the full replacement amount — even if actual costs exceed their policy's stated limits. 'With Canada experiencing an increasing frequency of severe weather events, guaranteed replacement costs provide crucial peace of mind, ensuring that your home will be fully rebuilt regardless of how much construction costs have escalated since your policy was originally written,' Roberts says. Budget-friendly activities for the nature enthusiasts, kids, teens and even date night. Keep in mind that while guaranteed replacement cost covers construction costs, it won't pay for upgrades or improvements beyond the original specifications of your home. If your home is damaged due to severe weather, reach out to your insurance company as soon as it's safe to do so (most insurance companies have 24-hour claims lines) and document your losses. Take photos and record videos that survey the damage so that 'an insurance adjuster can see the scope and scale of the damage to the home,' Thomas says. If you don't have receipts for damaged items, videos and photos can be particularly helpful. Depending on the scope of the severe weather event, it can take an insurance adjuster days to get to your home because of the number of claims. If you rent a shop vacuum or dryers for water damage, keep receipts. 'Your insurance company will reimburse you for steps you have taken to mitigate further damage,' Thomas says. If you have a history of multiple home insurance claims, your premium will go up. Some insurance companies will also raise your deductible. 'If you normally have a $1,000 deductible and then have one or two sewer backup claims, your deductible might change to $5,000,' Roberts says. They could exclude that coverage altogether. A few useful tips to mitigate potential damage: Make sure your downspouts are directed away from your home's foundation and not toward it. Clean eavestroughs regularly so the water flows through properly. Don't pour fats or oils down your drains — they can coagulate and cause blocks so water can't escape. Raise large appliances like hot water heaters up off the floor in the basement, along with any other any valuables. Ensure any sewer backup drains in your basement are free of debris. You may want to install a sump pump (a device that removes water to prevent flooding) with a battery backup and/or a backwater valve (which prevents sewage from the public sewer system from flowing back into your home when it's backed up), Thomas says. Many insurance companies offer discounts when you install equipment (backwater valves, sump pumps, storm shutters, sprinkler systems) that helps prevent damage to your home. 'If you're less likely to have something go wrong with your house, you're less likely to make a claim,' Roberts explains. 'Insurance companies like that, so they'll often give you a break on your premiums as a reward for being proactive about protecting your home.' Some municipalities and even insurance providers offer incentives or subsidies for installing preventative measures in your home. In Toronto, homeowners can apply online for the Basement Flooding Protection Subsidy Program, which offers a subsidy of up to $3,400 to install flood protection devices (including backwater valves and sump pumps). Check with your provider to see if they offer any reimbursements for weather-prevention upgrades. Typically, your insurance policy only needs to be reviewed with your broker once a year when it comes up for renewal. However, if you make any upgrades or big purchases (think renovating your kitchen, adding a bathroom or buying an expensive bicycle), you should talk to your broker to add those items to your policy. 'You want to make sure you have coverage and up your liability,' says Roberts. 'It could change the premium, but you're also now insuring a finished basement.' Kotak says it's a good idea to take photographs of any upgrades or valuables (such as a wine collection) that you would seek to replace. 'It's nice to have a before photo to have that comparison, just to make someone's life a little bit easier when they have to make a claim and justify the claim,' he says. Due to last year's severe weather, many Canadians will see higher home insurance policy renewal rates this year, even if they haven't filed a claim. Roberts recommends working with an insurance broker to find a company with rates that fit your budget. Here's the good news: You're not falling behind if you don't have everything figured out right You can typically get a discount if you have your car and home insurance with the same company, Thomas says. You should also check with your broker to see if there's a group discount that you might not be aware of. 'Some insurance companies offer discounts if you're an alumnus of a university or you're employed by a certain company,' Thomas says. It's great to have coverage, but it's crucial to understand the coverage you have, Thomas says. If you don't understand what severe weather your policy covers, consult an insurance broker or contact the Insurance Bureau of Canada's consumer information centre.
Hamilton Spectator
5 days ago
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Splitting up but want to stay in the house? Here's how a spousal buyout works
There's a lot of uncertainty that comes with divorce, but when Alessia Scauzillo separated from her now ex-husband in 2022, she knew one thing for sure: she wanted to stay in the Toronto house they'd purchased together five years prior. 'The market had largely gone up and it would be extremely difficult to find another house like this,' says the 34-year-old content creator, adding that the home had recently been renovated. 'I really just didn't want to let go of it.' Many Torontonians like Scauzillo are considering buying their spouse out of the matrimonial home (the home they occupy at the date of separation) after divorce, due to an increasingly unaffordable housing market. 'When a married couple have joint ownership of the matrimonial home, meaning they're both on title, they have options when they separate,' says Olivia D'Ammizio, a family law lawyer and associate at Shulman & Partners LLP. They can choose to list and sell the home, or they can choose a spousal buyout, where one spouse pays the other for their equity in the home and takes sole ownership. For example, if a home is valued at $600,000 with a $200,000 remaining mortgage, the equity would be $400,000. If splitting this equity 50/50, one spouse would need to pay the other $200,000. In today's market, more people want to buy their spouse out 'because they're not going to be able to sell for as much as they'd like,' explains Mary Sialtsis, a mortgage broker with Concierge Mortgage Group. 'If somebody's been in a house for 10 to 15 years, there's probably significant equity built up,' Sialtsis says. Buying back into the same neighbourhood may be impossible. Are you a Gen Z or Millennial (18 to 44) living in the Toronto area who needs help with a financial challenge or goal? Do you have questions and want some free advice from a financial adviser? Email Lora Grady at lgrady@ and you could be featured in an upcoming story. When pursuing a spousal buyout, one of the first steps is to determine the value of the matrimonial home, which is typically done through an appraisal from a neutral third party. If both spouses have appraisals done and there's a difference, they can negotiate a number somewhere in the middle. You and your ex can also get a letter of opinion from a real estate agent, D'Ammizio says. Whatever option you choose, both partners must agree on the number. Once the value of the home is established, any debts associated with the home (such as a mortgage or home equity line of credit) are subtracted from the value. 'That gives you the equity of the home to then divide,' D'Ammizio says. In Ontario, the full value of the matrimonial home must be shared equally between spouses — even if one spouse owned the home before the marriage or inherited it. This is important when it comes to the calculation for the equalization of net family property. This process ensures that the wealth accumulated by both spouses during the marriage is shared equally. The spouse with the higher net family property (including the value of their interest in the matrimonial home) may have to make what's called an 'equalization payment' to the other spouse. The person doing the buying has to ensure that they can secure financing and afford to cover the mortgage going forward. That means qualifying for a mortgage independently. A lender will consider factors like income and credit score. A mortgage broker can determine if you would qualify for a spousal buyout mortgage, says Sialtsis, adding that many people who initially consider a spousal buyout don't realize how much money is involved. People often think they only have to pay for half of what the house is worth, but they're actually taking on all of the debt associated with the home plus an equity payment (their ex-spouse's half of the home's value after the mortgage is paid off). That means 'the person who wants to buy the other partner out is taking on almost three quarters of the value of the home,' Sialtsis says. That's where things can get tricky; it can be hard to qualify for a higher mortgage on your own. All three of Canada's mortgage insurers (Sagen, Canada Guaranty and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation) offer a spousal buyout program, which allows one spouse to pay off the other spouse's share of the equity and become the sole owner. If the value of the matrimonial home is $500,000 or less, the spousal buyout mortgage can cover up to 95 per cent of the value of the home. In a traditional refinance, you can only borrow 80 per cent, Sialtsis says, but with a spousal buyout, you get access to an extra 15 per cent of financing. A signed separation agreement is required to qualify. There's also mortgage default insurance, which is mandatory for mortgages where the down payment is less than 20 per cent of the home's purchase price. If you're purchasing a property for $500,000 or less, you can make a down payment as low as five per cent. Sialtsis says you should look into whether or not you are on title before considering spousal buyout as an option, because it is a requirement for both parties to be on title to qualify for a spousal buyout mortgage. Other than that, the qualifying rules are the same as any other mortgage. Most lenders will require that there's a fully executed, legally binding separation agreement in place before you can qualify for a spousal buyout mortgage, Sialtsis says. The agreement should outline the terms of the buyout. Cutting off accounts. Withholding money. Hiding assets. Financial abuse is a common tactic used If the buying spouse is not on title, says Sialtsis, then the purchase of the home would have to be done as a regular purchase and mortgage. It could be handled as a private sale. D'Ammizio says some people may take out private loans to finance the purchase of the home, or they may get a co-mortgager to be able to afford taking it on. Scauzillo and her now-ex-husband owned the matrimonial home as well as a condominium they rented out to tenants. They decided that she would buy him out of the house and he would buy her out of the condo. Scauzillo wasn't aware of spousal buyout mortgages, but luckily, 'there was no animosity' between her and her ex-husband, so negotiations were smooth. In a common-law relationship, if both partners are on the property title, they get the same options of a buyout or sale. If only one partner is on title, the other could make a claim that based on significant contributions to the property, it would be 'fair' for them to be compensated. That claim would have to be proven before any kind of payment for equity would be made, D'Ammizio says, adding that the outcome would depend on the specific facts. If both parties can't agree on the terms of a spousal buyout, they'll likely need court intervention. A court can't order a spousal buyout, but it can order the sale of a jointly owned property where proceeds would then be split 50/50. Before deciding to pursue a spousal buyout, check in with a mortgage broker or your bank to see if you are in a position to take over whatever debts are associated with the home, says D'Ammizio. You may also want to get legal advice from a family law lawyer. There's no rule about who must move out of a shared home when a couple separates, write Lisa If a buyout is an option, there are other moving parts that can come about when dealing with the financial issues, D'Ammizio says. For example, in some cases, an ex-spouse may choose to deduct any future spousal and/or child support from the proceeds as part of an equalization payment. A year after buying out her ex, Scauzillo realized the mortgage was too expensive for her and there was a lot of space she didn't need, so she rented out the home and moved into a smaller, more affordable apartment. Now, she's planning to move back into the house with her new partner. 'I still feel so grateful that I did the spousal buyout, because now it's giving my partner and (me) the opportunity to have this beautiful life in a home in Toronto that we may not otherwise be able to afford.'
