200 Wellesley Compensation Plan delivers more help for tenants

Hon. R. Roy McMurtry calls plan fair, preferable process to potentially lengthy class action

TORONTO, Nov. 25 /CNW/ - Toronto Community Housing is offering more help to the tenants of 200 Wellesley St. E who suffered losses and personal hardship because of the Sept. 24, 2010 fire. 

The 200 Wellesley Compensation Plan will compensate tenants for:

• Loss of belongings: Base of up to $5,300 per eligible leaseholder (based on unit size) plus $450 per each additional occupant
• Emotional distress
• Loss of comfort and convenience
• Cleaning time and costs
• Food spoilage
• Loss of income
• Out-of-pocket expenses
• Personal injury

"Toronto Community Housing is offering this help on a compassionate basis so that tenants can return to their normal lives as soon as possible," said Mitzie Hunter, Toronto Community Housing's chief administrative officer.

ClaimsPro Inc. has been appointed to be the administrator of the compensation plan. It is responsible for overall management of the administrative claims process.

The compensation plan is voluntary. All persons who were tenants or occupants of 200 Wellesley St. E. at the time of fire are eligible for compensation pursuant to the plan. Tenants who participate in the compensation plan are expected to receive payment within five business days of their claims being settled.

To ensure that tenants understand the process and are fully aware of their legal rights, tenants are required to receive independent legal advice before settling their claims and accepting compensation under the plan. Community legal clinics have agreed to provide independent legal advice to tenants.

At the request of Toronto Community Housing, the Hon. R, Roy McMurtry, former Chief Justice of Ontario, has reviewed the compensation plan. He believes the plan creates a fair and reasonable process for the resolution of tenant claims and is preferable to a potentially lengthy class action.

Full details of the plan are available by visiting www.torontohousing.ca.

For further information:

Media inquiries:
Jeffrey Ferrier, Toronto Community Housing, 416-981-4252