Toronto Seniors Housing Corporation (TSHC) collects personal and confidential information about its tenants in the course of its business. We are subject to the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act(MFIPPA or the Act). The Act provides the public with a right of access to information held by us, subject to limited exemptions, and protects the privacy of individuals whose personal information we hold.
Toronto Seniors Housing Corporation
Access to Information
Request access to information
You can find a substantial amount of general and publicly available information about Toronto Seniors Housing Corporation on its website including, for example:
- news
- tenant charter
- policies and programs
- Board meetings (including Board meeting and Committee minutes)
- financial reporting
- procurement opportunities
If you would like to access records held by Toronto Seniors Housing Corporation, you can do so in several ways.
Routine Disclosure Request
If you are a current lease holder, you can make a routine disclosure request and obtain the following information that you previously submitted to us, or that we previously provided to you:
- Lease
- Annual Review documents (including Income and Assets documentation, rent calculations and other supporting documents)
- Tenancy Management letters
- Payment and arrears information
- Court Order
- Notice of Termination
- Government-issued identification photo ID documentation, such as documentation about the current tenant’s Canadian Status and Identification (Photo, SIN)
Your request can be made verbally or in writing to your Seniors Services Coordinator. No fee is required. You must clearly describe the records sought, including the date of the records where possible. Since you are requesting your own personal information, we will require you to provide a copy of your government issued photo ID to verify your identity.
Examples of valid photo ID:
- Driver’s license
- Ontario photo card
- Citizenship card
- First photo page of your passport
Valid photo IDs cannot be expired.
If the records cannot be located following a reasonable search based on the description provided by you, our staff may direct you to submit a Freedom of Information request under MFIPPA so that we can undertake a more thorough search.
Freedom of Information (FOI) Request
Under the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (external link) (MFIPPA or the Act), you can make a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to access general records or your own personal information and correct your personal information.
To make an FOI request, follow these steps.
1. Complete the MFIPPA Request Form.
You can download the MFIPPA Request Form (PDF) or pick it up in person from your Seniors Services Coordinator.
On the form, remember to:
- clearly identify the records you want to access
- include your contact information
2. Provide a copy of valid photo ID (personal information requests).
Examples of valid photo ID:
- Driver’s license
- Ontario photo card
- Citizenship card
- First photo page of your passport
Valid photo IDs cannot be expired.
3. Get written and signed consent (requests on behalf of someone).
If you are making a request on behalf of someone else, you must submit written consent signed by the person or such other proof of authorization as required by the Act (e.g. power of attorney, proof of guardianship) whose information you want to access along with their valid photo ID. Download the consent form (PDF).
4. Pay the $5 application fee.
You must pay the $5 application fee. Please send us a cheque or money order for $5 payable to “Toronto Seniors Housing Corporation”. The $5.00 application fee is mandatory and is non-refundable. Please do not send cash in the mail. If you submit your request in person at our head office located at 423 Yonge Street or your regional office, you can pay with debit.
5. Submit your request and all supporting documents.
Mail the MFIPPA Request Form, a copy of valid photo ID, the written consent form (if needed), and the application fee to:
ATTN: Board Secretary
Toronto Seniors Housing Corporation
423 Yonge Street, 2nd Floor
Toronto, Ontario M5B 1T2
You may also submit your request in person to the address above or to your regional office.
Fees
In addition to a mandatory $5.00 application fee, you may need to pay additional fees related to your request. These fees may include:
If we estimate the cost to process your request to be more than $100, we will ask you to give us a deposit of 50%. We will not proceed to process your request until we receive your deposit. In situations where we’ve completed the work to process the request and the fee is less than $100, we will not release the records until the fee is paid in full.
After we receive your request
Once we receive your request, we will send you a letter letting you know we received it and give you an FOI file number.
You will receive a written response to your request within 30 calendar days from the date of our receiving of your request, copy of identification, the written consent (if applicable) and application fee, except under specific circumstances. You will be notified if a time extension is required. Once your request is processed, you will receive a letter containing a decision about your FOI request, any fees owing (e.g. fees for photocopying, computer disks or search time) and how to make a payment for fees.
Decisions on access to information are subject to independent review by the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario.
If you are not satisfied with the decision made by the TSHC, you can file an appeal with the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario.
An appeal must be made within 30 calendar days of receiving the decision. To file an appeal, you must write to the Information and Privacy Commissioner’s office indicating you are appealing Toronto Seniors Housing Corporation’s decision. An appeal for personal information requests is $10 and all other requests if $25.00. These appeal fees are payable to the Information and Privacy Commissioner’s Office of Ontario and fee must accompany your appeal.
Your letter should include a copy of your original FOI request and a copy of the TSHC’s decision letter. Forward your request for an appeal with the appropriate fee to the Commissioner’s office.
Law enforcement requests
Under MFIPPA, Toronto Seniors Housing Corporation may disclose personal information to a law enforcement agency in Canada to aid an investigation undertaken with a view to law enforcement proceedings or for health and safety reasons.
If you are a law enforcement agency, you must complete the Law Enforcement Request Form (PDF) and mail it to:
Attention: Board Secretary
Toronto Seniors Housing Corporation
423 Yonge Street, 2nd Floor
Toronto, Ontario M5B 1T2
More information and related resources
If you have any enquiries, please email: accesstoinfo@torontoseniorshousing.ca