I attended the “community engagement meetings” for the proposed Rental Housing Licensing Program. In the first meeting on Nov. 19, they queried how many people were in favour and against a proposed licensing program, and why. They strongly encouraged everyone to return for the second meeting, which was alleged to involve more detailed feedback. The second meeting on Nov. 21 consisted of filling out a form that queried what type of licensing program the attendees preferred. The meeting became disorderly when attendees who did not favour the program expressed concerns that checking boxes (which indicated choices between types of licensing programs) could be construed as an indication that attendees favoured the development of a licensing program. A show of hands revealed that around 90 per cent of about 100 attendees were opposed to establishing a licensing program. The coordinators of the meeting indicated that they were not requested to relay our opinion of whether we wanted a licensing program, but that they were specifically directed to collect information concerning what type of program we preferred.
Organizers of the meeting stated that other communities have adopted licensing programs, but that they have had only a couple years of experience. It was stated by an attendee that the program has been very unpopular and unsuccessful in other communities. Attendees asked why the program was being proposed, and a list of items was provided, but none of the issues seemed relevant. For example, it was stated that high rates of student housing results in neighborhood destabilization and issues with noise. However, an attendee pointed out that problems with student noise in recent years have been reported to be decreasing. Off campus housing has implemented an education program for off campus students, and police have been doing extra patrols during Orientation Week, which have been effective. Attendees asked why the program was being proposed now, with decreasing problems in recent years, but no response was available.
Leanne Piper has said that she thinks that there are some deplorable units. I pointed out to a city staff official that with the new high-rise student housing complex approved for the corner of Gordon Street and Stone Road, and as such there should be an excess of student housing available in a few years. An excess of housing should result in more competition, with the deplorable units not being chosen by tenants. A licensing program is not required to address this. The staff official agreed and said that my opinion was widely appreciated among city staff.
My personal concern of the licensing program stems from my experience with the Guelph Transit changes implemented a couple years ago. I went to a feedback and information session before it was implemented, and it was clear that they were not interested in any type of comments that were not supportive of their plans. Mayor Farbridge gives inspiring speeches, but she does not seem to be interested in the opinions of the citizens of Guelph.