December 12, 2018 1:30 PM

650 Parliament Resident Update

A representative of the building’s ownership and management met with residents at a community meeting organized by Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam on December 6th. Updates were provided on expected re-occupancy, the current tenant assistance program, and ongoing construction efforts at the building.

Residents attending the meeting were advised that:

All residents that have requested housing assistance from management during the dislocation have received accommodation in area hotels, with friends and family, or in temporary residences (furnished or unfurnished). Residents participating in this program have been advised of assistance package and terms of occupancy associated with their particular program.
Assistance packages will continue through the end of April. Should there be any impacts to tenant assistance as of May 1st, 2019, updated information will be provided to residents in advance of this date.
Management will continue its efforts to relocate all tenants currently in hotel accommodations to suitable apartment suites (furnished/unfurnished) as they become available.
The damage to the building created by the fire and in the immediate aftermath has been catastrophic. Among the significant damages sustained, the electrical, mechanical, plumbing and life safety systems have been destroyed. Smoke fire and water damage has been incurred throughout the building (in common areas and in resident suites).
More than 100 construction workers are attending to the site daily and the necessary efforts to prepare the site for the reconstruction are ongoing.
Due to the scope of the repair work, re-occupancy of the building is not expected until June 2019, at the earliest.
Construction activity in the building will not permit us to provide temporary tenant access/suites visits, at this time.
The Response Office will continue their determined efforts and hard work to ensure residents secure accommodation, assistance and support, and updated information while continuing to treat residents with respect and compassion.

With the holidays upon us, the next resident update will be provided in early 2019.

November 23, 2018 9 AM

Your hotel accommodations have been secured and extended.

We are pleased to announce that your hotel accommodations have been secured and extended.

While an announcement was made earlier suggesting that 650 Parliament residents currently in area hotels would have to vacate their accommodations by November 30th, this announcement was premature. It was issued out of a desire to keep tenants informed during this challenging period, and was issued at a point at which we were uncertain that necessary funding would be secured to continue this housing assistance. Released out of an abundance of caution, and with best intentions, the announcement caused significant concern for affected residents and we have been working hard towards a different result.

Since the announcement, we have secured the funds necessary to continue to house residents in area hotels as they search for more permanent residence, as well as provide ongoing assistance for tenants residing in apartments, with friends and family, and in AirBnB’s.

Of course, although we are thrilled that your hotel accommodations will be extended, it’s important to understand that given the significant damage caused by the fire, a return home will likely not be possible for a minimum of six months.

We understand that this prolonged dislocation and the challenges of temporary housing are difficult, however, we will continue to do our utmost to help you find alternative, permanent accommodation.

We will continue to provide information and assistance as needed through our Response Centre, and encourage you to reach out with any questions. Staff at can be reached at 416-929-3532 Ext. 9 or at 650Parliament1@gmail.com.

The Management of 650 Parliament Street

January 10, 2019 12 Noon

650 Parliament Resident Update

The ongoing emergency repair efforts to the building’s critical systems are continuing with general and skilled tradespeople working to complete this phase. Once these necessary repairs are completed and the critical building systems are returned to working order, work to repair the fire and smoke damage throughout the building will begin.
A detailed scope of work document is being reviewed and finalized. This document will guide the reconstruction efforts going forward, determining resources, materials, trades required, while establishing clear construction milestones and target dates. Aspects of this process will be shared with residents as the information becomes available
At this time, residents will still not be permitted to return to their suites. This policy remains in place as a matter of safety and to ensure the efficiency of the ongoing reconstruction process.
Efforts continue to be made to relocate residents from hotels to rental apartments (furnished or unfurnished), as close to 650 Parliament as possible. Tenants in hotels offered accommodation in apartments must accept the relocation or provide reasons, in writing, for refusing to move from hotels.
Tenants refusing relocation from hotels to local apartment accommodation may have their hotel bills and food allowances, etc., discontinued.
The Response Centre continues to operate. Staff remain available to address tenant concerns or questions

March 8, 2019 7:00 PM

Resident Update

Reconstruction efforts at 650 Parliament continue, with work being done to the building’s main systems, common areas and corridors. Significant repairs are required throughout the building to address the damage to the building from the fire.

So far, more than $20 million has been spent on the building’s repair, with conservative estimates suggesting another $25- $30 million may still be required.

Expenses in excess of $10 million for tenants’ assistance have been incurred since the fire.

And construction and assistance costs related to the fire continue to grow.

Despite these significant costs, as of now, there are no changes to announce to the current Assistance program for residents.

Finally, as we move through the process of the building’s repair, our understanding of the work that is required and the timelines to get it done become clearer. Please understand that the situation remains fluid, and our understanding of the impact of the damage and the scope of the work necessary can, and has, continued to evolve.

This makes determining a firm re-occupancy date- far in advance- impossible.

However, we understand your desire to “know”, so, while we previously advised tenants that we didn’t expect re-occupancy to be possible before June, it is now clear, that the building will not be habitable by that date, and that we don’t anticipate that it will be ready any time before the end of August.

Thank you.

May 16, 2019 5 PM

650 Parliament Resident Update

Construction progress:

Repairs and reconstruction work continues and we are making good progress in addressing the damages from the fire to the building systems and common spaces. Of course before we can begin considering re-occupancy there is repair work that has to occur from within tenant suites.

Tenant contents:

We hoped we could do the necessary work with tenants’ contents in place, but this has proven impossible. We simply can not complete the building repairs efficiently with tenant content in place, and getting the work done and getting you back in as quickly as possible is our priority.

So, we are now considering the best way to remove and return your contents, and will turn to the courts (and work with tenant lawyers) for guidance.

A hearing before a judge to decide the content issue is now scheduled for mid-June. Prior to that hearing, tenants will receive legal documents by mail and copies of all material will be posted to this website, so tenants can review management’s request.

To make sure this is done right, we are asking the court to establish a fair procedure to remove and return the contents to residents and approve a potential offer of compensation for items damaged in the fire. Following the court’s ruling, tenants will be provided details of the process, and of course, are encouraged seek ongoing independent legal advice.

We’re sure this process will raise many questions with residents, but the answers will only be available after the June hearing and the court’s ruling.

Resident Assistance Program:

Finally, given the unprecedented damage sustained by the building and the massive repair effort required, we can not confidently (or accurately) provide an expected re-occupancy date at this time, other than to note that re-occupancies wont’ likely occur until Fall 2019 at earliest. While our primary goal is to return tenants to 650 Parliament as soon as possible, we have been working hard to ensure that all 650 Parliament residents receive comparable local apartment accommodation in the interim.

We are pleased that we have managed to house the majority of residents in local apartments, however a handful of dislocated residents are continuing to reside in hotel accommodations, in AirBNBs, or with family and friends. These tenants should be aware that we are continuing our efforts to secure local apartment accommodations comparable to 650 Parliament for them, and should understand that once an apartment has been identified and a move-in date determined, failure to accept new apartment accommodation (or refusal to leave temporary housing) may result in the reduction or elimination of current assistance levels.

May 23, 2019 6 PM

Re: Contents remaining in Apartments at 650 Parliament Street

Dear Tenant,

To facilitate the repairs to the building, the contractors require the contents of all apartments to be relocated to the basement parking garage for inspection by tenants pursuant to arrangements set out in the affidavits enclosed. The contents will be in a secure lit area in boxes and under surveillance of bonded security personnel.

The materials you are being provided are those which will be presented to Justice Belobaba, who is presiding in the proceedings on June 14th, 2019, at a time and in a Courtroom to be determined at either Osgoode Hall or at the 361 University Courthouse. The exact address will be provided when it has been determined by the Court.

Documents - Click to view/download

December 12, 2018 1:30 PM

650 Parliament Resident Update

December 7, 2018 12 PM

Holiday Response Office Hours

November 23, 2018 9 AM

Your hotel accommodations have been secured and extended.

Prior Notices

December 14, 2018 2 PM

HOW AND WHERE CAN I GET MY MAIL? - proof of residence

January 10, 2019 12 Noon

650 Parliament Resident Update

January 21, 2019 11:00 AM

Response Office Temporarily Closed

January 22, 2019 7:30 AM

Response Office Open

January 22, 2019 2:00 PM

Response Office Temporarily Closed

January 25, 2019 4:30 PM

650 Response Office to Reopen on Monday

January 28, 2019 10:45 AM

January 29, 2019 6:00 PM

February 15, 2019 4:00 PM

Closed for Family Day

March 8, 2019 7:00 PM

Resident Update

April 1, 2019 6:00 PM

The Response Office is Moving

April 2, 2019 11 PM

Please call first

Holiday Hours

May 16, 2019 5 PM

650 Parliament Resident Update

May 23, 2019 6 PM

Re: Contents remaining in Apartments at 650 Parliament Street

May 30, 2019 Noon

Additional Document