1 00:00:12,559 --> 00:00:18,680 I'm in Parkdale here they're threatening to 2 00:00:14,940 --> 00:00:18,680 withhold their rent starting tomorrow. 3 00:00:24,439 --> 00:00:28,289 Residents living at this building 4 00:00:26,849 --> 00:00:31,550 here near King and Dufferin say they 5 00:00:28,289 --> 00:00:31,550 shouldn't be forced to pay more rent. 6 00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:36,660 They, along with tenants at other 7 00:00:34,530 --> 00:00:38,430 buildings owned by the same management 8 00:00:36,660 --> 00:00:42,270 company say they're going on a rent 9 00:00:38,430 --> 00:00:45,860 strike. It could be the biggest one 10 00:00:42,270 --> 00:00:45,860 Parkdale has ever seen. 11 00:00:48,329 --> 00:00:53,710 Hundreds of residents in Parkdale have 12 00:00:51,460 --> 00:00:55,809 refused to pay rent fighting back 13 00:00:53,710 --> 00:00:58,179 against rent increases in their 14 00:00:55,809 --> 00:01:04,959 neighborhood now tonight they plan to 15 00:00:58,179 --> 00:01:07,390 take their action to the next level they 16 00:01:04,959 --> 00:01:09,280 are now planning to expand by doubling 17 00:01:07,390 --> 00:01:11,649 the number of buildings participating in 18 00:01:09,280 --> 00:01:14,229 the rent strike from six to twelve next 19 00:01:11,649 --> 00:01:16,659 month the rent strike here in Parkdale 20 00:01:14,229 --> 00:01:21,759 hit a new level today as residents set 21 00:01:16,659 --> 00:01:23,619 their sights on the decision maker this 22 00:01:21,759 --> 00:01:25,690 storm the hallways of the truck you know 23 00:01:23,619 --> 00:01:27,880 demanding the property manager met back 24 00:01:25,690 --> 00:01:32,100 scrapped the above guideline rent 25 00:01:27,880 --> 00:01:32,100 increases for the entire neighborhood 26 00:01:36,010 --> 00:01:41,050 the two sides are now sitting down to 27 00:01:39,040 --> 00:01:43,060 talk and could be close to an agreement 28 00:01:41,050 --> 00:01:45,220 for these tenants getting to sit across 29 00:01:43,060 --> 00:01:47,560 the table from corporate giants is 30 00:01:45,220 --> 00:01:53,290 vindicating after months of fear and 31 00:01:47,560 --> 00:01:55,330 criticism over their tactics what once 32 00:01:53,290 --> 00:01:57,910 seems like an impossible task has now 33 00:01:55,330 --> 00:01:59,830 empowered an entire community they hope 34 00:01:57,910 --> 00:02:02,320 others across the city can see them as 35 00:01:59,830 --> 00:02:15,010 an example that no corporation is too 36 00:02:02,320 --> 00:02:16,930 big to take on one of the reasons why I 37 00:02:15,010 --> 00:02:18,580 picked Parkdale as a neighborhood 38 00:02:16,930 --> 00:02:20,770 because there was a great community 39 00:02:18,580 --> 00:02:22,930 aspect so it just kind of feels less 40 00:02:20,770 --> 00:02:24,820 like you're alone in a big city there's 41 00:02:22,930 --> 00:02:26,860 quite a few people that I see Brian our 42 00:02:24,820 --> 00:02:29,290 bikes taking their kids to school 43 00:02:26,860 --> 00:02:30,790 was just a very welcoming community and 44 00:02:29,290 --> 00:02:32,110 I really enjoy that when I first moved 45 00:02:30,790 --> 00:02:33,730 here I was a little bit afraid cuz 46 00:02:32,110 --> 00:02:35,740 Parkdale has a bad rep but I soon 47 00:02:33,730 --> 00:02:36,910 learned that it's one of the safest 48 00:02:35,740 --> 00:02:39,040 neighborhoods in this city 49 00:02:36,910 --> 00:02:41,590 you know I like the fact that Parkdale 50 00:02:39,040 --> 00:02:43,300 is sort of close to everything so you 51 00:02:41,590 --> 00:02:44,830 know we got the gardener right here so 52 00:02:43,300 --> 00:02:46,660 it's easy access to get onto the 53 00:02:44,830 --> 00:02:48,730 freeways and highways but yet we're 54 00:02:46,660 --> 00:02:51,130 still in the heart of downtown you know 55 00:02:48,730 --> 00:02:53,170 downtown is really only five minutes ten 56 00:02:51,130 --> 00:02:55,660 minutes away I like living by the lake 57 00:02:53,170 --> 00:02:57,790 and that cool breeze in the summertime I 58 00:02:55,660 --> 00:03:02,200 used to live in the North End of Toronto 59 00:02:57,790 --> 00:03:04,330 and neighbors weren't as friendly you 60 00:03:02,200 --> 00:03:07,989 know more well-to-do when keeping to 61 00:03:04,330 --> 00:03:10,330 themselves Parkdale has a large low 62 00:03:07,989 --> 00:03:12,070 income tenants population we have a ton 63 00:03:10,330 --> 00:03:13,270 of high-rise apartment buildings and for 64 00:03:12,070 --> 00:03:14,530 the most part they're folks that have 65 00:03:13,270 --> 00:03:17,650 lived in the neighborhood for a very 66 00:03:14,530 --> 00:03:21,700 long time people knows me in Parkville 67 00:03:17,650 --> 00:03:23,990 and I don't go in maybe everybody's 68 00:03:21,700 --> 00:03:27,140 friendly they helpful 69 00:03:23,990 --> 00:03:28,700 that's why I love the faggot 90% of the 70 00:03:27,140 --> 00:03:31,550 20,000 people that live in this 71 00:03:28,700 --> 00:03:33,920 neighborhood are renters and of them a 72 00:03:31,550 --> 00:03:36,620 higher than average proportion are 73 00:03:33,920 --> 00:03:38,810 paying over 50% of their wages to rent 74 00:03:36,620 --> 00:03:41,090 directly it's a community that is used 75 00:03:38,810 --> 00:03:42,800 to working class struggles people know 76 00:03:41,090 --> 00:03:44,360 that we need to work together and we 77 00:03:42,800 --> 00:03:45,380 need to kind of get on the same page if 78 00:03:44,360 --> 00:03:47,840 we're going to see changes in our 79 00:03:45,380 --> 00:03:49,940 neighborhood for decades Parkville has 80 00:03:47,840 --> 00:03:53,240 been a neighborhood where a struggle has 81 00:03:49,940 --> 00:03:55,550 taken place between working-class poor 82 00:03:53,240 --> 00:03:58,280 tenants and their landlords or their 83 00:03:55,550 --> 00:04:00,050 bosses or the government it's a friendly 84 00:03:58,280 --> 00:04:03,020 neighborhood and people look out for one 85 00:04:00,050 --> 00:04:04,610 another I met my first neighbor on the 86 00:04:03,020 --> 00:04:07,460 day I moved in he just said welcome to 87 00:04:04,610 --> 00:04:08,870 the neighborhood gave me a magnet that I 88 00:04:07,460 --> 00:04:10,280 saw in my fridge and that's just one of 89 00:04:08,870 --> 00:04:11,720 the things I have loved about Park girls 90 00:04:10,280 --> 00:04:14,330 it's day one so the nice place to live 91 00:04:11,720 --> 00:04:16,610 Parkdale is really diverse and its 92 00:04:14,330 --> 00:04:19,070 really welcoming to lots of different 93 00:04:16,610 --> 00:04:20,600 folks who are able to start families and 94 00:04:19,070 --> 00:04:22,460 stay in the neighborhood for a very long 95 00:04:20,600 --> 00:04:24,200 time people feel really supported and 96 00:04:22,460 --> 00:04:27,050 there's a lot of community services that 97 00:04:24,200 --> 00:04:28,940 are really in tune with different 98 00:04:27,050 --> 00:04:31,070 communities that they're serving there 99 00:04:28,940 --> 00:04:32,960 are over 20 primary languages spoken in 100 00:04:31,070 --> 00:04:35,900 the neighborhood and it has a high 101 00:04:32,960 --> 00:04:37,850 number of new arrivals from other 102 00:04:35,900 --> 00:04:41,210 countries to Canada living here as a 103 00:04:37,850 --> 00:04:43,760 refugee I've been living in other 104 00:04:41,210 --> 00:04:46,480 countries like Nepal in India and I 105 00:04:43,760 --> 00:04:49,940 never had this sense of belonging and 106 00:04:46,480 --> 00:04:52,610 this sense of belonging that's a comfort 107 00:04:49,940 --> 00:04:56,030 zone for a new immigrant so that 108 00:04:52,610 --> 00:04:59,300 don't get lost in a new country in your 109 00:04:56,030 --> 00:05:03,460 culture although we Tibetan people came 110 00:04:59,300 --> 00:05:05,480 here as a refugee scatter Canada 111 00:05:03,460 --> 00:05:13,910 majority people are thinking 112 00:05:05,480 --> 00:05:17,180 bulbulay especially if you're visiting 113 00:05:13,910 --> 00:05:19,730 Parkdale for the first time Gritty often 114 00:05:17,180 --> 00:05:22,490 in your face this neighborhood is now on 115 00:05:19,730 --> 00:05:30,350 the gentrification fast-track how could 116 00:05:22,490 --> 00:05:32,120 it not be look where it is people have 117 00:05:30,350 --> 00:05:35,030 talked about Parkdale facing 118 00:05:32,120 --> 00:05:37,310 gentrification for maybe 20 years now 119 00:05:35,030 --> 00:05:39,080 and I think the word gentrification can 120 00:05:37,310 --> 00:05:41,150 sometimes make that process a little 121 00:05:39,080 --> 00:05:43,070 unclear for people when the process 122 00:05:41,150 --> 00:05:45,560 itself is very clear in our neighborhood 123 00:05:43,070 --> 00:05:47,750 it's a process of displacement it is 124 00:05:45,560 --> 00:05:49,610 mostly a phenomenon of force of economic 125 00:05:47,750 --> 00:05:51,350 and physical force exerted on 126 00:05:49,610 --> 00:05:53,120 working-class people that destroys 127 00:05:51,350 --> 00:05:54,710 working-class life and working-class 128 00:05:53,120 --> 00:05:58,130 neighborhoods rents are they increasing 129 00:05:54,710 --> 00:06:00,500 and if they increase too much rent that 130 00:05:58,130 --> 00:06:04,220 we cannot effort landlords trying to 131 00:06:00,500 --> 00:06:06,740 pick up talent so that they can get milk 132 00:06:04,220 --> 00:06:08,990 and from which they can get more money 133 00:06:06,740 --> 00:06:11,600 the landlord tries to get that tenant 134 00:06:08,990 --> 00:06:14,120 out so that they can do very surface 135 00:06:11,600 --> 00:06:16,730 level renovations on the unit give them 136 00:06:14,120 --> 00:06:18,860 new appliances a new coat of paint and 137 00:06:16,730 --> 00:06:22,880 then they can jack up the rent 138 00:06:18,860 --> 00:06:25,250 sometimes 50% and get a new sort of 139 00:06:22,880 --> 00:06:26,780 10-inch into the building so not the 140 00:06:25,250 --> 00:06:29,150 working-class tenants that live in 141 00:06:26,780 --> 00:06:29,900 Parkdale not immigrant families that 142 00:06:29,150 --> 00:06:32,870 live in Parkdale 143 00:06:29,900 --> 00:06:35,930 but generally young professional well 144 00:06:32,870 --> 00:06:38,330 off white tenants and also the state 145 00:06:35,930 --> 00:06:39,680 plays into it as well deportations have 146 00:06:38,330 --> 00:06:43,070 gutted this name 147 00:06:39,680 --> 00:06:44,570 in a lot of really severe ways up until 148 00:06:43,070 --> 00:06:46,520 only recently this had been a 149 00:06:44,570 --> 00:06:49,100 neighborhood in which a large number of 150 00:06:46,520 --> 00:06:51,710 Roma and Sinti Hungarian and checked 151 00:06:49,100 --> 00:06:53,510 refugees came and threw the concerted 152 00:06:51,710 --> 00:06:55,340 effort of the state they were they were 153 00:06:53,510 --> 00:06:56,900 systematically removed from this 154 00:06:55,340 --> 00:06:58,729 neighborhood and deported back to really 155 00:06:56,900 --> 00:07:00,139 deplorable conditions there's large 156 00:06:58,729 --> 00:07:02,210 parts of our community that are missing 157 00:07:00,139 --> 00:07:04,970 the Tibetans have been living here for 158 00:07:02,210 --> 00:07:07,699 almost now 15 20 years so it seems that 159 00:07:04,970 --> 00:07:10,699 it's gentrification is disintegrating 160 00:07:07,699 --> 00:07:13,370 the social vibrancy in part a so that's 161 00:07:10,699 --> 00:07:15,860 really disheartening to see that part of 162 00:07:13,370 --> 00:07:18,229 is a poor neighborhood and everybody 163 00:07:15,860 --> 00:07:21,460 helped each other but other people move 164 00:07:18,229 --> 00:07:24,620 in this area they acting like 165 00:07:21,460 --> 00:07:26,630 differently like they are more important 166 00:07:24,620 --> 00:07:28,850 and you and you believe he loved a 167 00:07:26,630 --> 00:07:31,520 different kind of local spots closing 168 00:07:28,850 --> 00:07:33,470 they put in a Starbucks that's changed 169 00:07:31,520 --> 00:07:34,039 the banks are moving out that's not a 170 00:07:33,470 --> 00:07:36,080 good thing 171 00:07:34,039 --> 00:07:37,910 I know the CIBC closed down and I 172 00:07:36,080 --> 00:07:40,100 believe the intent is to put up some 173 00:07:37,910 --> 00:07:41,600 condo complexes there we have two condo 174 00:07:40,100 --> 00:07:43,340 projects moving in and that's just the 175 00:07:41,600 --> 00:07:45,410 beginning that's the thin edge of a very 176 00:07:43,340 --> 00:07:46,820 thick wedge I think so yeah I think it's 177 00:07:45,410 --> 00:07:49,220 a real issue for Parkdale is 178 00:07:46,820 --> 00:07:51,139 gentrification Liberty Village is just 179 00:07:49,220 --> 00:07:56,150 across Dufferin and it's moving in this 180 00:07:51,139 --> 00:07:57,919 direction bloggers and today I'm in 181 00:07:56,150 --> 00:08:06,139 Liberty Village one my favorite hood I'm 182 00:07:57,919 --> 00:08:10,310 going to show you around Liberty Village 183 00:08:06,139 --> 00:08:12,229 is kind of a created community it was a 184 00:08:10,310 --> 00:08:14,389 lot of old warehouses in the 185 00:08:12,229 --> 00:08:17,060 neighborhood that have slowly turned 186 00:08:14,389 --> 00:08:18,620 into a huge condo development another 187 00:08:17,060 --> 00:08:21,710 version of condo land 188 00:08:18,620 --> 00:08:23,570 essentially it is not like single-family 189 00:08:21,710 --> 00:08:24,789 homes it is not large apartment 190 00:08:23,570 --> 00:08:27,680 buildings like it is a very 191 00:08:24,789 --> 00:08:30,410 intentionally designed like professional 192 00:08:27,680 --> 00:08:31,240 development that is designed in a way to 193 00:08:30,410 --> 00:08:35,679 keep 194 00:08:31,240 --> 00:08:38,580 people out brewpubs and bistros and that 195 00:08:35,679 --> 00:08:41,890 kind of environment here 24-hour metro 196 00:08:38,580 --> 00:08:43,659 expensive nail salons and waxing 197 00:08:41,890 --> 00:08:45,220 facilities and here's the spot if you 198 00:08:43,659 --> 00:08:47,500 want to get a mani-pedi on Sunday with 199 00:08:45,220 --> 00:08:50,200 your bestie they wanted to make this a 200 00:08:47,500 --> 00:08:53,620 Liberty Village West but it's not the 201 00:08:50,200 --> 00:08:55,510 pretty village West it's Parkdale I want 202 00:08:53,620 --> 00:08:57,760 to say like I see Liberty Village coming 203 00:08:55,510 --> 00:09:00,160 to cocktail I see things being more 204 00:08:57,760 --> 00:09:01,810 expensive I see more and more changes in 205 00:09:00,160 --> 00:09:02,770 terms of identification and the types of 206 00:09:01,810 --> 00:09:04,750 people that are moving into the 207 00:09:02,770 --> 00:09:07,540 neighborhood that may not care about the 208 00:09:04,750 --> 00:09:08,080 neighborhood as much as we'd like them 209 00:09:07,540 --> 00:09:15,869 to 210 00:09:08,080 --> 00:09:15,869 [Music] 211 00:09:17,480 --> 00:09:21,930 for a lot of people in Toronto or even 212 00:09:20,579 --> 00:09:24,870 people who heard about the rent strike 213 00:09:21,930 --> 00:09:26,910 outside of Toronto it seems like it 214 00:09:24,870 --> 00:09:28,740 started very suddenly that it was this 215 00:09:26,910 --> 00:09:30,899 huge struggle of hundreds of 216 00:09:28,740 --> 00:09:33,990 working-class tenants that just popped 217 00:09:30,899 --> 00:09:36,420 out of thin air but the reality is that 218 00:09:33,990 --> 00:09:38,550 it didn't pop out of thin air I have 219 00:09:36,420 --> 00:09:41,190 seen fliers kind of going about either 220 00:09:38,550 --> 00:09:42,870 on lamp posts or flyers in my building 221 00:09:41,190 --> 00:09:44,910 or just kind of there's a bit of a buzz 222 00:09:42,870 --> 00:09:47,670 just happening I wasn't sure exactly 223 00:09:44,910 --> 00:09:49,380 what it was but I knew that I wanted to 224 00:09:47,670 --> 00:09:51,180 learn more about it so I reached out to 225 00:09:49,380 --> 00:09:52,829 Parkdale organized and then that's kind 226 00:09:51,180 --> 00:09:54,540 of where the ball started rolling I 227 00:09:52,829 --> 00:09:56,700 heard about Parkdale organized somebody 228 00:09:54,540 --> 00:09:59,160 put a flyer on my door so that's how I 229 00:09:56,700 --> 00:10:03,060 first got involved I mean colonisers 230 00:09:59,160 --> 00:10:05,160 really you have done good job the group 231 00:10:03,060 --> 00:10:07,950 Parkdale organized says they don't know 232 00:10:05,160 --> 00:10:09,570 just yet what their next project will be 233 00:10:07,950 --> 00:10:11,880 for now they're taking a much deserved 234 00:10:09,570 --> 00:10:13,860 break after months of organizing 235 00:10:11,880 --> 00:10:16,410 Parkdale organize is good with people 236 00:10:13,860 --> 00:10:18,240 who have come together to organize in 237 00:10:16,410 --> 00:10:20,220 our neighborhoods and people who are 238 00:10:18,240 --> 00:10:21,930 hoping to build the working-class power 239 00:10:20,220 --> 00:10:23,370 in the neighborhood so that we can take 240 00:10:21,930 --> 00:10:25,890 control of the place that we live a 241 00:10:23,370 --> 00:10:28,860 handful of people came together to try 242 00:10:25,890 --> 00:10:30,300 and put an organization to the struggles 243 00:10:28,860 --> 00:10:32,250 that people in the neighborhood had been 244 00:10:30,300 --> 00:10:34,890 facing working-class people face a 245 00:10:32,250 --> 00:10:36,839 myriad of individual struggles within 246 00:10:34,890 --> 00:10:39,630 the neighborhood the idea was to 247 00:10:36,839 --> 00:10:40,320 collectively through solidarity and 248 00:10:39,630 --> 00:10:41,970 direct action 249 00:10:40,320 --> 00:10:43,769 deal with those issues before the rent 250 00:10:41,970 --> 00:10:47,519 strike Parkdale organized had been 251 00:10:43,769 --> 00:10:49,399 around for fifty three four years and we 252 00:10:47,519 --> 00:10:51,750 had been organizing building by building 253 00:10:49,399 --> 00:10:52,990 knocking on doors with places where 254 00:10:51,750 --> 00:10:56,530 people had been facing 255 00:10:52,990 --> 00:10:58,870 French increases disrepair pest problem 256 00:10:56,530 --> 00:11:00,730 and telling people that the thing that 257 00:10:58,870 --> 00:11:02,680 they needed to do was get together with 258 00:11:00,730 --> 00:11:05,500 their neighbors and confront their 259 00:11:02,680 --> 00:11:09,250 landlord directly we had organized at 260 00:11:05,500 --> 00:11:11,380 first slowly in a few buildings and it 261 00:11:09,250 --> 00:11:11,920 was always a hard sell who are you 262 00:11:11,380 --> 00:11:13,510 people 263 00:11:11,920 --> 00:11:16,960 why are you knocking on my door what is 264 00:11:13,510 --> 00:11:19,600 it that you want me to do and we started 265 00:11:16,960 --> 00:11:22,120 to have successes initially struggles 266 00:11:19,600 --> 00:11:24,250 around a major new player in the real 267 00:11:22,120 --> 00:11:26,320 estate market achelous which is a real 268 00:11:24,250 --> 00:11:28,480 estate fund based in Scandinavia that 269 00:11:26,320 --> 00:11:31,090 bought up a bunch of buildings up and 270 00:11:28,480 --> 00:11:32,860 down the boulevards in Parkdale tenants 271 00:11:31,090 --> 00:11:34,720 at a park dale apartment building are 272 00:11:32,860 --> 00:11:39,400 fighting back against their property 273 00:11:34,720 --> 00:11:42,820 owner 188 Jameson the dreamer inside I 274 00:11:39,400 --> 00:11:44,500 know people on 188 where some of my 275 00:11:42,820 --> 00:11:46,360 relatives live also they had this 276 00:11:44,500 --> 00:11:48,850 problem for a few months long before 277 00:11:46,360 --> 00:11:51,250 other struggles that had kind of given a 278 00:11:48,850 --> 00:11:52,930 bit broader conception of what it is 279 00:11:51,250 --> 00:11:54,880 that working people struggle against in 280 00:11:52,930 --> 00:11:56,980 this neighborhood was a worker initiated 281 00:11:54,880 --> 00:11:58,870 strike over a food terminal two major 282 00:11:56,980 --> 00:12:01,000 food hub the largest in southern Ontario 283 00:11:58,870 --> 00:12:04,570 I think the largest in Ontario generally 284 00:12:01,000 --> 00:12:06,640 that employs a lot of tenants in in 285 00:12:04,570 --> 00:12:08,440 Parkdale they went on strike and people 286 00:12:06,640 --> 00:12:11,020 from the neighbourhood supported them as 287 00:12:08,440 --> 00:12:13,630 well once we had started getting those 288 00:12:11,020 --> 00:12:15,340 successes are organizing became much 289 00:12:13,630 --> 00:12:17,950 easier pitch when a bunch of people's 290 00:12:15,340 --> 00:12:19,930 doors people had heard of us before we 291 00:12:17,950 --> 00:12:21,760 started to be able to just buzz up to a 292 00:12:19,930 --> 00:12:23,140 random unit in the building and say hey 293 00:12:21,760 --> 00:12:24,610 we're from Parkdale organized you want 294 00:12:23,140 --> 00:12:27,010 to come talk to you about something and 295 00:12:24,610 --> 00:12:30,340 people would always invite us in those 296 00:12:27,010 --> 00:12:31,990 campaigns started to put a different 297 00:12:30,340 --> 00:12:33,670 idea out there within the neighbourhood 298 00:12:31,990 --> 00:12:35,350 which was that the struggles that people 299 00:12:33,670 --> 00:12:36,610 find themselves faced with not 300 00:12:35,350 --> 00:12:37,680 individual struggles and don't need to 301 00:12:36,610 --> 00:12:40,170 be dealt with individual 302 00:12:37,680 --> 00:12:42,270 that organizing around those issues not 303 00:12:40,170 --> 00:12:43,589 just protesting not just registering 304 00:12:42,270 --> 00:12:45,210 dissent and not just complaining about 305 00:12:43,589 --> 00:12:47,550 them but something that that could be 306 00:12:45,210 --> 00:12:51,300 done so when this situation presented 307 00:12:47,550 --> 00:12:54,180 itself when met cap ridiculously applied 308 00:12:51,300 --> 00:12:55,589 for above guideline rent increases in 309 00:12:54,180 --> 00:12:57,810 several buildings throughout the 310 00:12:55,589 --> 00:13:00,839 neighborhood all at once this rent 311 00:12:57,810 --> 00:13:04,170 strike it emerged from from all of that 312 00:13:00,839 --> 00:13:07,470 previous organizing it for sure took the 313 00:13:04,170 --> 00:13:09,630 actions of grade tenants in those 314 00:13:07,470 --> 00:13:11,670 buildings but it had also taken a lot of 315 00:13:09,630 --> 00:13:13,200 groundwork to get the neighborhood to a 316 00:13:11,670 --> 00:13:15,800 point where it was ready for this type 317 00:13:13,200 --> 00:13:15,800 of struggle 318 00:13:17,620 --> 00:13:22,620 [Music] 319 00:13:19,230 --> 00:13:24,270 my cap is one of two large landlords in 320 00:13:22,620 --> 00:13:26,880 the neighborhood those being Metcalfe 321 00:13:24,270 --> 00:13:29,040 and Vicki leus Brent Merrill is the CEO 322 00:13:26,880 --> 00:13:31,200 now of Metcalfe 323 00:13:29,040 --> 00:13:33,180 also directly owned some of the 324 00:13:31,200 --> 00:13:36,750 buildings in the neighborhood he is a 325 00:13:33,180 --> 00:13:38,730 greedy Pig he's not thinking about poor 326 00:13:36,750 --> 00:13:42,590 people he think he and only but himself 327 00:13:38,730 --> 00:13:46,440 if they increase in each and every other 328 00:13:42,590 --> 00:13:49,470 rent then really we are facing problems 329 00:13:46,440 --> 00:13:51,180 I've been here for three years and I've 330 00:13:49,470 --> 00:13:53,790 gotten those rent increases year after 331 00:13:51,180 --> 00:13:56,190 year a lot of the tenants that have been 332 00:13:53,790 --> 00:13:58,560 here for a lot longer than I've been for 333 00:13:56,190 --> 00:13:59,730 decades on top of it from the stories 334 00:13:58,560 --> 00:14:01,550 that they've been telling they've been 335 00:13:59,730 --> 00:14:04,290 going through those types of things for 336 00:14:01,550 --> 00:14:06,060 years and years and years has always 337 00:14:04,290 --> 00:14:09,090 been an above guideline rent increase 338 00:14:06,060 --> 00:14:10,890 and above guideline rent increase is an 339 00:14:09,090 --> 00:14:13,890 extra rent increased that landlords are 340 00:14:10,890 --> 00:14:15,990 allowed to ask for on top of the annual 341 00:14:13,890 --> 00:14:17,550 provincial guideline the Ontario 342 00:14:15,990 --> 00:14:19,500 government says landlords are allowed a 343 00:14:17,550 --> 00:14:21,180 certain amount and when the landlord has 344 00:14:19,500 --> 00:14:23,580 done extra work in the building if they 345 00:14:21,180 --> 00:14:25,260 have done some capital expenditures that 346 00:14:23,580 --> 00:14:27,990 cost a lot of money they're allowed to 347 00:14:25,260 --> 00:14:30,120 pass on these costs to the tenants to a 348 00:14:27,990 --> 00:14:33,090 maximum of nine percent over three years 349 00:14:30,120 --> 00:14:35,610 on top of a guideline amount so there's 350 00:14:33,090 --> 00:14:37,320 the idea that things are can remain 351 00:14:35,610 --> 00:14:39,420 affordable because of rent control is 352 00:14:37,320 --> 00:14:42,690 actually quite a first one percent on 353 00:14:39,420 --> 00:14:46,260 let's say a standard $1000 is about $10 354 00:14:42,690 --> 00:14:48,960 right $15 to 1.5 percent whereas now 355 00:14:46,260 --> 00:14:51,540 you're asking for four so $40 a month 356 00:14:48,960 --> 00:14:53,910 it may sound trivial and the small runs 357 00:14:51,540 --> 00:14:55,800 but you know for some of the people that 358 00:14:53,910 --> 00:14:58,110 live in this area it's a lot of 359 00:14:55,800 --> 00:14:59,760 blue-collar working-class people and a 360 00:14:58,110 --> 00:15:01,680 lot of people that just came into the 361 00:14:59,760 --> 00:15:03,930 country you know so some people have to 362 00:15:01,680 --> 00:15:06,690 make decisions on whether they put that 363 00:15:03,930 --> 00:15:09,060 extra money to rent or you know spend 364 00:15:06,690 --> 00:15:10,980 that money on groceries or some other 365 00:15:09,060 --> 00:15:14,910 people it's them staying in the building 366 00:15:10,980 --> 00:15:17,130 or not it's not just kind of my personal 367 00:15:14,910 --> 00:15:19,500 position in it it's knowing that an 368 00:15:17,130 --> 00:15:21,210 entire neighborhood and my friends and 369 00:15:19,500 --> 00:15:22,950 people that I would call family are 370 00:15:21,210 --> 00:15:24,960 suffering along with me because they are 371 00:15:22,950 --> 00:15:26,460 unable to pay their rent for these 372 00:15:24,960 --> 00:15:28,470 unrealistic increase 373 00:15:26,460 --> 00:15:30,420 people have tried to fight these above 374 00:15:28,470 --> 00:15:31,980 guideline rent increases in the past but 375 00:15:30,420 --> 00:15:33,930 they were never winning like the law was 376 00:15:31,980 --> 00:15:36,120 not set up for tenants to win so they 377 00:15:33,930 --> 00:15:38,790 had to come up with a new strategy if we 378 00:15:36,120 --> 00:15:41,430 were going to kind of take on the law 379 00:15:38,790 --> 00:15:43,890 and the landlord an opinion had started 380 00:15:41,430 --> 00:15:44,640 to form in the neighborhood that we had 381 00:15:43,890 --> 00:15:46,350 had enough 382 00:15:44,640 --> 00:15:48,780 with the treatment that we had faced we 383 00:15:46,350 --> 00:15:51,090 had had enough of our neighbors being 384 00:15:48,780 --> 00:15:53,190 pushed out of our buildings one by one 385 00:15:51,090 --> 00:15:55,200 month after month and then we were going 386 00:15:53,190 --> 00:15:56,730 to do something about it and at the 387 00:15:55,200 --> 00:15:58,890 something we were going to do about it 388 00:15:56,730 --> 00:16:02,190 was going to involve direct action and 389 00:15:58,890 --> 00:16:03,960 it was not going to be about advocacy it 390 00:16:02,190 --> 00:16:05,280 was not going to be about lobbying it 391 00:16:03,960 --> 00:16:07,140 was not going to be about raising 392 00:16:05,280 --> 00:16:09,210 awareness because all of those avenues 393 00:16:07,140 --> 00:16:10,590 had failed us rent strike was a tactic 394 00:16:09,210 --> 00:16:12,660 that had been discussed by various 395 00:16:10,590 --> 00:16:14,550 tenants doing various struggles up until 396 00:16:12,660 --> 00:16:16,110 this point what a critical mass was kind 397 00:16:14,550 --> 00:16:17,520 of achieved where enough people were 398 00:16:16,110 --> 00:16:18,810 talking about it and the people felt 399 00:16:17,520 --> 00:16:20,280 confident about the experiences that 400 00:16:18,810 --> 00:16:27,480 they had already been through that they 401 00:16:20,280 --> 00:16:30,840 were willing to take it on it started 402 00:16:27,480 --> 00:16:33,630 with 87 Jameson steer the first ones to 403 00:16:30,840 --> 00:16:36,240 go on rent strike we decide to hold back 404 00:16:33,630 --> 00:16:38,580 the rent for a certain time and see how 405 00:16:36,240 --> 00:16:41,520 he's gonna respond and he wasn't too 406 00:16:38,580 --> 00:16:44,400 happy from that more conversation 407 00:16:41,520 --> 00:16:46,260 started in different buildings around 87 408 00:16:44,400 --> 00:16:49,170 Jameson liked on the same street in the 409 00:16:46,260 --> 00:16:50,880 same neighborhood to talk about if there 410 00:16:49,170 --> 00:16:52,350 was more people involved in this rent 411 00:16:50,880 --> 00:16:54,510 strike if there was more people talking 412 00:16:52,350 --> 00:16:56,070 to each other and organizing then we can 413 00:16:54,510 --> 00:16:58,260 be a lot more effective and taking on 414 00:16:56,070 --> 00:17:00,320 the landlord 87 Jameson have early 415 00:16:58,260 --> 00:17:03,390 hauled off their rent strike and 416 00:17:00,320 --> 00:17:05,520 initially tenants from that building and 417 00:17:03,390 --> 00:17:07,980 members from Parkdale organize set out 418 00:17:05,520 --> 00:17:08,520 to to make contact with other tenants in 419 00:17:07,980 --> 00:17:10,439 other 420 00:17:08,520 --> 00:17:12,660 I think the other buildings came on 421 00:17:10,439 --> 00:17:15,000 board because we had people coming 422 00:17:12,660 --> 00:17:17,250 organizing Lobby meetings learning what 423 00:17:15,000 --> 00:17:19,500 they've been going through and how what 424 00:17:17,250 --> 00:17:21,300 they were suffering through listen to 425 00:17:19,500 --> 00:17:22,890 what I've been going through in my own 426 00:17:21,300 --> 00:17:24,510 building or same thing that I'd seen 427 00:17:22,890 --> 00:17:26,819 other neighbors go through as well just 428 00:17:24,510 --> 00:17:28,740 the unresponsiveness from that cab for 429 00:17:26,819 --> 00:17:31,679 me personally it was a pest control 430 00:17:28,740 --> 00:17:34,679 issue and the lack of follow-up by met 431 00:17:31,679 --> 00:17:36,300 cap in terms of cockroaches and mice I 432 00:17:34,679 --> 00:17:38,340 joined the rent strike because of just 433 00:17:36,300 --> 00:17:40,170 the way madcap treats people they took 434 00:17:38,340 --> 00:17:41,400 you like a second-class citizen and I I 435 00:17:40,170 --> 00:17:43,110 just thought it was time for a 436 00:17:41,400 --> 00:17:44,910 correction in attitude I was happy to 437 00:17:43,110 --> 00:17:47,160 join the rent strike and the fact that 438 00:17:44,910 --> 00:17:49,650 there's a fantastic community I want to 439 00:17:47,160 --> 00:17:51,750 organize I was just like it's time in 440 00:17:49,650 --> 00:17:53,700 March we went to met caps corporate head 441 00:17:51,750 --> 00:17:56,040 office on Richmond Street I think it was 442 00:17:53,700 --> 00:17:57,900 about 70 or 80 of us that went down to 443 00:17:56,040 --> 00:17:59,610 landlord's office all together they 444 00:17:57,900 --> 00:18:01,410 locked us out they wouldn't take our 445 00:17:59,610 --> 00:18:21,480 repair request they phoned the police 446 00:18:01,410 --> 00:18:23,309 they told us we were trespassing we 447 00:18:21,480 --> 00:18:25,170 managed to get up to their front door 448 00:18:23,309 --> 00:18:27,000 and they they were behind the glass 449 00:18:25,170 --> 00:18:28,559 laughing at us that's how they viewed us 450 00:18:27,000 --> 00:18:30,929 it's not the first time they've been 451 00:18:28,559 --> 00:18:32,610 protested and they thought this was 452 00:18:30,929 --> 00:18:34,950 another flashing pan it would just go 453 00:18:32,610 --> 00:18:37,110 away at this time it didn't go away so 454 00:18:34,950 --> 00:18:39,270 tenants in this neighborhood are used to 455 00:18:37,110 --> 00:18:40,770 having meetings in their Lobby so we 456 00:18:39,270 --> 00:18:42,690 just had a meeting in the landlord's 457 00:18:40,770 --> 00:18:44,940 Lobby to talk about like this was really 458 00:18:42,690 --> 00:18:46,350 disrespectful the landlord doesn't even 459 00:18:44,940 --> 00:18:47,880 want to speak to their own tenants 460 00:18:46,350 --> 00:18:51,000 they're not addressing issues they're 461 00:18:47,880 --> 00:18:52,740 legally required to address let's let's 462 00:18:51,000 --> 00:18:55,260 let's talk about doing a rent strike in 463 00:18:52,740 --> 00:18:57,750 the neighborhood meet decide on what the 464 00:18:55,260 --> 00:19:00,549 next steps are providing these rent 465 00:18:57,750 --> 00:19:02,710 increases and forgetting the units 466 00:19:00,549 --> 00:19:04,990 we came here today to Trevor appeal to 467 00:19:02,710 --> 00:19:07,210 them as people and they wouldn't even 468 00:19:04,990 --> 00:19:09,400 address us so clearly the only thing 469 00:19:07,210 --> 00:19:10,720 that matters is money so that's probably 470 00:19:09,400 --> 00:19:12,520 the direction we're gonna have to go 471 00:19:10,720 --> 00:19:14,500 there's a God to do something you got to 472 00:19:12,520 --> 00:19:16,950 stop because they are indifferent to us 473 00:19:14,500 --> 00:19:20,260 they are disrespectful they are 474 00:19:16,950 --> 00:19:23,289 disregarding our concern so we got to go 475 00:19:20,260 --> 00:19:26,230 on land right a ranch site so we came 476 00:19:23,289 --> 00:19:28,659 back tried to think of next steps the 477 00:19:26,230 --> 00:19:30,400 next test was to follow the same line 478 00:19:28,659 --> 00:19:33,610 that 87 was on and go on to rhetoric 479 00:19:30,400 --> 00:19:36,309 that was a process that involves lots of 480 00:19:33,610 --> 00:19:39,309 door knocking lots of Lobby meetings 481 00:19:36,309 --> 00:19:43,650 mass meetings as well as escalating 482 00:19:39,309 --> 00:19:50,980 actions of engagement against my cat and 483 00:19:43,650 --> 00:19:54,760 the rest is sort of history now let's 484 00:19:50,980 --> 00:19:59,500 all go to the lobby let's all go to the 485 00:19:54,760 --> 00:20:02,110 lobby let's all go to the lobby to get 486 00:19:59,500 --> 00:20:04,059 ourselves a treat the lobby meetings 487 00:20:02,110 --> 00:20:06,789 were organized I believe by Parkdale 488 00:20:04,059 --> 00:20:09,010 organized a few people would show up and 489 00:20:06,789 --> 00:20:10,809 talk to us about what the living 490 00:20:09,010 --> 00:20:13,270 conditions were like and about the rent 491 00:20:10,809 --> 00:20:15,280 increases we were facing and that way we 492 00:20:13,270 --> 00:20:17,919 started to get to know one another and 493 00:20:15,280 --> 00:20:19,330 sort of explore what was happening and 494 00:20:17,919 --> 00:20:21,070 what we could do about it 495 00:20:19,330 --> 00:20:23,799 I think Lobby meetings help the good yet 496 00:20:21,070 --> 00:20:25,299 time to get opinions from different 497 00:20:23,799 --> 00:20:28,090 people different and learn how to 498 00:20:25,299 --> 00:20:29,350 strategize the lobby meeting this is 499 00:20:28,090 --> 00:20:32,169 exactly what it sounds like they are 500 00:20:29,350 --> 00:20:34,179 among the only public spaces in our 501 00:20:32,169 --> 00:20:35,860 buildings where more than four people 502 00:20:34,179 --> 00:20:38,260 can get 503 00:20:35,860 --> 00:20:39,549 and discuss anything so a lot of times 504 00:20:38,260 --> 00:20:41,470 at the building level that's where the 505 00:20:39,549 --> 00:20:43,899 meetings take place unreal 506 00:20:41,470 --> 00:20:46,450 talk about what's going on and what our 507 00:20:43,899 --> 00:20:48,490 next step on what we plan to do so you 508 00:20:46,450 --> 00:20:50,710 could keep anything and it will be very 509 00:20:48,490 --> 00:20:52,690 often they took myself just going around 510 00:20:50,710 --> 00:20:55,000 the building letting people know when 511 00:20:52,690 --> 00:20:56,140 the next Lobby meeting will be you go 512 00:20:55,000 --> 00:20:57,669 around door to door you knock on 513 00:20:56,140 --> 00:20:59,110 people's doors you have conversations 514 00:20:57,669 --> 00:21:01,269 but what's been going on with those 515 00:20:59,110 --> 00:21:03,909 people what it is that they think about 516 00:21:01,269 --> 00:21:05,409 it and you set a date for for a number 517 00:21:03,909 --> 00:21:06,909 of people to get together from that 518 00:21:05,409 --> 00:21:08,500 building and discuss what it is that 519 00:21:06,909 --> 00:21:10,120 they're gonna do about it you know 520 00:21:08,500 --> 00:21:12,220 obviously when they first started a lot 521 00:21:10,120 --> 00:21:14,139 of people were very skeptical like what 522 00:21:12,220 --> 00:21:15,700 is this they can be chaotic sometimes 523 00:21:14,139 --> 00:21:16,990 it's part Dale there's a lot of 524 00:21:15,700 --> 00:21:19,419 characters and everybody has something 525 00:21:16,990 --> 00:21:21,100 to say to me it struck me as being a 526 00:21:19,419 --> 00:21:22,269 little bit disorganized at first but I 527 00:21:21,100 --> 00:21:24,580 thought this is worth getting involved 528 00:21:22,269 --> 00:21:26,590 in it's become more commonplace for 529 00:21:24,580 --> 00:21:28,450 people in the neighborhood meeting 530 00:21:26,590 --> 00:21:29,889 people starts to know our face so people 531 00:21:28,450 --> 00:21:31,269 are automatically in the building start 532 00:21:29,889 --> 00:21:33,130 stopping and start saying hey what's 533 00:21:31,269 --> 00:21:34,690 going on with this will you know what's 534 00:21:33,130 --> 00:21:37,029 the update what's the word it made me 535 00:21:34,690 --> 00:21:39,880 feel I had support going door to door 536 00:21:37,029 --> 00:21:41,860 and putting out flyers to let people 537 00:21:39,880 --> 00:21:45,220 know what we're all about what we're 538 00:21:41,860 --> 00:21:47,169 hoping to gain by the rent strike our 539 00:21:45,220 --> 00:21:49,090 Lobby meeting was just a good a good way 540 00:21:47,169 --> 00:21:50,860 to get our neighbors connected and get 541 00:21:49,090 --> 00:21:51,940 them informed and make sure that they 542 00:21:50,860 --> 00:21:54,039 knew that they weren't alone in the 543 00:21:51,940 --> 00:21:56,320 situation some decisions get made their 544 00:21:54,039 --> 00:21:58,149 tops are giving up and then and then 545 00:21:56,320 --> 00:21:59,919 those tasks are carried out and then you 546 00:21:58,149 --> 00:22:01,779 have another Lobby meeting to go over 547 00:21:59,919 --> 00:22:04,389 what's taking place and make further 548 00:22:01,779 --> 00:22:06,760 decisions talking to each other trying 549 00:22:04,389 --> 00:22:08,139 to get a consensus important thing is 550 00:22:06,760 --> 00:22:10,980 this every can and get involved 551 00:22:08,139 --> 00:22:10,980 inclusive nest 552 00:22:11,720 --> 00:22:17,540 [Music] 553 00:22:14,710 --> 00:22:19,790 one of the things I enjoyed the most was 554 00:22:17,540 --> 00:22:22,160 the march through Parkdale lots of 555 00:22:19,790 --> 00:22:24,500 support horn honking and people waving 556 00:22:22,160 --> 00:22:26,390 at us the march through Parkdale which a 557 00:22:24,500 --> 00:22:28,190 huge amount of people showed up for the 558 00:22:26,390 --> 00:22:29,810 day we marched meeting in front of the 559 00:22:28,190 --> 00:22:32,930 library and staying there with a few of 560 00:22:29,810 --> 00:22:35,390 my friends and taking up space and being 561 00:22:32,930 --> 00:22:37,940 loud and unapologetic about the fact 562 00:22:35,390 --> 00:22:40,670 that we weren't going to tolerate that 563 00:22:37,940 --> 00:22:43,040 cat's behavior any longer and getting 564 00:22:40,670 --> 00:22:45,110 out into the community and just like 565 00:22:43,040 --> 00:22:47,180 marching around and just picking up 566 00:22:45,110 --> 00:22:48,860 people as we went along there were so 567 00:22:47,180 --> 00:22:51,020 many actions it kind of took on a life 568 00:22:48,860 --> 00:23:00,590 of his own at protesting one of the 569 00:22:51,020 --> 00:23:02,750 owners in Forest Hill this morning a few 570 00:23:00,590 --> 00:23:05,150 dozen tenants they boarded a yellow 571 00:23:02,750 --> 00:23:06,920 school bus and took the protest right to 572 00:23:05,150 --> 00:23:28,130 the front doorstep of one of the 573 00:23:06,920 --> 00:23:29,900 property owners going to the tribunal 574 00:23:28,130 --> 00:23:34,430 and everyone showing up there inside 575 00:23:29,900 --> 00:23:36,290 court we almost nearly hundred people it 576 00:23:34,430 --> 00:23:38,270 was a raucous start at the landlord and 577 00:23:36,290 --> 00:23:40,820 tenant tribunal hearing young and st. 578 00:23:38,270 --> 00:23:43,070 clair protesters delay the hearing by 579 00:23:40,820 --> 00:23:44,690 more than an hour calling for Metcalfe 580 00:23:43,070 --> 00:23:46,190 to give in to their demands 581 00:23:44,690 --> 00:23:48,740 it was the incident when they tried to 582 00:23:46,190 --> 00:23:51,080 run somebody over the truck incident was 583 00:23:48,740 --> 00:23:53,450 friend Merrill a protest in June saw 584 00:23:51,080 --> 00:23:55,700 Metcalfe CEO Brent Merrill narrowly 585 00:23:53,450 --> 00:23:56,540 avoid hitting a protestor outside one of 586 00:23:55,700 --> 00:23:58,340 his bill 587 00:23:56,540 --> 00:23:59,720 having seen the video now I don't know 588 00:23:58,340 --> 00:24:01,430 what it would happen if if I had gone 589 00:23:59,720 --> 00:24:02,690 under the car as it goes off to the side 590 00:24:01,430 --> 00:24:05,930 I really thought at some point he would 591 00:24:02,690 --> 00:24:08,060 slow down it was really shocking really 592 00:24:05,930 --> 00:24:10,490 shocking you always expect the worst for 593 00:24:08,060 --> 00:24:12,260 Metcalfe that just blew me away I mean 594 00:24:10,490 --> 00:24:15,980 that was just they just took the cake 595 00:24:12,260 --> 00:24:19,520 that day they had messed up in a massive 596 00:24:15,980 --> 00:24:23,450 way thankfully Kevin was all right but 597 00:24:19,520 --> 00:24:24,620 in that moment I just like got them you 598 00:24:23,450 --> 00:24:25,970 know I don't want to make this the 599 00:24:24,620 --> 00:24:27,560 centerpiece of what's going on today I 600 00:24:25,970 --> 00:24:29,120 think that what needs to happen is that 601 00:24:27,560 --> 00:24:31,040 they need to recognize that this 602 00:24:29,120 --> 00:24:33,590 community is not backing down we're not 603 00:24:31,040 --> 00:24:36,500 leaving not the one force in all the 604 00:24:33,590 --> 00:24:38,180 building not one force everybody that's 605 00:24:36,500 --> 00:24:40,370 the highlight more than anything that 606 00:24:38,180 --> 00:24:44,300 the collective will and the collective 607 00:24:40,370 --> 00:24:48,500 strength was being fully accessed in 608 00:24:44,300 --> 00:24:50,720 order to carry this out and that was a 609 00:24:48,500 --> 00:24:58,070 hell of a thing to watch and participate 610 00:24:50,720 --> 00:25:00,770 on my favorite part of the rent strike 611 00:24:58,070 --> 00:25:02,990 was the way that it seeped into our 612 00:25:00,770 --> 00:25:04,910 everyday lives he didn't feel as alone 613 00:25:02,990 --> 00:25:08,570 in the building as you may have before 614 00:25:04,910 --> 00:25:10,730 or you knew who was kind of fighting 615 00:25:08,570 --> 00:25:12,170 with you I think it has been like such a 616 00:25:10,730 --> 00:25:14,720 positive thing for the neighborhood 617 00:25:12,170 --> 00:25:16,970 thing I think neighbors are now way more 618 00:25:14,720 --> 00:25:18,290 open to having conversations for a lot 619 00:25:16,970 --> 00:25:19,760 of us you know I didn't really talk to a 620 00:25:18,290 --> 00:25:22,670 lot of people in my building before this 621 00:25:19,760 --> 00:25:24,680 and now it's sort of it brought people 622 00:25:22,670 --> 00:25:26,750 together I started running into people 623 00:25:24,680 --> 00:25:31,190 on the street that would say hello to me 624 00:25:26,750 --> 00:25:33,980 and I asked about the rent strike and it 625 00:25:31,190 --> 00:25:35,480 just made for a much closer community 626 00:25:33,980 --> 00:25:37,760 yeah I just helped build a community 627 00:25:35,480 --> 00:25:41,030 quite a bit I feel like even those who 628 00:25:37,760 --> 00:25:42,830 are not living in madcap tenants were 629 00:25:41,030 --> 00:25:45,440 asking what's going on with madcap 630 00:25:42,830 --> 00:25:48,290 what's happening now what the decision 631 00:25:45,440 --> 00:25:50,300 it got pretty normal that there would be 632 00:25:48,290 --> 00:25:51,440 an impromptu meeting in the produce 633 00:25:50,300 --> 00:25:55,220 section of the no-frills 634 00:25:51,440 --> 00:25:57,320 and it was those those moments that they 635 00:25:55,220 --> 00:25:59,870 were honestly beautiful for me because 636 00:25:57,320 --> 00:26:02,690 so often politics are 637 00:25:59,870 --> 00:26:05,150 just wiped from from our daily lives and 638 00:26:02,690 --> 00:26:07,490 you know people might go to a protest on 639 00:26:05,150 --> 00:26:09,320 a Saturday you know somewhere that's 640 00:26:07,490 --> 00:26:12,620 like half an hour transit ride from the 641 00:26:09,320 --> 00:26:15,590 house but this reality of not being able 642 00:26:12,620 --> 00:26:17,120 to stand on my balcony not being able to 643 00:26:15,590 --> 00:26:19,790 go out on the street without meeting 644 00:26:17,120 --> 00:26:21,380 someone who was in this struggle with me 645 00:26:19,790 --> 00:26:23,780 who had been thinking about it all day 646 00:26:21,380 --> 00:26:25,640 just like me who was worrying about it 647 00:26:23,780 --> 00:26:27,470 who was making plans and really that 648 00:26:25,640 --> 00:26:30,350 feeling that we were in this together 649 00:26:27,470 --> 00:26:32,630 it was the only time in my life when I 650 00:26:30,350 --> 00:26:35,570 had really felt that level of 651 00:26:32,630 --> 00:26:37,460 camaraderie with the people who I lived 652 00:26:35,570 --> 00:26:41,890 with the people I was surrounded by and 653 00:26:37,460 --> 00:26:45,110 it just added this wait this this 654 00:26:41,890 --> 00:26:47,090 content to both our daily lives and the 655 00:26:45,110 --> 00:26:48,920 struggle you know we were all at home 656 00:26:47,090 --> 00:26:50,660 thinking oh my goodness what's the next 657 00:26:48,920 --> 00:26:52,700 thing I can do what else can I do to 658 00:26:50,660 --> 00:26:55,130 help us win because the stakes were so 659 00:26:52,700 --> 00:26:58,100 high it was so real and people are 660 00:26:55,130 --> 00:26:59,510 really curious about what's going on and 661 00:26:58,100 --> 00:27:01,220 are kind of really hopeful because they 662 00:26:59,510 --> 00:27:02,990 see that the tenants are like making 663 00:27:01,220 --> 00:27:04,520 some really huge wins and like wondering 664 00:27:02,990 --> 00:27:05,660 like well how can we do this in our 665 00:27:04,520 --> 00:27:09,170 building like how can we get involved 666 00:27:05,660 --> 00:27:11,390 people wants to do something and they 667 00:27:09,170 --> 00:27:13,130 like what is happening being the 668 00:27:11,390 --> 00:27:15,110 different people that sort of jumped on 669 00:27:13,130 --> 00:27:17,420 board along with us social support so 670 00:27:15,110 --> 00:27:19,070 you know Queen Victoria all the teachers 671 00:27:17,420 --> 00:27:20,990 there stood out on the block and made a 672 00:27:19,070 --> 00:27:23,420 lot of noise on the corner of King and 673 00:27:20,990 --> 00:27:25,880 the Jameson which is really amazing to 674 00:27:23,420 --> 00:27:27,920 see it hundreds of residents here in 675 00:27:25,880 --> 00:27:31,070 Parkdale are heading into their second 676 00:27:27,920 --> 00:27:34,130 month refusing to pay rent in protest of 677 00:27:31,070 --> 00:27:35,750 rent hikes here in Parkdale and now 678 00:27:34,130 --> 00:27:38,420 they're getting the support of some 679 00:27:35,750 --> 00:27:39,860 unlikely allies in the heart of South 680 00:27:38,420 --> 00:27:43,690 Park dale right at the corner of King 681 00:27:39,860 --> 00:27:46,190 and Jameson is a huge elementary school 682 00:27:43,690 --> 00:27:47,120 so many of the kids from South Park Dale 683 00:27:46,190 --> 00:27:49,100 go to that school 684 00:27:47,120 --> 00:27:51,770 the Parkdale elementary school is 685 00:27:49,100 --> 00:27:54,200 surrounded by 19 buildings owned by 686 00:27:51,770 --> 00:27:56,179 Metcalf living five of them are facing 687 00:27:54,200 --> 00:27:59,350 rent increases above the provincial 688 00:27:56,179 --> 00:28:01,460 maximum conditions of poverty of 689 00:27:59,350 --> 00:28:04,980 displacement those are things that are 690 00:28:01,460 --> 00:28:07,380 felt most strongly by children 691 00:28:04,980 --> 00:28:08,880 and the teachers in the schools are very 692 00:28:07,380 --> 00:28:10,799 aware of that they see it in their 693 00:28:08,880 --> 00:28:12,659 students every day they see when they're 694 00:28:10,799 --> 00:28:14,880 tired they see when they're hungry they 695 00:28:12,659 --> 00:28:16,169 see when they have bed bug bites or when 696 00:28:14,880 --> 00:28:17,850 they're afraid that their parents are 697 00:28:16,169 --> 00:28:19,470 going to lose their home they see it 698 00:28:17,850 --> 00:28:20,639 when the students don't show up at the 699 00:28:19,470 --> 00:28:22,350 next school year because they've been 700 00:28:20,639 --> 00:28:23,760 displaced from our neighborhood you know 701 00:28:22,350 --> 00:28:26,909 there were teachers at Parkdale 702 00:28:23,760 --> 00:28:29,190 elementary who tried to take action when 703 00:28:26,909 --> 00:28:30,899 Roma students were being deported on 704 00:28:29,190 --> 00:28:33,299 mass from the neighborhood there were 705 00:28:30,899 --> 00:28:35,010 you know teachers who have talked about 706 00:28:33,299 --> 00:28:36,149 the conditions at the school who have 707 00:28:35,010 --> 00:28:38,190 talked about conditions in the 708 00:28:36,149 --> 00:28:40,559 neighborhood but it's always a problem 709 00:28:38,190 --> 00:28:43,950 when those actions take the form of just 710 00:28:40,559 --> 00:28:46,679 advocacy or raising awareness often the 711 00:28:43,950 --> 00:28:50,029 worst conditions that that we face are 712 00:28:46,679 --> 00:28:52,710 things that are very legal but are wrong 713 00:28:50,029 --> 00:28:54,419 these above guideline rent increases 714 00:28:52,710 --> 00:28:58,289 that have been displaced in our 715 00:28:54,419 --> 00:29:01,409 neighbors are absolutely legal and what 716 00:28:58,289 --> 00:29:03,210 was so amazing about the support that we 717 00:29:01,409 --> 00:29:06,299 had from teachers in the neighborhood 718 00:29:03,210 --> 00:29:09,419 was they've seen how this legal regime 719 00:29:06,299 --> 00:29:12,630 of above guideline rent increases has 720 00:29:09,419 --> 00:29:14,940 stripped our our neighborhood of its 721 00:29:12,630 --> 00:29:17,149 working class qualities has forced 722 00:29:14,940 --> 00:29:21,029 working-class people out of Parkdale and 723 00:29:17,149 --> 00:29:23,750 they were willing in fact enthusiastic 724 00:29:21,029 --> 00:29:26,039 about the opportunity to support 725 00:29:23,750 --> 00:29:28,169 working-class people the parents of 726 00:29:26,039 --> 00:29:30,419 their students in their formation of 727 00:29:28,169 --> 00:29:32,610 working-class organizations that were 728 00:29:30,419 --> 00:29:34,139 capable of taking on the things that are 729 00:29:32,610 --> 00:29:36,480 legal but wrong 730 00:29:34,139 --> 00:29:38,940 I'm in Parkdale we're striking tenants 731 00:29:36,480 --> 00:29:41,250 are putting away their protest signs and 732 00:29:38,940 --> 00:29:43,740 banners now that a three month rent 733 00:29:41,250 --> 00:29:45,870 strike has ended with a negotiated 734 00:29:43,740 --> 00:29:48,299 agreement with the landlord working 735 00:29:45,870 --> 00:29:51,360 class people sat down across the table 736 00:29:48,299 --> 00:29:53,730 from people that represented hundreds of 737 00:29:51,360 --> 00:29:55,620 millions of dollars in capital and 738 00:29:53,730 --> 00:29:57,899 didn't budge I was there for the 739 00:29:55,620 --> 00:30:01,289 negotiation process and that cap came 740 00:29:57,899 --> 00:30:02,320 and they had various employees from 741 00:30:01,289 --> 00:30:04,330 Metcalf 742 00:30:02,320 --> 00:30:07,390 when their main investor showed up I 743 00:30:04,330 --> 00:30:09,970 think our tenon team really walked well 744 00:30:07,390 --> 00:30:12,610 we had discussions and meeting before 745 00:30:09,970 --> 00:30:16,980 the negotiations and we we knew what 746 00:30:12,610 --> 00:30:19,690 they were up to and we knew our demand 747 00:30:16,980 --> 00:30:21,790 usually had one or two representatives 748 00:30:19,690 --> 00:30:24,490 from each building who'd been involved 749 00:30:21,790 --> 00:30:26,410 in the rent strike all along each of the 750 00:30:24,490 --> 00:30:27,790 main buildings that were participating 751 00:30:26,410 --> 00:30:29,290 in the rent strike had a couple of 752 00:30:27,790 --> 00:30:31,660 building representatives that kind of 753 00:30:29,290 --> 00:30:33,760 spread information to the rest of their 754 00:30:31,660 --> 00:30:34,930 pens in their building as well as speak 755 00:30:33,760 --> 00:30:36,640 to all of the tenants in the building to 756 00:30:34,930 --> 00:30:38,560 see what people wanted to do moving 757 00:30:36,640 --> 00:30:41,320 forward the height there were close to 758 00:30:38,560 --> 00:30:43,930 300 people on the rent strike and the 759 00:30:41,320 --> 00:30:45,970 people at the bargaining table were 760 00:30:43,930 --> 00:30:48,010 about 20 of us we went in there with 761 00:30:45,970 --> 00:30:50,560 very very firm demands we had to 762 00:30:48,010 --> 00:30:52,750 negotiate courts were not professional 763 00:30:50,560 --> 00:30:54,220 negotiators so it was quite a learning 764 00:30:52,750 --> 00:30:56,260 experience for sure 765 00:30:54,220 --> 00:30:57,550 so Parkdale Community Legal Services 766 00:30:56,260 --> 00:30:59,260 worked with those building 767 00:30:57,550 --> 00:31:01,540 representatives through negotiations 768 00:30:59,260 --> 00:31:03,400 with the landlord and the investment 769 00:31:01,540 --> 00:31:05,650 person all in all the negotiation 770 00:31:03,400 --> 00:31:07,300 process of it really really well and it 771 00:31:05,650 --> 00:31:09,250 was a very good deal for Parkdale I 772 00:31:07,300 --> 00:31:11,470 would definitely consider this a win I 773 00:31:09,250 --> 00:31:13,300 think the tenants are really going to 774 00:31:11,470 --> 00:31:16,440 want to talk about what the winners were 775 00:31:13,300 --> 00:31:19,420 from the from these negotiations 776 00:31:16,440 --> 00:31:21,760 unfortunately the details are 777 00:31:19,420 --> 00:31:25,540 confidential the numbers are good so 778 00:31:21,760 --> 00:31:26,430 good that Metcalfe has required a gag 779 00:31:25,540 --> 00:31:28,410 order on 780 00:31:26,430 --> 00:31:31,080 the actual specific numbers I would say 781 00:31:28,410 --> 00:31:32,760 that we won yes and there's a lot of 782 00:31:31,080 --> 00:31:34,320 people with smiles on their faces in 783 00:31:32,760 --> 00:31:37,860 Parkdale I think the biggest and most 784 00:31:34,320 --> 00:31:39,660 important result of the red strike is 785 00:31:37,860 --> 00:31:42,840 that the Rennes strike has been 786 00:31:39,660 --> 00:31:46,920 recognized by those that carried it out 787 00:31:42,840 --> 00:31:48,450 as a tactic not an end in and of itself 788 00:31:46,920 --> 00:31:52,250 and a tactic that's employed by 789 00:31:48,450 --> 00:31:54,810 organizing by organizations that are 790 00:31:52,250 --> 00:31:57,150 developed by working-class people there 791 00:31:54,810 --> 00:31:59,040 is a shift socially and politically 792 00:31:57,150 --> 00:32:01,050 underway within this neighborhood and 793 00:31:59,040 --> 00:32:02,930 hopefully hopefully outside of the 794 00:32:01,050 --> 00:32:05,700 neighborhood as well which is that 795 00:32:02,930 --> 00:32:08,130 people are capable of doing things that 796 00:32:05,700 --> 00:32:10,410 they are otherwise told by legal 797 00:32:08,130 --> 00:32:12,750 convention and economic mandate that 798 00:32:10,410 --> 00:32:15,180 they cannot do cheers at a park dale 799 00:32:12,750 --> 00:32:17,880 building as residents mark the end of a 800 00:32:15,180 --> 00:32:20,010 long battle sadly there's no shortage of 801 00:32:17,880 --> 00:32:22,140 things for us to organize around so the 802 00:32:20,010 --> 00:32:24,000 lesson that people should take is not 803 00:32:22,140 --> 00:32:26,160 that they should move to a few other 804 00:32:24,000 --> 00:32:27,960 neighborhoods in cariocans activity and 805 00:32:26,160 --> 00:32:29,730 other neighborhoods should carry on this 806 00:32:27,960 --> 00:32:31,290 activity different types of problems are 807 00:32:29,730 --> 00:32:33,120 there each and every losing 808 00:32:31,290 --> 00:32:34,950 gentrification is happening all over the 809 00:32:33,120 --> 00:32:36,630 city it's not just in Parkdale so I 810 00:32:34,950 --> 00:32:38,610 think it's important that people get the 811 00:32:36,630 --> 00:32:40,320 message that when you stick together we 812 00:32:38,610 --> 00:32:42,330 have a lot more power as a group than we 813 00:32:40,320 --> 00:32:43,200 do as individuals I would suggest that 814 00:32:42,330 --> 00:32:46,320 anyone 815 00:32:43,200 --> 00:32:48,810 hi rent increases to get together with 816 00:32:46,320 --> 00:32:50,790 their neighbors don't go alone you know 817 00:32:48,810 --> 00:32:53,070 get your neighbors involved he organized 818 00:32:50,790 --> 00:32:55,140 go as one which caused a unified front 819 00:32:53,070 --> 00:32:56,790 get organized meet with people in your 820 00:32:55,140 --> 00:32:58,140 building meet with people outside your 821 00:32:56,790 --> 00:32:59,790 building you're more powerful than you 822 00:32:58,140 --> 00:33:02,600 think a lot of people are really 823 00:32:59,790 --> 00:33:05,820 skeptical I mean I remember back in 824 00:33:02,600 --> 00:33:07,320 March and even an April we're starting 825 00:33:05,820 --> 00:33:09,330 to organize the rent strike like even 826 00:33:07,320 --> 00:33:11,160 some of the main organizers now we're 827 00:33:09,330 --> 00:33:11,970 like you guys are nuts like this is 828 00:33:11,160 --> 00:33:14,040 never going to work 829 00:33:11,970 --> 00:33:15,480 everyone's they get evicted nobody in 830 00:33:14,040 --> 00:33:17,250 this building wanted to get involved I 831 00:33:15,480 --> 00:33:19,140 was the only person some people told me 832 00:33:17,250 --> 00:33:21,630 don't watch the boat it doesn't affect 833 00:33:19,140 --> 00:33:22,980 us but now that the rent strikes over 834 00:33:21,630 --> 00:33:25,320 and the negotiations 835 00:33:22,980 --> 00:33:27,690 everybody was everybody just cheering 836 00:33:25,320 --> 00:33:29,730 this on right this is the greatest thing 837 00:33:27,690 --> 00:33:32,370 since sliced bread some people are still 838 00:33:29,730 --> 00:33:35,010 calling us iMac so some other and strike 839 00:33:32,370 --> 00:33:37,920 like that Oh y'all did a great job when 840 00:33:35,010 --> 00:33:41,490 y'all get started how y'all do this how 841 00:33:37,920 --> 00:33:45,240 y'all do that you make you feel good but 842 00:33:41,490 --> 00:33:46,440 the nation a difference I'm happy we 843 00:33:45,240 --> 00:33:51,560 work out very well 844 00:33:46,440 --> 00:33:54,590 I'm emboldened by this right people 845 00:33:51,560 --> 00:33:56,510 now even if something that happens next 846 00:33:54,590 --> 00:33:58,820 I'm having more people with joint 847 00:33:56,510 --> 00:34:01,610 because you had that piece of big thing 848 00:33:58,820 --> 00:34:03,920 there's power in numbers and we had a 849 00:34:01,610 --> 00:34:05,150 loud voice in our voice with hurt that's 850 00:34:03,920 --> 00:34:07,970 what people in the neighborhood have 851 00:34:05,150 --> 00:34:11,870 learned from this experience is that 852 00:34:07,970 --> 00:34:14,960 while there are individual working-class 853 00:34:11,870 --> 00:34:17,150 people that are commendable the strength 854 00:34:14,960 --> 00:34:18,920 and authority that is latent within the 855 00:34:17,150 --> 00:34:21,199 working class which annually is 856 00:34:18,920 --> 00:34:22,969 something that no other social force can 857 00:34:21,199 --> 00:34:24,980 actually touch and it just has to be 858 00:34:22,969 --> 00:34:27,469 organized and that organization takes a 859 00:34:24,980 --> 00:34:29,510 lot of work the lesson to take is do the 860 00:34:27,469 --> 00:34:32,300 work do the organizing carry out the 861 00:34:29,510 --> 00:34:34,659 action win the day and prepare for the 862 00:34:32,300 --> 00:34:34,659 next day 863 00:34:36,880 --> 00:35:01,179 [Music] 864 00:34:56,110 --> 00:35:01,179 [Laughter]