Manuela Vega
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manuelavega.bsky.social
Manuela Vega
@manuelavega.bsky.social
37 followers 24 following 37 posts
Business and housing reporter @thestar.com
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manuelavega.bsky.social
These Toronto renters say their needs were ignored while landlords made renovations in empty units

While financial landlords say renovations are needed to modernize old rental stock, advocates say the practice is part of a profit-maximizing strategy. www.thestar.com/real-estate/...
These renters say their needs were ignored while their landlords did ‘amazing’ renovations on empty units
These renters say their needs were ignored while their landlords did ‘amazing’ renovations on empty units. A landlords group says renovations are necessary to update Toronto’s aging rental stock.
www.thestar.com
January 6, 2026 at 3:42 PM
manuelavega.bsky.social
UHN is rolling out Ontario’s first hospital-based homelessness and eviction prevention program.

“This is preventative medicine,” says Dr. Andrew Boozary.

I spoke with community health workers about the impact the program is already making for @thestar.com www.thestar.com/news/gta/thi...
‘This is preventative medicine.’ Toronto hospital starts $1-million fund to help patients with rent
‘This is preventative medicine,’ says Dr. Andrew Boozary with the University Health Network, as research shows a link between evictions and worse health outcomes. The fund will help patients on a case...
www.thestar.com
December 29, 2025 at 1:03 PM
manuelavega.bsky.social
Yana Miriev, owner of Toronto’s grocer and cafe Finch Store, was ready to “close the door” of her neighbourhood shop.

Then a last-minute council motion changed everything.

My latest for @thestar.com
www.thestar.com/news/gta/own...
Toronto's Finch Store is looking to the future
Owner Yana Miriev was stuck in zoning limbo and ready to 'close the door.' Then a surprise move by council green-lit shops and cafes like hers on some neighbourhood streets.
www.thestar.com
December 29, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Reposted by Manuela Vega
sandrasmiley.bsky.social
‘This is preventive medicine’: Toronto hospital starts $1-million fund to help patients with rent

via @manuelavega.bsky.social
www.thestar.com/news/gta/thi...
‘This is preventative medicine.’ Toronto hospital starts $1-million fund to help patients with rent
‘This is preventative medicine,’ says Dr. Andrew Boozary with the University Health Network, as research shows a link between evictions and worse health outcomes. The fund will help patients on a case...
www.thestar.com
December 22, 2025 at 7:20 PM
manuelavega.bsky.social
Canadian developer Pinnacle International is holding off on plans to demolish the Toronto Star’s old office building at 1 Yonge St. in fresh hopes of converting the existing building into a luxury hotel. @thestar.com www.thestar.com/real-estate/...
The old Toronto Star building at 1 Yonge will live for a little while longer — as a luxury hotel
Pinnacle is holding off demolishing the Star’s home base for 51 years, which is set to be part of a planned community including Canada’s tallest skyscraper.
www.thestar.com
November 15, 2025 at 3:07 PM
manuelavega.bsky.social
Fixed mortgage rates are likely at their “lowest point this year,” experts say @thestar.com www.thestar.com/business/fix...
Fixed mortgage rates are likely at their ‘lowest point this year,’ experts say
“We’re seeing the weaker economy, paradoxically, is allowing more people into the real estate market,” said Phil Soper, president and CEO of Royal LePage.
www.thestar.com
October 29, 2025 at 5:21 PM
manuelavega.bsky.social
Despite the Ford government’s decision not to change security of tenure rules for now, Bill 60 would still “whittle down” tenant rights at the Landlord and Tenant Board, advocates say

My latest for @thestar.com www.thestar.com/real-estate/...
Ford government’s Bill 60 would ‘whittle down’ tenant rights at the Landlord and Tenant Board, advocates say
The province, which walked back a proposal to allow eviction when leases end, is still pushing ahead with Landlord and Tenant Board changes that housing advocates say favour landlords.
www.thestar.com
October 27, 2025 at 7:56 PM
manuelavega.bsky.social
Doug Ford ending automatic tenancy extensions would be ‘devastating’ for Ontario renters, advocates warn

My latest @thestar.com
www.thestar.com/real-estate/...
Doug Ford ending automatic tenancy extensions would be ‘devastating’ for Ontario renters, advocates warn
The province's bill 60 proposes to 'consult on alternative options on lease agreement expiry' to open up more rentals.
www.thestar.com
October 24, 2025 at 8:55 PM
manuelavega.bsky.social
After tearing down an encampment outside a church last week, the City of Toronto dropped large concrete blocks and erected metal fencing on the site — next to blocks and fencing it had placed there two years prior. @thestar.com www.thestar.com/news/gta/the...
The city dropped concrete blocks, fencing at the site of a Kensington encampment. The nearby church wants them gone
The city says they’re temporary, but the church, which supported the encampment, says more blocks and fencing remain from a clearing two years ago.
www.thestar.com
October 24, 2025 at 12:55 PM
manuelavega.bsky.social
The City of Toronto, accompanied by police and security guards, cleared an encampment outside the Church of Saint Stephen-in-the-Fields near College and Augusta streets on Thursday, after a fire hazard order from the fire department. @thestar.com www.thestar.com/news/gta/cit...
City clears Kensington-area church encampment after Toronto Fire order
City workers offered shelter spaces and “homelessness supports” to the 12 occupants ahead of Thursday’s 1 p.m. deadline from Toronto Fire.
www.thestar.com
October 17, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Reposted by Manuela Vega
rdassaly.bsky.social
A new CBC investigation reveals that Canadian charities continue to fund organizations, including the Israeli military, that support the ever-expanding settlements in the West Bank.

“We are financing war criminality through our charitable system."

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Canadian charities complicit in helping fund Israeli settlement movement in West Bank, critics say | CBC News
Tax deductible donations made by Canadians to groups that financially support West Bank settlements that are illegal under international law are continuing in the face of escalating attacks on Palesti...
www.cbc.ca
October 17, 2025 at 12:49 PM
manuelavega.bsky.social
Days after the City of Toronto brought in heavy machinery to clear a homeless encampment at Dufferin Grove Park, city staff and private security on Wednesday cleared the park again after people had promptly returned.

Six people were arrested @thestar.com
www.thestar.com/news/gta/six...
Six people arrested at second Dufferin Grove encampment clearing
‘Every effort has been made’ to care for encampment residents, ensure the public’s use of the park and to avoid enforcement, says the city’s head of shelter services.
www.thestar.com
October 1, 2025 at 8:23 PM
manuelavega.bsky.social
Ontario’s public servants have been ordered back to the office. So why will Landlord and Tenant Board hearings stay virtual?

Legal clinics have been expressing their concerns for years.

My latest @thestar.com
www.thestar.com/news/gta/ont...
Ontario’s public servants have been ordered back to the office. So why will Landlord and Tenant Board hearings stay virtual?
Doug Ford told Ontario public servants to go back to work. So why isn’t the Landlord and Tenant Board?
www.thestar.com
September 24, 2025 at 1:14 PM
manuelavega.bsky.social
Nearly a third of people who have been homeless were evicted at some point, a series of CMHC reports on eviction found www.thestar.com/news/gta/nea...
Nearly a third of people who have been homeless were evicted at some point, CMHC says
A series of studies on evictions found Black and Indigenous renters are overrepresented in eviction cases, and people who have experienced eviction report the lowest levels of physical and mental
www.thestar.com
September 16, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Reposted by Manuela Vega
rdassaly.bsky.social
Independent UN commission finds that’s Israel has been committing genocide in Gaza *since* October 7.

The report was limited to Gaza, but raises the “serious concern” that Israel intends “to destroy the Palestinians as a whole.”
September 16, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Reposted by Manuela Vega
apnews.com
BREAKING: Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, a team of independent experts commissioned by the U.N.’s Human Rights Council concludes.
Human rights experts join rising chorus that accuses Israel of genocide in Gaza
A team of experts commissioned by the U.N.'s Human Rights Council has concluded that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.
bit.ly
September 16, 2025 at 7:40 AM
manuelavega.bsky.social
Are REITs good for housing? CMHC says we need more, raising concerns among some housing experts

My latest @thestar.com www.thestar.com/real-estate/...
Are REITs good for housing? CMHC says we need more, raising concerns among some housing experts
Critics say the national housing agency has drifted from its affordability mandate, while CMHC says it wants to increase housing supply while protecting tenants.
www.thestar.com
September 12, 2025 at 1:06 PM
manuelavega.bsky.social
About 100 Thorncliffe Park households have reached an agreement with Starlight Investments, seemingly ending a lengthy public battle that saw the working-class tenants withhold rent from Canada’s largest private landlord for two years.

My latest @thestar.com
www.thestar.com/real-estate/...
Around 100 households on rent strike and facing mass eviction reach ‘amicable agreement’ with landlord
Tenants at 71, 75 and 79 Thorncliffe Park Dr. began withholding rent from landlord Starlight in May 2023.
www.thestar.com
September 4, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Reposted by Manuela Vega
thestar.com
The largest professional organization of scholars studying genocide said Monday that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.
Leading genocide scholars organization says Israeli action in Gaza is genocide
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The largest professional organization of scholars studying genocide said Monday that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.
www.thestar.com
September 1, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Reposted by Manuela Vega
thestar.com
Trump administration restrictions on Palestinian visa applicants means nearly all would be refused
Trump administration restrictions on Palestinian visa applicants means nearly all would be refused
Palestinian applicants who hold non-Palestinian Authority passports may also face difficulties should they need a U.S. visa.
www.thestar.com
September 2, 2025 at 3:27 PM
manuelavega.bsky.social
Groups representing about 90,000 Ontario realtors are calling on the province to reform the Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO) after the government said Thursday it would intervene in an “extensive review” of the regulator. www.thestar.com/real-estate/...
iPro scandal: Groups representing 90,000 realtors call on province to reform RECO
RECO said it's working with the insurer to expedite deposit and commission claims, with payments beginning Friday.
www.thestar.com
August 29, 2025 at 8:37 PM
manuelavega.bsky.social
Starlight investments, Canada‘s largest private landlord, often dramatically increases eviction applications after acquiring buildings, study finds

My latest @thestar.com
www.thestar.com/real-estate/...
Canada’s largest private landlord often dramatically increases eviction applications after acquiring buildings, study finds
Starlight Investments filed 15 eviction applications per 100 units each year, while chain owned and managed properties filed seven applications per 100 units, a recent study found.
www.thestar.com
August 29, 2025 at 1:36 PM
manuelavega.bsky.social
Financial firms in Toronto pursue evictions more often than any other type of landlord in the city, a groundbreaking new study has found

My latest for @thestar.com www.thestar.com/real-estate/...
Financial firms file for eviction more than any other Toronto landlord, new research finds
The research looked at more than 200,000 evictions and found financial firms pursue evictions at a rate 1.5 times higher than chain landlords and 2.5 times more than single-building landlords.
www.thestar.com
August 14, 2025 at 1:12 PM
manuelavega.bsky.social
A Palestinian engineering student was accepted to U of T in 2024. He’s still stuck in Gaza awaiting a visa

By Nathan Bawaan for @thestar.com
www.thestar.com/news/gta/a-p...
A Palestinian engineering student was accepted to U of T in 2024. He’s still stuck in Gaza awaiting a visa
Dozens of students are left waiting in limbo in Gaza and neighbouring countries for Canada to approve their visa applications.
www.thestar.com
August 6, 2025 at 1:15 PM
manuelavega.bsky.social
Toronto’s renoviction bylaw takes effect Thursday.

Here’s how the city aims to prevent landlords from evicting tenants in bad faith @thestar.com
www.thestar.com/real-estate/...
Toronto’s ‘renoviction’ bylaw takes effect Thursday. Here’s what you need to know
Toronto’s new renoviction bylaw aims to prevent landlords from evicting tenants for renovations in bad faith. Here’s what you need to know.
www.thestar.com
July 30, 2025 at 1:08 PM