Toronto Shelter Security Contractor Ordered Off the Job as City Terminates Contracts
In a significant development impacting Toronto's homeless shelter system, the City of Toronto has moved to cut ties with its shelter security contractor, One Community Solutions (OCS), ordering its private security guards to cease operations immediately. This decision comes as the city grapples with a severe deep freeze, placing additional strain on resources dedicated to supporting vulnerable populations.
Provincial Directive and Contract Termination
According to a statement from Gord Tanner, General Manager of City Hall's Shelter and Support Services Division, OCS informed the city that the Ministry of the Solicitor General directed the company to immediately stop deploying workers performing security guard functions under the Private Security and Investigative Services Act, 2005. This directive affects OCS Community Safety Team (CST) workers at city-funded locations.
Prior to this provincial intervention, the city had already issued email notices of termination for its contracts with OCS, dated January 30, with March 1 set as the final contract day, aligning with a 30-day notice period. Tanner emphasized that the city is actively assessing the impact of this decision and exploring alternatives to mitigate disruptions in communities reliant on these services, including potential reassignments of other staff or partnerships.
Background: Legal Challenges and Controversies
The move follows closely on the heels of a $22-million class-action lawsuit filed against OCS, its founders, and the City of Toronto. The lawsuit alleges non-payment of wages, poor treatment of employees, and other violations. Ryan O'Connor, a partner with Taylor Mergui Law Group handling the suit, criticized the city's actions, stating it has "thrown its security contractor under the bus" without disclosing plans to safely operate injection sites, shelters, and warming centres during extreme cold.
OCS, incorporated in 2020, had secured approximately $40 million in contracts with City Hall, not including agreements with other organizations managing shelters on the city's behalf. Despite this, the company has faced controversy, including allegations that CST workers were poorly trained and acted as "bullies," as noted in a review for Ontario's Health Ministry following a fatal shooting incident at the South Riverdale Community Health Centre in 2023.
City's Stance and Community Impact
City Hall has previously promoted the CST program as a key component in ensuring safety within homelessness operations, such as at the Elizabeth Street warming centre near Nathan Phillips Square. In 2024, Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik praised CSTs for making a positive difference in her Spadina-Fort York community, describing them as "effective contributors" to homelessness work with training in mental health and substance use issues.
However, with guards now ordered off the job, the timing is critical as Toronto experiences freezing temperatures, exacerbating challenges for the shelter system. The city's response includes efforts to secure alternative support services, but details remain unclear as requests for comment from OCS, the Ministry of the Solicitor General, Mayor Olivia Chow's office, and third-party shelter operators like Dixon Hall and the St. Felix Centre went unanswered.
This situation highlights ongoing tensions in municipal contracting, worker rights, and public safety, underscoring the complexities of managing homelessness services in a major urban centre like Toronto.
