In June, 1990, the Toronto Star published a story inside the paper, not on its front page, about how Layton, then a city councillor, and Chow, who was then a public school trustee, lived in a three-bedroom apartment at the federally subsidized Hazelburn Co-operative at Jarvis and Shuter Sts. At the time, Layton earned $61,900 a year as a councillor plus $5,000 as a University of Toronto lecturer. Chow earned $47,000 a year as a trustee. One-third of their salaries was tax-free. Their annual income was double what was considered as a “moderate” family income in Toronto. Provincial co-op housing officials said they knew of no other couple in Ontario living in a co-op unit whose income was as high as Chow and Layton’s. Layton told reporters that earlier in 1990 he had started to voluntarily pay an extra $325 a month to offset his portion of the federal mortgage subsidy for the building. Almost immediately after the story appeared, small groups of protesters started to stage noisy demonstrations outside the co-op building and to demand that Chow and Layton move out. A quick investigation by city officials revealed the couple had done nothing illegal and that in fact co-op buildings were designed to encourage a mix of income levels in order that the apartments weren’t filled with just low-income families. Despite being fully cleared of any wrongdoing, Chow and Layton moved out of the co-op within a month of the article first appearing and into a house they bought together. Allison Gowling The fact is that, while Chow and Layton lived there, that was one more poor family, who did qualify, could not live there because of the King and Queen of Toronto. I could never stand either of them, as they were so arrogant. 19 minutes ago 2 Likes Sumo Sumo Layton was a millionaire at the time...inherited from his father. His salary was not the issue. He (they) were try to foster the image as common folk. Layton always talked with the silver spoon in his mouth. Her qualifications are that she is his widow. 41 minutes ago 1 Like Helix Helix The housing project was designed for mixed use. Moderate and low income residents not for those earning 110,000.00 in 1990 dollars with a third of it tax free and expense accounts. No matter how the story gets told Layton and Chow were living cheaply in a Government subsidized coop housing apartment hat a moderate or low income family could have used.
Posted on: Thu, 13 Mar 2014 11:36:21 +0000