Ottawa council rejects tenant elected member for housing board.

OTTAWA -- Ottawa City Council rejected the appointment of a resident elected member to the board of Ottawa Community Housing Corporation, replacing him with the second place finisher.

Ron McCooeye, who was elected by 43 per cent of the votes cast by tenants living in OCHC housing units, had been removed last spring from the corporation board of directors with council's approval, after he filed a complaint against the corporation with the Ontario Municipal Board.

McCooeye was upset by OCHC administrative changes that would have resulted in the loss of two housing units at Foster Farm. McCooeye, who represented Foster Farm residents on the OCHA board, argued that with 12,500 households waiting for affordable housing any loss of units was unacceptable. The OCHC board disagreed and McCooeye filed an OMB challenge.

Although he argued that he was simply doing the job that he was sent to do by the tenants who elected him, the OCHC board accused him of conflict of interest and abdicating his responsibility.

The OMB challenge would cost the corporation about $80,000.

McCooeye's OCHC board colleagues fired him saying that his continued presence would make the board dysfunctional and Ottawa Council agreed. The city is the owner of the housing corporation and must approve the appointment of elected members as well as their dismissal.