Written by: Denise Deveau
Software-based offerings monitor mechanical equipment in buildings to prevent waste and cost.

Sometimes the secret to success lies in taking a less-is-more approach. That’s definitely the case in energy monitoring and management, where startups are finding ways to apply artificial intelligence to manage usage, reduce costs and minimize the need for additional generation capacity.

It all boils down to maximizing the power of data; the more data there is to be had and the more intelligence that is applied to it, the better the outcome.

Parity Inc. in Toronto has already been making significant inroads in tackling the multi-residential, multi-tenant market. CEO Brad Pilgrim says when he spent some time working in the solar energy industry, “I noticed people tended to look on the production side. But I realized, if the need for energy is growing, who is looking at the other end? What are we doing to avoid this growth in energy demand rather than ramping up another industry to fuel it?”

Pilgrim and co-founder Brian MacLeod established Parity in 2016. After six months of product development, they were ready to pilot their software-based offering that monitors mechanical equipment in buildings.

With Parity, artificial intelligence is introduced into a condo building’s HVAC equipment. This central brain pulls data from the controls and sensors on the mechanical equipment, automatically setting controls and sending out commands to make adjustments. There are no upfront costs to customers; payment is realized through guaranteed energy cost savings.

In the first year, they secured 10 projects, generating $1.15 million in sales. The energy savings for developers and property managers has been consistently in the 25- to 40-plus per cent range. One flagship project, Kingsbridge Grand in Mississauga, Ont. realized a savings of $64,536 with a payback of 1.3 years. The project recently won the Alectra Energy Evolution Summit Inspiration Award.

Energy management solutions such as Parity are part of a thriving cleantech industry that is evolving in Canada, says Jon Dogterom, managing director, Cleantech Venture Services at MaRS. “We are definitely punching above our weight in cleantech in a major way. In the Cleantech Group’s January 2018 ranking of the top 100 companies globally, 13 Canadian companies made that list. Based on our size and GDP, it should be less than one. When you look at the cleantech industry globally by country, Canada ranks fourth. Some Scandinavian countries are rated ahead, but not by much.”

There are two big drivers pushing the cleantech agenda, he says. First is the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. “Going after electrical, heating and cooling is a big portion of that. The second driver is the continual rise of residential energy prices and the need to save costs for consumer.”

The advent of AI has been truly disruptive, Dogterom says. “We now have the ability to do things with data and AI that cleantech couldn’t really do before. Also, the ability to use software is not as capital intensive as investments in cleantech have been traditionally. It’s low cost and scalable, which is appealing to developers, builders and utilities.”

Software is … low cost and scalable, which is appealing to developers, builders and utilities

Jon Dogterom, Cleantech Venture Services
Ecotagious in Vancouver is another energy-saving innovator that has been growing. The company works primarily with utilities and energy retailers to deliver measurable saving results for residential consumers.

Bruce Townson, CEO, who co-founded Ecotagious with Mike Walsh, says they started the company in 2010 with the idea of using data that was being generated by newly introduced smart meters.

Utilities and energy retailers pay for the service on a subscription basis. The solution disaggregates the data generated by smart meters based on the individual signatures of major appliances. With the findings, utilities can then advise residential customers on how they can better manage their energy usage.

Since AI has come into the mix, analysis is more granular than ever, Townson says. “AI helps us optimize the findings and identify more appliance loads more accurately.” As technology evolves, they are integrating additional data streams such as weather conditions and smart thermostats to produce even more detailed findings.

This insight is crucial in an industry that is being mandated to meet energy savings targets and keep the average price of electricity down, he says. “If they can reduce existing demand, it minimizes their requirements to build new generation capacity.”

Today Ecotagious’ client list stretches across Canada and into California, Idaho, Connecticut, Australia and New Zealand. The momentum is continuing for the foreseeable future, Townson says. “We have been doubling every year for the past couple of years and plan to keep doing that for the next five.”

The best part, he says, is that it’s effortless for the consumer. “It’s incredibly compelling because people don’t want to think more about energy use. They want it taken care of for them.”

Many areas in an apartment or condominium complex call for special caution and awareness not always required in single family dwellings. Many contributing factors to crime and safety are beyond the apartment dweller’s immediate control. Most landlords/managers are sensitive and responsive to the needs of their tenants. When you, the apartment dweller, are confronted by an unsafe situation beyond your control, notify the landlord/manager immediately. Managers have a responsibility to provide a safe, crime-free environment for their tenants if it is within their means to do so. More and more, the courts are upholding this responsibility on behalf of tenants when managers have failed to take all reasonable precautions in providing a safe, crime-free environment for their tenants.

APARTMENT BUILDING SAFETY
• Always make sure that your apartment has been re-keyed prior to moving in.
• Know your neighbors. Learn to recognize and report suspicious circumstances to your local law enforcement agency.
• All exterior hinged doors should be of solid core construction and fitted with deadbolt locks and peephole viewers. It is extremely important that door locks are kept in good working order. Notify the manager immediately if the locks malfunction.
• Use auxiliary locking devices on sliding glass doors and windows. Information as to the best techniques and locking devices can be obtained from the Crime Prevention Unit at your local Police Station. The Crime Prevention unit will send a Crime Prevention Specialist to your apartment at no charge to explain which methods of home security and protection are best for you.
• Never open your door to a stranger. If a stranger wants to use your phone for an emergency, offer to make the call for them while they remain outside the locked door.
• Both interior and exterior lighting is extremely important to building security. All walkways, doorways, hallways and parking areas must have sufficient illumination to facilitate recognition at a safe distance.
• Be cautious in and around elevators. If you are at all suspicious of another passenger, wait for the next elevator. When you do get in, stand near the elevator controls.
• If you suspect someone is trying to break into your apartment, call 9-1-1 immediately. Have your exact address and apartment number written on or near your phone.

WHEN YOU GO OUT
• Lock all doors and windows. Never leave notes on your door.
• Connect lamps and radios to timers in different rooms of your apartment to give the impression that someone is at home.
• Never leave a hidden key outside your apartment. Burglars are wise to this and know all the “secret hiding places” for hidden keys.
• Don’t leave expensive or tempting articles visible through your window.
• If you arrive home and suspect a stranger is inside, don’t go in! Go to a neighbor’s (or the manager’s) apartment and call the Police Department at 9-1-1.

LAUNDRY ROOMS
Laundry rooms offer significant problems in the area of theft and personal safety because they are often located in dark isolated areas and residents are often alone inside. A safe laundry room will incorporate the following features:
• Good lighting is essential to increase visibility and decrease a criminal’s chance of concealment.
• Whenever possible use the buddy system when going to the laundry room.
• Routes to the laundry room should clearly visible to other residents, especially during the hours of darkness. Shrubbery and bushes must be kept trimmed to ensure that clear visibility is maintained.
• Hours of use for laundry rooms can help in avoiding abuse of the facility (transient use and theft of clothing.)
• Rules should be established and adhered to regarding proper use of the facility.
• The laundry room must be kept clean and well maintained.
• The door of the laundry room should be of solid construction and capable of being locked from the inside and must include authorized panic hardware. Any glass within 40 inches of the locking mechanism should be covered with an expandable metal type mesh or grill work to prevent breaking the glass and unlocking the door.
• A large convex mirror can be placed in such a manner as to allow a person about to enter the laundry room an unobstructed view of the interior to see in some is lurking inside.

VEHICLE PARKING AREAS
Many apartment dwellers are not afforded the luxury of being provided single unit garages in which to park their vehicles. This situation is made even worse by not being able to park their vehicles near their individual apartment units. These and other factors contribute to apartment dwellers becoming more vulnerable to the crimes of auto theft, vehicle burglary and assault.
• Vehicle parking areas must be well lighted at night and located so as to provide maximum visibility from the apartment units.
• Do not number individual parking spaces with the same number as the apartments. Burglars note when tenants leave a parking space and then target the apartment numbered on the space.
• Never leave valuables in plain sight in your vehicles.
• Use car alarms, auxiliary locking devices, and fuel/ignition cut-off switches to prevent auto thefts and auto burglaries.
• When using multi-level parking garages, avoid dark, isolated areas. Report any persons who appear to have no purpose or reason for being in the parking area to the manager immediately.
• Always lock your vehicle no matter where you park and take your keys with you.

POOL, RECREATION, AND OTHER COMMON AREAS
• Avoid these areas if not well lighted during the hours of darkness.
• Leave purses, billfolds and other valuables in your locked apartment when using these common areas.
• Do not enter when strange or suspicious people are loitering about. Tell your manager immediately.
​• Restrict access to these areas to tenants and invited guests only.

By: Naseem S. Miller Contact Reporter
Orlando Sentinel

Florida Hospital will soon deploy its newest security department employees — effortlessly adorable gunpowder-sniffing canines — across all of its Central Florida campuses. The dogs are part of the health system’s new three-tiered security force, conceived partly as a result of the Pulse shooting tragedy and other mass shooting incidents across the country. “We’re a large hospital system, and there are multiple goals we’re trying to meet,” said Eric Stevens, senior executive officer of acute care service at Florida Hospital, overseeing the eight Central Florida campuses. “We want to create an environment that’s easy to use, friendly and open in a world that’s changing, while keeping our patients safe.”

Florida Hospital’s efforts are part of the changing face of security in health care, which has mostly been in the background. Violence against hospital staff is not a new issue, but the type of violence and threats within the hospital walls are a direct reflection of what happens in the community, experts say. “If you talk to security professionals, most say that these needs have been there for years,” said Alan Butler, president-elect of International Association for Healthcare Security and Safety. “But what’s happening in the society has exacerbated it and brought it to the forefront.”

Although there are guidelines and recommendations for hospital security, they’re somewhat broad. And health systems take different approaches. Also, unlike some quality initiatives, security measures are not reimbursed, and they’re expensive to implement. “Security is a cost center, said Butler. “Some organizations invest more than others, but its a balancing act.”

Most available information seems to show that a health system’s security measures are mostly driven by what’s happening in the community. “They seem to be less proactive, and more reactive,” said Loretta Forlaw, assistant professor of nursing at University of Central Florida who is studying security trends in health care settings. Local hospitals are no exception.

Soon after the Pulse tragedy, Orlando Health, which received the bulk of the victims after the shooting, limited the number of entryways to its downtown hospitals and placed permanent security personnel and metal detectors at each entrance.  Nemours placed a uniformed Orlando Police officer on its campus, with a police cruiser parked in a visible location.  “The world around us is changing,” said Randy Hartley, chief operating officer at Nemours, in a 2017 interview. “Violence seems to be less and less of an exception.”

Florida Hospital has invested $3.5 million in bolstering its security measures since Pulse, said Stevens. Some of the measures are more visible to the public than others. The health system now has 2,500 cameras installed across its Central Florida facilities. It’s equipped the security guards with metal detectors, and by late April, it’s launching a mass notification system for all employees, an initiative that’s also been undertaken by Orlando Health.

More than a dozen security personnel, specially trained to identify potential threats, will soon start monitor Florida Hospital’s campuses wearing inconspicuous business attire.  Another 150 uniformed officers will be equipped with batons, pepper sprays and body cameras by late February. And around the same time, half-a-dozen canines, trained to detect gunpowder, will start patrolling the facilities.  The health system is planning to have at least a dozen canines across its Central Florida campuses by the end of this year.

The Department of Homeland Security mandated new security measures for airlines flying to the U.S., stepping back from a broader ban on traveling with laptops. DHS officials said Wednesday that new requirements will include enhanced screening of passengers and their belongings at foreign airports and new protocols for planes while they are on the ground there. Regulators and airlines overseas said they would study the mandate and work together to keep flights safe.

Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly outlined the new standards in a speech in Washington, where he said that terrorists are working hard to bring down aircraft and that the government must respond by increasing defensive measures. “It is time that we raise the global baseline of aviation security. We cannot play international Whac-A-Mole with each new threat,” he said.  Mr. Kelly added that various requirements, which will affect 180 airlines operating from 280 airports in 105 countries, can be “dialed up and down” depending on the threat. He said they would be enacted over the “next several weeks and months.”

In March, DHS banned personal electronic devices from the cabins of aircraft flying to the U.S. from 10 airports in the Middle East and North Africa. The agency feared that terrorists could smuggle explosives inside a laptop or tablet past security and set off the device in the cabin when the plane is aloft.  Airlines complained such a ban would disrupt their operations and inconvenience their passengers. Some airlines and industry experts also warned that storing more laptops powered by lithium batteries in the cargo hold raised the risk of an undetected fire.

Mr. Kelly had previously suggested a wider ban affecting flights from Europe, or affecting all flights to and from the U.S. The stricter protocols outlined on Wednesday would preclude a wider ban and lift the in-cabin electronics prohibition at the 10 affected airports if officials there enact the new measures. The rules would affect nearly 2,000 flights carrying some 325,000 passengers a day, DHS officials said.

The European Union is “carefully assessing these new security measures,” Transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc said. Europe would continue to work with the U.S. to bolster protection of air travel, Ms. Bulc said. The EU has held weeks of talks with the U.S. amid concern the laptop ban could be expanded to European airports.  Responsibility for airport security checks in Europe falls to government not airlines. Deutsche Lufthansa AG said it was working with its relevant authorities to assure compliance with the new U.S. requirements, a spokesman said. There is no impact for passengers on the use of laptops, tablets or other electronics on flights to the U.S.

The International Air Transport Association, which lobbied heavily against the ban, said it welcomed the U.S. action and said it improved security. Still, the lobby group’s Director General Alexandre de Juniac struck a note of caution. He said “the aggressive timeline” would be “challenging.”  Airlines or airports that don’t comply may be subject to a ban on large electronic devices or possibly be barred from flying to the U.S. altogether, Mr. Kelly said Wednesday at a conference sponsored by the Center for a New American Security. But he said he expected that all parties will be able and willing to meet the new standards.

Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly said in a speech that various requirements can be ‘dialed up and down’ depending on the threat. Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly said in a speech that various requirements can be ‘dialed up and down’ depending on the threat. PHOTO: JIM LO SCALZO/EUROPEAN PRESSPHOTO AGENCY
Mr. Kelly said the agency would work with its overseas partners to put the mandate in place. U.S. officials met with their European counterparts in Brussels this week to discuss aviation security.

Delta Air Lines Inc. said Wednesday that it is working with the government to implement the new measures and minimize their impact on customers.  Qatar Airways Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker last week invited U.S. officials to audit his airline’s Doha hub, which is affected by the ban. “It would be really impossible for somebody to pass explosives [on board] in their laptops and iPads,” he said.  Tim Clark, president of Emirates Airline, whose Dubai hub has been affected by the March laptop ban, said last week that the airport was ready to make any upgrades the U.S. demanded. Emirates Airline is the largest airline by international traffic.

DHS said the new measures, which could also include more sophisticated baggage screening technology and wider use of canine units, are designed to limit inconvenience to fliers. Officials are encouraging foreign airports to enroll in a preclearance program that allows passengers to be screened abroad by Customs and Border Protection agents before heading to the U.S.

Wall Street Journal
Laura Meckler, Valentina Pop 
and Robert Wall  contributed to this article.

​As a renter, your security concerns are unique. Living in close proximity to other tenants, as well as the high volume of foot traffic in your complex, means your apartment may have an increased risk of intrusion and burglary. This guide offers tips to consider when choosing an apartment, and suggestions for keeping the place safe after you've signed the lease.


Before Moving InBefore deciding on a new residence, it is important to consider security. Follow these guidelines before signing a lease to help protect yourself and your family.

1. Research Local CrimeWhen you think you've found your dream apartment, check local crime data in its vicinity. Make sure you know about any troubling activities in the area before committing to a lease. Talk to the local police and your future landlord and neighbors to get an honest picture of what life will be like in your new place. Websites like CrimeReports.com, CrimeMapping.com, and SpotCrime.com can give you a good idea of the local crime history in almost any community.
   
2. Test LightingRobbers and intruders prefer to sneak around in poorly-lit or dark areas. Therefore, when considering an apartment, check the entrances, hallways, walkways, parking areas, elevators, stairways, mail areas, and laundry rooms to make sure they have enough lighting at night. If not, talk to your landlord about getting more lights installed or consider installing your own motion sensor lights around the entrances of your unit. The fewer places an offender has to hide, the safer you'll be.
   
3. Observe General UpkeepTake in the general look and feel of your new place. Broken windows, cracked drywall, or water stains could show a lack of concern from the landlord. Check to see if the lawn and landscaping are well-kept. If the landlord can't take care of basic maintenance, he or she probably isn't concerned with general security.
   
4. Check Apartment EntrancesWhen looking at apartments, consider the security of the building. Many times, an outside entry door will require a key, pass code, or buzz-in to access the hallways and doors of the actual apartments. This way, residents control who can approach their apartment door, reducing loitering, break-ins, and solicitors.
   
5. Try the PeepholeA peephole can keep you and your family safe by allowing you to see who's at your door before you open it. If your door does not have a peephole, inquire about having one installed before you move in. When a questionable character is at your door, a peephole will help you and your children avoid any compromising situations. Installing a smart doorbell camera is another option, depending on the type of apartment complex you live in. Smart doorbells allow you to see who is visiting your apartment through your smartphone, so you don’t even need to get up if you discover it’s a solicitor.
   
6. Get New Door LocksReplacing your locks reduces the risk of unwanted persons being able to access your new place. Many landlords say they've replaced the locks, but sometimes apartment managers will just rotate the old locks between apartments, and extra keys are not always returned. When you move into new housing, you never know how many keys have gone missing or how many previous tenants may still have keys. Ask your landlord about having your locks replaced with brand new locks, not redistributed old ones. Don't risk somebody being able to return to your apartment with an old key.
   
7. Examine Window LocksGood window locks keep intruders from gaining easy access to your residence. This is especially true for windows on the ground level, but all windows should be properly checked—you'd be surprised how determined burglars can be. Treat all windows as potential entry points, and make sure all window locks are working properly and cannot be manipulated from the outside.
   
8. Note Fire EscapesIn apartment complexes, exterior fire escapes can be lifesavers during an emergency, but their access to windows and balconies can also attract burglars. If your apartment has a fire escape, make sure it is stored properly off the ground, so intruders can't reach your apartment.
   

After Moving InOnce you've found your dream apartment, keep your family and valuables safe with ongoing security measures.

1. Buy Additional LocksFor added safety, consider installing a deadbolt and chain lock if your door doesn't already have them. A deadbolt is more secure and difficult to pick than a standard doorknob lock, because the deadbolt only opens by rotating the lock cylinder, whereas a spring bolt lock can be retracted by applying force to the bolt itself. Additionally, a chain lock provides an extra layer of security when opening your door, allowing you to open your door a crack to talk to a stranger or ask for identification, before opening up completely.
   
2. Bolster Sliding DoorsBalcony doors are great for sunshine and views, but they can pose a hazard if they are not properly secured. An unsecured sliding door can provide an intruder with a relatively untraceable and quiet entrance to your place. While it's important to always lock your balcony door when it's not in use, many sliding doors have inadequate locks and come off their tracks with just a nudge. For optimal security, make sure to arm your sliding door with an inside bar lock or a pole on the track. You can also install a secondary locking mechanism with a metal pin inserted through the doorframe and into the sliding door.
   
3. Invest in Good BlindsGood blinds may prevent robbers from looking inside your home and being tempted by all the valuables they see. Install blinds that completely block the view from outside, and make sure to close them when you go out. That way, you'll keep wandering eyes from scanning your valuables and reduce your risk of break-ins.
   
4. Use a SafeA safe can be a last line of defense to protect your most valuable and irreplaceable possessions. Items such as jewelry, cash, firearms, and sensitive documents can be locked away in a fireproof case. Safes come in all sizes and range in price from under $100 to thousands of dollars. Find a safe that fits your budget and needs, and talk to your landlord about bolting it to a floor or wall, so a burglar can't pick it up and take it. While a safe can't guarantee the absolute protection of your property, it can be effective at hiding items from thieves who are just looking to grab valuables in plain sight and escape quickly.
   
5. Get Renters InsuranceRenters insurance will protect the value of your possessions in case they are stolen or destroyed by a disaster. Your landlord may have an insurance policy, but those generally only cover the building you live in, not your personal belongings. Many insurance companies offer policies specifically for renters that run about $20 a month and cover all your property at the full replacement cost. Renters insurance can also protect you in case of a liability lawsuit where you are deemed responsible for the damage of another tenant's property. You may think you don't own very much, but consider the cost of replacing everything you own in the event of a theft, fire, or severe weather. If you wouldn't be able to recover from the loss, then renters insurance is a good option.
   
6. Install a Security SystemRenters are 85% more likely to experience a home invasion than those who own their homes, and while many security companies won't sell to renters, some will. In the past, security systems were not renter-friendly due to an intrusive installation process, but now renters have several options:
   

FrontPoint SecurityOnce you buy the 100% wireless system it's your to take with you to your next residence at no charge.
LifeShield SecurityAny home, anywhere. No wires or installation technician. Easy to set up.
SimpliSafe Home Security SystemsNo wires, no phone, no contracts.
For additional help look at our reviews of the best security systems.
When renting an apartment, take your safety into your own hands and make sure to explore all your security options. Don't let your landlord dictate the safety of your apartment. Instead, work with your landlord to make sure your residence is secure, and take personal steps to keep it that way.

​As Toronto and the GTA continues to expand, developers are constantly building to keep up with the expanding population. With the housing market boom still in effect, more and more people are turning to condominiums as a more affordable living option; because of this, there has never been such a high need for quality and efficient condo property management companies in Toronto.
For both condo property managers and residents, security is a main concern. Toronto has the lowest crime rate in Canada compared to other major cities;  While it is generally seen as a safe city, residents still want to feel safe in their homes knowing that intruders aren’t regularly able to gain access to the building. There are several things that condo property management companies in Toronto, such as Mareka PM, can do to ensure a condo is safe and secure for its residents.
Rules and RegulationsThe rules, regulations, and bylaws for a condominium will vary in different cities and provinces, but they are all in place to provide safety and security measures for residents. Some of these rules and regulations include determining which common areas guests have access to, providing security personnel, and making sure that all check-in procedures for visitors are clear to the residents.
It is the responsibility of condo property management companies to work with the board of directors and ensure that all residents are given a copy of the rules and regulations before they move into the building. The property manager is also responsible for notifying all residents of any changes in policies or procedures.  These security procedures are in place so as to prevent intruders from gaining access into the building. When these procedures are not followed, it creates more opportunities for thefts, break-ins, and other incidents.
Proper Guidelines for GuestsSome condos have specific procedures for allowing guests into the building, and the property manager will ensure that these procedures are followed. If your condo employees security guards at the door who accept sign-ins from visitors, your residents should know if they are required to let the security guards know if you are expecting guests. Implementing sign-in procedures is an effective precaution for keeping intruders out of the building.
Manage Keys and Access CardsDepending on the condo, you may have a few different keys or swipe cards to access different areas in the building. These include the key for unit doors, exterior doors, key cards for the gym or laundry facilities, and keys for storage areas or mailboxes. These keys should be kept secure and not be leant to unauthorized individuals. In addition, if residents lose their keys, they should know how to contact the condo property manager so that measures can be taken to ensure residents’ safety. This can include issuing new keys or changing locks.

​
Residents have the right to invite anyone they want to their suite or townhouse. Receiving guests is easier in townhouses because all that guests have to do is knock on your door. But if a townhouse belongs to a gated development, guests may have to be announced by the gatekeeper, just as is the case in a high rise: The gatekeeper may phone to have confirmation that the persons arriving are guests. 
These are simply measures of security that prevent all kinds of people from disturbing residents’ privacy.
Unexpected and Unwanted Guests Residents often complain that their guests arrive at their door sooner than expected or are not even invited.
One family was giving a small party for an aunt’s birthday. One distant cousin who had not been invited made his way to their suite unannounced and found the women in the middle of a cooking and baking frenzy, all wearing bathing suits! He had arrived on the wrong day. In the lobby, he had told the concierge that he was the XXXs’ cousin and, “by the way, I forgot their suite number.” The nice young man at the security desk gave it to him. The residents were mortified and justifiably upset, considering their religious beliefs about women’s proper attire in men’s presence.
Concierge and security personnel should never give a resident’s phone or suite number to anyone. In fact, they should not even acknowledge that X or Y is a resident of the complex, unless warranted.
What should the security staff have done? Simply ask the guest to give the name of the residents he was visiting. At that point, the security person can phone the resident to ask about this guest; but the “guest” should not see the phone number.
One woman in her mid fifties had a new male friend who had visited her during afternoons. The security lady had by then become familiar with the friend’s appearance and could recognize him. One day, the gentleman arrived, did not buzz the unit, but followed in behind a resident. The lady at the desk intercepted him and he chided her, using his considerable charm, “You know me.” So, blushing, she let him go.
Five minutes later, a resident phoned to say that there were screams on that floor. The superintendent was dispatched only to find the lady trying to throw the man out of her suite and into the elevator with the help of another gentleman. As it turns out, she had broken up with the first man and he had been harassing her to such an extent that she had had to change her phone number. Now, she feared for her safety.
The above situation could have ended tragically.
In other words, not all guests are expected nor are all guests wanted.
Guests and Parking Some condos have a fairly small area for visitors’ parking while others can accommodate 30 cars. When expecting a visitor who will need a parking permit, a resident may go to the desk and obtain one ahead of time if the plate number, the color and make of the car are known. Or guests can provide this information when they arrive. At that point, the desk should phone the unit to authenticate the guest.
In other words, the concierge does not give parking permits to anyone who claims to be a guest. Guests have to prove that they “belong” to a unit.  “Guests” just can’t be anyone off the street who is in need of a parking spot.
Day and overnight parking may require different parking permits, each with its own colour. Overnight stays of more than 3 days may have to be approved by the manager. Furthermore, many condos set a limit of 9 to 11 night parking permits per car per suite or per guest per suite.
This procedure prevents residents who are not registered with management from passing as guests. This is particularly important for condos that have an occupancy standard by-law or insufficient guest parking. 
POSTED BY THE CONDO INFORMATION CENTER. 

​There are 6,000 condo and apartment units in the GTA being rented out by the night under the radar from condo and insurance corporation, licencing and zoning officials, and tax collectors, according to the Greater Toronto Hotel Association (GTHA).
“There’s no doubt the vast majority are in condominiums, there are a significant amount in the downtown core, some apartment complexes as well,” Terry Mundell, with the GTHA, explains. “Clearly these places should not be allowed to rent for transient accommodation, that’s stays less than 30 days, because that’s a hotel.”
But they are being rented out – skirting condominium corporation rules, and taking advantage of regulatory and legislative loopholes that haven’t caught up with the sharing economy, Mundell said.
It’s a practice that became mainstream thanks to websites like AirBnB, but has since expanded.
The marketplace has evolved to the point where businesses buy units in multiple complexes across the city, and lease them out by the night. Several travel websites like Booking.com and Hotel.com have hundreds of listings available, searchable by postal code.
One woman who lives in a waterfront condo building, but doesn’t want her name published, said at least a dozen units in her building are listed on these sites.
“Because they aren’t owners, they don’t care if they damage the property or break condo rules. That is a concern,” she explained.
The practice is also a growing concern for residents of 300 Front Street West, the condominium in the entertainment district that became the site of a gangland war last month.
Shots were fired and two men were kidnapped from the building, which has several listings for units on travel websites.
Mundell said hotels are subject to far greater controls than condos.
“The regulatory environment we deal with, and I mean we deal with everything from the Fire Marshal’s Act, to beverage and food handling, to security guard training and WSIB training,” he explained. “Then there’s the taxes issue.”
The City of Toronto doesn’t licence private hotels and they aren’t zoned. A report on dealing with these temporary accommodations is expected at city council later this year.
Although owners pay property taxes, they aren’t necessarily charging tax on their rentals or paying income tax on the money they earn. They also aren’t paying commercial or hotel-level property taxes to the City.
Mundell said Toronto hotelliers have the third highest property tax rate in North America, which is about $4,300 per room. He added that hotels contribute about $140-million a year in property taxes alone.
Last fall the provincial government announced a Sharing Economy Advisory Committee. The group was created to look at how the province could introduce regulations and ensure taxes are being paid.
“We have to do our utmost to ensure that we provide protection for the ones using the services, but as well, existing businesses,” Finance Minister Charles Sousa said. “There’s a responsibility for everybody to pay their fair share through the process. That’s why we are taking the steps that we are.”
One major step is a pilot project with AirBnB, where owners are sent messages reminding them to claim the income. That practice isn’t being shared with Booking.com or Hotels.com listers. Both companies refused to comment on how they vet, charge, or tax their users.
As well, Progressive Conserviative MPP Tim Hudak introduced a private-members bill that would create some regulatory framework for the sharing economy last year.
He said the government has been slow to react to the emergence of many aspects of the “sharing revolution”, creating confusion and chaos.
“I don’t know where Kathleen Wynne and her finance minister Charles Sousa have been, they’ve been absentee landlords,” Hudak said. “It seems to be pretty simple. Let’s do what other jurisdictions have done.”
“Standardized legislation will make it consistent across the province and more importantly, give us more choice as consumers,” he continued.
A key component of any legislation would have to include insurance.
Many condo owners renting out their homes for the night don’t have proper insurance to cover any damages caused by or to guests, according to the Insurance Bureau of Canada’s Pete Karageorgos.
“Typically your policy will cover family members who are staying over in your home, your condo, in your apartment. It’s when you start renting it out to strangers … as soon as you start operating commercial activities, you need to get the right insurance in place,” Karageorgos explained.
“You may not have coverage for certain events or you may not have coverage if something goes wrong. Something as small as a pipe that bursts or someone stealing something.”

Police say they believe the rise in shooting deaths is partly due to criminals carrying their guns instead of hiding them in secure places.
"It's a considerable increase in homicides," Staff Inspector Greg McLane of Toronto Police's homicide squad said Tuesday.
"It's hard to say whether there are more guns out there, but I'm of the belief that more people are carrying their guns. I ask myself this question: why do street gang and criminal lifestyle people feel they can walk around in communities in the city without fear of being stopped by police?"
McLane said he thinks people previously stored their guns for easy access, including in such unlikely places as trees and diaper bags, but now they are more likely to keep them on their persons.
He said if people start carrying their guns, then it means other people have to start carrying their firearms.
Police say a 'speedy arrest' was made in a double shooting in Scarborough because of information obtained from the public. (Jonathan Castell/CBC)
The guns may be stolen, loaned for specific reasons, bought and sold, or may be coming in from the U.S., he said. 
He acknowledged that many shootings in the city could involve street gangs and people who have criminal lifestyles.
McLane said fatal shootings can be harder for police to solve than murders involving other types of weapons, or those involving domestic disputes, because there is less contact between the assailant and victim at the time of death. 
Co-operation from the public makes all the difference, McLane said.
For example, he said information gleaned from the public and from surrounding infrastructure enabled police to make a "speedy arrest" in the double murder outside a shopping mall in the Ellesmere Road and Victoria Park Avenue area Friday night.
Joseph Anzolona, 26, and Cynthia Mullapudi, 24, were both shot multiple times at close range as they sat in the back seat of an SUV in a parking lot near an LCBO. Police arrested a 24-year-old man and charged him with two counts of first-degree murder.
"Every murder speaks for itself. They are all different," McLane said. "But the level of cooperation from the public in that case was excellent."

​Royal Bank says glut of new units may combine with unsold existing ones to cause a problem laterBy Pete Evans, CBC News Posted: May 27, 2016 10:26 AM ET Last Updated: May 27, 2016 1:32 PM ET

​Canada's biggest bank has sounded the alarm about overbuilding in Toronto's condo boom, saying the level of new units coming online coupled with existing ones that are yet to sell have the market in 'high risk' territory.
In a report Friday, economists Robert Hogue and Craig Wright wave a red flag about activity in the condominium segment in many cities, but single out Toronto with being especially problematic.
In the first quarter of 2016, there were almost six new condo units under construction across the country for every 1,000 people, just off an all-time high hit in 2014. "This level is well into the high risk zone," the bank says, which it defines as anything about 4.5 condos under construction per 1,000 people.

• Toronto condo rents jump, driven by higher prices to own
• Condo buyers caught off guard by sky high closing costs

The bank credits most of the surge in the national figure with the Toronto market, where condo construction now makes up one-third of all types of new home construction.
So far, the booming market in Canada's largest city has been able to absorb all those new units, as there's still strong demand for housing in the downtown core. Should that change down the line, the sheer volume of new units will cause problems in the entire market.
"High levels of construction entails the risk that many units may reach the completed stage at once, thereby flooding the condo resale and/or rental markets," the bank said.
Those new units come on top of a glut of existing unsold condos, which have inched up to concerning levels in recent months.
As this chart from Royal Bank's report shows, the level of condo construction in Toronto has come down from recent highs but is still in the range that the bank considers problematic. (Royal Bank of Canada)
In Toronto, the amount of unsold but finished condos fell from a 22-year high of 0.58 units per 1,000 population in May 2015 to 0.28 units in April 2016, but both figures are still in the range the bank calls "modest excess supply" which is anything  between 0.27 and 0.42.
The bank looked at segments of the housing market all over the country, and, all in all, found little of concern. But the condo market was singled out for being a possible danger in every major city the bank looked at, including the four biggest housing markets of Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal and Calgary.
While Toronto was deemed the biggest threat, the bank said the sheer volume of condos coming down the pipeline could pose problems in almost every market.
"The prospects for high levels of condo completions in the period ahead in markets such as Toronto, Montreal and Calgary maintain above-average absorption risks," Royal Bank said.