R. Flannagan responds that in 2019 the university held a social media campaign to kick off the new website that provides education about being a good neighbour and their tenant’s rights. They talked about the potential of doing a walkabout in the community, dropping off flyers, and to do more engaging activities to help students understand what their rights and obligations are in terms of being a good neighbour in the community. They appreciate the concerns of the community with landlords going in and buying homes and turning them into rentals for students. In terms of the behavior of their students and the issues with parties, it has been on the decline for several years.

M. Silvaggi advises that from an education perspective, orientation is their first and foremost means of getting to the students upon their arrival. As the majority of their students come from India, they are actually showing orientation sessions live in India. They have partners who fly to India and outline the Canadian experience done on a face to face basis so they are getting that communication out to students. They have significant collaboration with many religious organizations and external organizations to help facilitate educational exercises. St. Clair College was on the verge of starting a campaign with their student representatives which touted getting their students into the community to help with clean-up. This campaign was put on hold due to COVID.

J. Fairley adds that the campaign was called “Community Saints Concept” where there are areas in the community they would step up and help if the landlords were not doing certain things. He notes the foodbanks have been very important to the international students.

A. Richardson states he has been working with R. Flannagan in some of these initiatives and he commends the University of Windsor website. He asks about the on-going education efforts relating to weekly or monthly e-mail blasts and inquires if a list of topics can be provided to the Committee. He also asks if surveys are being done on an ongoing or periodic basis that address students’ rights, i.e. if students know they are allowed by the Residential Tenancy Act to decline paying their rental fees in advance. Do the students know that there is a City of Windsor By-law for vital services which mandates the landlord to provide heat, hot water and electricity, and if there is a problem to call 311. If an inspector comes to the premises, the landlord cannot prevent that inspector from entering the residence. He notes a survey would go to some of these questions.

R. Flannagan responds that a list of topics noted in their weekly newsletter will be provided. In terms of a survey, he guesses that the results of a survey would indicate the knowledge of their students pertaining to their rights as tenants is quite low.

A. Richardson indicates that it has been quiet for parties, however, that does not mean that there are no parties, in fact there have been several recently. It is his understanding that the university does not have any interest in going after house parties and questions if their position has changed.

R. Flannagan responds in terms of parties, it is the University’s position that off-campus parties are not things that they get involved in, i.e. Campus Police going to an