A $22-million lawsuit has been filed against the City of Toronto and its security contractor, One Community Solutions, alleging widespread labour violations and a disturbing pattern of neglect. At the heart of the case is a claim that the city either knowingly allowed, or deliberately ignored, the exploitation of vulnerable workers.
The lawsuit paints a grim picture of One Community Solutions as a “sham corporation,” allegedly used to mask financial misconduct by its directors. Reports of unpaid wages and harsh treatment of employees have been surfacing, now culminating in formal legal action and prompting at least two government investigations.
Ibrahim Idriss, a Toronto resident and the lead plaintiff in the class-action suit, embodies the struggle. He worked as a Community Safety Team (CST) member, patrolling some of the city’s most challenging environments – homeless shelters, drug injection sites, and encampments – all while striving to provide for his family.
Idriss’s work was far from easy. He routinely faced exposure to overdoses, violence, and the heartbreaking realities of a city grappling with a crisis. He witnessed traumatic events, including encountering deceased individuals, yet remained dedicated to his role in public safety and assisting those in need.
Despite his commitment, Idriss and his colleagues were allegedly subjected to grueling conditions. Workers routinely clocked upwards of 100 hours per week, often with little to no break between shifts, and faced wage deductions for even minor delays. The lawsuit alleges a systematic failure to pay overtime, premium wages, and even pandemic pay.
When Idriss bravely raised concerns about these violations of Ontario’s Employment Standards Act, he was allegedly fired. His story, the lawsuit argues, is representative of a larger pattern of exploitation targeting racialized workers, newcomers to Canada, refugees, and recent immigrants.
The lawsuit doesn’t stop at OCS, asserting that the City of Toronto exercised “comprehensive control” over the CSTs and was fully aware of the alleged abuses. It claims the city “wilfully blinded itself” to the systemic failures, continuing to expand OCS’s contracts without proper oversight or audits.
The allegations extend to claims that OCS deliberately diverted funds to other entities, described as “sham” corporations, raising questions about the true nature of the company’s operations and the motivations of its leadership. This alleged scheme further underscores the severity of the accusations.
The suit seeks $15 million in damages for wrongful dismissal, unpaid wages, and negligence, alongside $2 million for Occupational Health and Safety Act violations and an additional $5 million in punitive damages. It anticipates representing a class of 500 to 1,000 individuals who worked as CSTs between March 2020 and the filing of the lawsuit.
Since its inception in 2020, OCS has secured over $40 million in contracts with the City of Toronto, highlighting the scale of the relationship and the potential impact of these allegations on the city’s approach to community safety and social services.
