Key Takeaways:
- The Ford government’s Bill 60 aims to speed up decisions that increase housing supply, but critics argue it will increase housing instability and exacerbate homelessness.
- The bill would block renters from introducing new evidence during Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) hearings and cut appeal times from 30 to 15 days.
- The bill would also eliminate the rule that states landlords must provide a month’s rent in compensation when they evict a tenant for personal use of the property.
- Advocates say the bill would create more homelessness, with approximately 80,000 people already experiencing homelessness in the province, and the number predicted to grow to 300,000 in the next 10 years.
- The opposition NDP says the bill is aimed at getting rid of any rent control in the province and will lead to "mass evictions."
Introduction to the Issue
Hundreds of tenants and housing advocates rallied at Queen’s Park on Saturday, calling on the Ford government to scrap Bill 60, arguing it will increase housing instability and exacerbate homelessness in the province. The bill is aimed at speeding up decisions that increase housing supply, but critics point out that it would have severe consequences for tenants. The rally was attended by tenants, advocates, and community leaders, all of whom are concerned about the impact of the bill on the most vulnerable members of society.
The Impact on Tenants
Critics of the bill argue that it would block renters from introducing new evidence during Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) hearings and cut appeal times from 30 to 15 days. This would make it difficult for tenants to defend themselves against eviction, especially those who are already struggling to make ends meet. Additionally, the bill would eliminate the rule that states landlords must provide a month’s rent in compensation when they evict a tenant for personal use of the property. This would leave tenants without any financial support during a difficult time. As Chiara Padovani, co-chair of the York South-Weston Tenant Union, said, "We are here, we are angry, we are pissed off, and we are scared of what is going to happen to us once this bill passes."
The Consequences of the Bill
Advocates say that the bill would create more homelessness, with approximately 80,000 people already experiencing homelessness in the province, and the number predicted to grow to 300,000 in the next 10 years. The bill would also make it easier for landlords to evict tenants, even if they are only late with their rent payment. As Karen Andrews, a staff lawyer at the Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario, said, "They are going to create messes at the tribunal, there’s gonna be more court work, there’s gonna be more homelessness." The bill would also require tenants to pay 50 per cent of what the landlord is claiming they owe before they can defend themselves at a hearing, which would be a significant burden for many tenants.
The Province’s Response
The province says that the changes contained in the bill would actually entice more people to rent out their properties, increasing housing, while at the same time holding bad apples who abuse the system accountable. In a statement to CityNews, a spokesperson to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing said, "Bill 60 restores balance and rebuilds confidence in Ontario’s rental housing market by protecting responsible tenants that fulfill their responsibilities in their lease agreement while ensuring accountability for those who repeatedly abuse the system and create backlogs at the Landlord Tenant Board." However, advocates argue that this is not a solution to the housing crisis, and that the bill would only serve to exacerbate the problem.
The Opposition’s Response
The opposition NDP says that the bill is aimed at getting rid of any rent control in the province and will lead to "mass evictions." Leader Marit Stiles said, "We’re going to force a debate once again on a number of important protections for tenants, like bringing back rent control, and we’re actually going to try to get the government to repeal the legislation as soon as they pass it." The NDP is committed to fighting the bill and protecting the rights of tenants in the province. As Yarolava Avila Montenegro, the executive director of the Federation of Metro Tenants’ Association, said, "Unlocking housing by throwing people on the street is not a housing solution."
Conclusion
The debate over Bill 60 is a critical one, with significant implications for the future of housing in Ontario. While the province argues that the bill is necessary to increase housing supply, critics argue that it would have devastating consequences for tenants and would only serve to exacerbate the housing crisis. As MPPs prepare to vote on the bill on Monday, it remains to be seen what the outcome will be. One thing is certain, however: the fate of thousands of tenants and the future of housing in Ontario hang in the balance.