Shouts and slogans echoed through the halls of the Ontario legislature on Monday as officials approved a housing bill criticized for potentially facilitating landlords’ ability to evict tenants.
ACORN Canada, a group advocating for tenants, voiced their opposition from the public gallery at Queen’s Park during the voting process, chanting “People over profits.”
In response to the uproar, Premier Doug Ford urged the crowd to seek employment, and security later cleared the gallery to proceed with the final vote on Bill 60, one of several fast-tracked bills in the fall legislative session that bypassed the committee stage.
ACORN Canada President Alejandra Ruiz-Vargas expressed discontent, stating, “This government has disregarded public sentiment and silenced our voices. Bill 60 is anticipated to exacerbate homelessness, mental health challenges, and despair statewide.”
Critics argued that the bill could expedite evictions and undermine tenants’ defense mechanisms.
Housing Minister Rob Flack defended the legislation, emphasizing the government’s intention to rebalance the landlord-tenant framework while upholding tenant safeguards. Flack contended that the bill aims to streamline housing approvals and expedite home construction by developers.
Despite objections from the gallery, Flack stood by the bill, asserting, “We are striving for equilibrium in the landlord-tenant system, fostering affordability through increased housing availability, leading to reduced rents.”
He also highlighted modifications to the Landlord and Tenant Board to accelerate dispute resolution, aiming to address longstanding delays exacerbated by the pandemic.
Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner criticized the government for bypassing committee hearings, which traditionally allow stakeholders to offer insights and suggestions to enhance legislation before enactment.
Schreiner questioned the government’s approach, stating, “How can you introduce legislation that may force more individuals onto the streets without engaging with those familiar with tenants’ struggles? The recent protests at Queen’s Park and the public outcry reflect the unaffordability of living in Ontario under Doug Ford’s leadership.”
Flack’s bill includes provisions to restrict Toronto from mandating green roofs and revisiting certain environmental regulations, expedite transit-oriented community development, permit minor variances as a matter of right, and facilitate quicker ministerial zoning orders to expedite planning processes.
While emphasizing the government’s commitment to bolstering housing availability, the province has quietly retreated from its target of constructing 1.5 million homes by 2031, a goal on which Flack has remained noncommittal.