Protesters chanted “people over profits” in the legislature’s public galleries Monday after Premier Doug Ford’s government passed a bill critics say will favour landlords over tenants.
Ford himself shouted “go find a job” as officers from the Legislative Protective Service intervened to eject protesters from the chamber, where MPPs had just finished the daily question period. As protesters continued chanting, the sergeant-at-arms made the rare decision to order the public galleries cleared.
The vote on Bill 60 — the “Fighting Delays and Building Faster Act” introduced a month ago — followed controversial moves by the Progressive Conservatives to fast-track it by limiting debate and skipping public hearings.
Housing Minister Rob Flack defended the bill, saying it streamlines housing and road construction and limits “bad actors” from abusing the Landlord and Tenant Board, among other measures.
“I heard it … but I don’t agree with it,” he told reporters, referring to criticisms from the public galleries that included one man blowing a whistle and accusing the government of “putting people in the streets” and a woman shouting “evict Doug Ford.”
“Every protection is in place that was there before,” Flack added. “This is about bringing balance, restoring balance and creating more supply, frankly, to get lower rents in this province.”
Tenant groups said they remain concerned about the bill’s intent, noting the government already backtracked following an uproar over provisions in the original version that would have allowed landlords to evict tenants when leases expire.
Bill 60 sets the stage for faster evictions and will result in more homelessness, said Alejandra Ruiz-Vargas of ACORN, a group representing tenants.
“It won’t just target so-called ‘bad apples,’ it will hit seniors, people with disabilities, single parents and good tenants who suddenly fall behind” in their rent, she added in a statement.
“By cutting eviction notice and appeal times … the bills gives people living paycheque to paycheque almost no time to secure legal help or emergency supports to cover their arrears.”
The bill includes increased restrictions on the ability of tenants to raise new issues at eviction hearings, halving to 15 days the time allowed to seek a review of Landlord and Tenant Board decisions, and scraps compensation for tenants evicted because their landlord wants to move into their unit, providing there is at least 120 days’ notice.
New Democrat Leader Marit Stiles said it was clear the government was not pleased at the protest over the bill, which she said declares “open season on renters.”
“This premier is so dismissive,” she added in a shot at Ford’s remarks to the protesters. “This is a government that doesn’t pay attention to regular people.”
Liberal MPP John Fraser (Ottawa South) said Ford’s outburst was “totally unbecoming of the office of the premier.”
The bill also overrides City of Toronto requirements for “green roofs” on new buildings and bans municipalities from removing automobile traffic lanes to create bike lanes.
