Shouts and chants rained down upon politicians at the Ontario legislature Monday as the government passed a housing bill that critics say makes it easier for landlords to evict tenants.
“People over profits,” members of ACORN Canada, a tenant advocacy group, chanted from the public gallery at Queen’s Park at the time of the vote.
At one point, Premier Doug Ford told the yelling crowd to “go find a job.”
It is one of several bills the government has fast-tracked this fall legislative session. It skipped the committee stage altogether.
“This government has ignored public opinion and denied us a voice,” said Alejandra Ruiz-Vargas, president of ACORN Canada.
“Bill 60 will worsen homelessness, the mental-health crisis and despair across the province.”
They said the bill would accelerate evictions and strip tenants of their ability to defend themselves.
Last year the Province passed Bill 212, Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act, which sought to remove 19 kilometres of Toronto’s protected bike lanes.
Together, we fought back and won.
But the court decision did not stop the Province from blocking new bike lanes. And now it is trying to do exactly that with Bill 60, Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act.
Bill 212 at least pretended it would set criteria for new bike lanes. Bill 60 drops the pretense. It lets the Province ban any reduction of motor vehicle lanes, and the wording is so broad that it will not just impact bike lanes but also affect bus priority lanes, patios, school streets, and other street improvements that rely on reallocating space. This isn’t just about settling grudges against Toronto. The consequences will be felt across Ontario.
Now the province intends to skip committee and rush the legislation through without hearing from feedback from the public.
They know the feedback isn’t good so they don’t even wanna hear it.