A local organization has added its voice to a growing chorus urging the Ford government to walk back a section of controversial legislation.
134 organizations across Ontario, including the Chatham-Kent Legal Clinic, have published an open letter to Premier Doug Ford, asking to repeal Schedule 12 of Bill 60, an omnibus bill proposed by the Conservative government in October, aiming to “protect Ontario’s economy” and increase the housing supply.
However, opponents say the legislation will dramatically increase homelessness. The letter to the Premier demands the provincial government commit to meaningful engagement with tenants and tenant advocates, not exclusively landlord and developer lobbyists, on policy changes, including any changes to the Residential Tenancies Act.
“Over 700,000 Ontarians are out of work, and 81,000 were homeless last year,” said Diana Chan McNally, organizer of the Encampment Justice Coalition in a news release. “We can’t afford to increase homelessness across the province, which is exactly what Bill 60 will do,” “And who will be left to deal with the aftermath? Municipalities, who already are under-resourced, and community agencies that are beyond capacity.”
The letter also urges municipalities to join in the City of Toronto’s advocacy against Bill 60, including by exploring legal options available to them to protect tenants, who represent one third of Ontarians. This includes potential protections under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
