Toronto City Council has sent a clear message to Queen’s Park, voting overwhelmingly to oppose the Ford government’s proposed Bill 60, the Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act.
The council’s stance reflects deep concerns that the legislation could erode tenant protections and drive up evictions at a time when half of Toronto’s residents rent their homes.
Mayor Olivia Chow, who brought the motion forward, said the bill would “lessen the impact this bill would have to Toronto’s renters, because they deserve fairness. They deserve civility and security, just like everybody else does.”
Chow added, “About half of Toronto’s residents rent their homes. They deserve stability, fairness and peace of mind that comes from knowing they will not face unfair evictions or sky-high rent increases.”
The bill, introduced late last month, is part of the province’s broader effort to address Ontario’s housing crisis and reduce the backlog at the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB).
Ontario Real Estate Association’s (OREA) has welcomed the new housing bill, describing it as a “big step in the right direction.”
Dave Wilkes, president and CEO of the Building Industry and Land Development Association, stated, “This bill acknowledges and addresses the importance of producing housing supply faster, at a scale and cost to meet the needs of Ontario families.”
However, critics argue that the changes, such as cutting the appeal period from 30 to 15 days and eliminating compensation for tenants evicted for personal use, would make it harder for renters to defend their tenancies.
“If the people of Toronto don’t want to see more people on the street they need to stand with council on this,” said coun. Alejandra Bravo.
Coun. Josh Matlow argued the government was prioritizing developers over renters, stating, “By removing those protections, it would leave tenants across Ontario in a situation where they would be even more vulnerable.”
The Ford government, for its part, has maintained that Bill 60 is designed to “restore balance and rebuild confidence” in the rental market, with attorney general Doug Downey stating the changes are needed to attract more landlords.
But Chow countered, “This is not how we build housing, and it is not how we build a caring city.” She pointed to Toronto’s Rental Housing Supply Program, which waives development charges for new rental projects with affordable units, as a more effective solution.
Council’s motion also called on the province to extend rent control to units built after 2018 and directed the city solicitor to explore legal avenues to challenge Bill 60. The Association of Municipalities of Ontario was urged to study the bill’s potential impact on housing stability and municipal services.
CMP
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