A tenant advocacy group in Ontario is voicing strong opposition to the provincial government's plan to expedite changes to the eviction system. The criticism follows the introduction of Bill 60, known as the Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act, which was tabled by Premier Doug Ford's administration last month. The government argues that the bill is essential for reducing bureaucratic hurdles and accelerating home construction amid a housing crisis and economic challenges stemming from the ongoing U.S. trade war.

Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Rob Flack stated, "Our government is building a more prosperous, resilient and competitive economy by fighting costly delays and regulatory burdens that slow the delivery of homes, roads and infrastructure that communities need."

The proposed legislation aims to streamline processes at the Landlord and Tenant Board, allowing for quicker resolutions. Additionally, it seeks to prevent misuse of the system by bad actors and aims to create a more balanced framework for the rights and responsibilities of both landlords and tenants.

However, the tenant group, No Demovictions, argues that the changes would undermine tenants' rights and facilitate easier evictions by landlords. The group is particularly concerned about the government's decision to bypass the Standing Committee process, pushing the bill directly to a third reading. Lindsay Blackwell, a tenant organizer with No Demovictions, described this move as an "outrageous abuse of power" and a "deliberate effort to silence tenants."

"Thirty percent of Ontarians rent their homes, yet their voices have been completely shut out while landlord lobbyists had supportive quotes immediately ready when Bill 60 was announced," Blackwell said. She criticized the government's approach, stating, "By skipping Committee review on a bill that could dismantle tenants’ rights, the Ford government shows its utter contempt for public participation for municipalities trying to manage homelessness, and for the people whose lives will be upended by this law."

No Demovictions, which assists renters facing eviction and property conversion, contends that limiting public hearings compromises the democratic process and transparency in policymaking. The group is urging the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, the Governor General of Canada, and Prime Minister Mark Carney to intervene.

David Steinman, another member of No Demovictions, expressed concern about the bill's implications. "Bill 60 claims to be doing everything it can to protect small landlords from relatively small numbers of problematic tenants," he said. "What it actually does — whether inadvertently or by design — is provide large landlords with the tools they need to cast large numbers of tenants as problematic because their only crime is to stand in the way of increased profits."

The group is calling for the Ford government to suspend the third reading of Bill 60 until public hearings are conducted and meaningful consultations take place with tenant legal advocacy groups, municipalities, and housing and homelessness service providers.