Toronto going to court to challenge Ontario's “Mass Eviction Bill”

Jul 30 2020, 3:32 pm

Toronto’s city council has voted 22-2 to bring a legal challenge against the Ford government’s Bill 184, which tenants’ advocates say is unfair to renters.

Initially, the Protecting Tenants and Strengthening Community Housing Act was said to “strengthen protections for tenants, make it easier to be a landlord, and help both landlords and tenants resolve disputes,” according to the province.

Since the announcement of the bill, tenants’ rights protestors have appeared twice to publicly demand Mayor John Tory take action against the bill, including once at a condominium groundbreaking ceremony and again outside of the mayor’s home.

One of the protests, organized by Parkdale Organize and People’s Defense Toronto, have dubbed the Bill 184 the “Mass Eviction Bill.”

Specifically, advocates point to section 83 which has been amended to allow landlords to apply to evict tenants who owe money from March 17, 2020.

Since receiving a non-public report from the city solicitor on the subject, city council voted on Wednesday to move ahead with a legal challenge against the new regulations, “on the basis that they are contrary to rule of procedural fairness and natural justice,” according to the motion passed by the city.

The city solicitor is also allowed to proceed on “any other grounds the city solicitor determines to be appropriate and city council direct the city solicitor to take any necessary action to achieve a stay of those provisions until such time as a final decision has been rendered in respect of the challenge.”

The Protecting Tenants and Strengthening Community Housing Act was given royal assent on July 21.

Peter SmithPeter Smith

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