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Industry Hot Topics Ontario passes controversial Bill 184
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n late July, the Ontario government announced it had approved Bill 184 despite heated protests from tenant advocacy groups. Since the state of emergency in Ontario began, landlords have been banned from evicting nonpaying tenants. The new law will require tenants owing money to pay back their landlords in a scheduled repayment plan. “We know tenants and landlords have struggled during COVID-19, and some households may be facing eviction due to unpaid rent during this crisis,” said Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “By making these changes we are trying to keep people in their homes, and at the same time, helping landlords receive payment through a mutual repayment agreement. It’s a better approach, especially during these difficult times.” Other changes to the legislation include: requiring tenant compensation of one month’s rent for “no fault” evictions; allowing the Landlord and Tenant Board to order up to 12 months’ rent in compensation for eviction notices issued in bad faith or where the landlord does not allow the tenant to move back in after renovations or repairs; and doubling the maximum fine amounts
for offences under the Act to $50,000 for an individual and $250,000 for a corporation. The new bill will also “modernize and streamline” the dispute resolution processes at the Landlord and Tenant Board and encourage the use of alternatives to formal hearings to resolve certain issues and encourage negotiated settlements. In addition, amendments to the Housing Services Act of 2011 were made, giving
housing providers with expiring operating agreements and mortgages ways to remain in the community housing system through a new service agreement with service managers. Despite what the government is calling fair and balanced treatment, the new law continues to be met with heated opposition in early August. Up-to-date news on the ongoing matter can be found at www.reminetwork.com.
More adult Canadians are moving back home
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new survey by Finder.com found that a significant number of adult Canadians are moving back home with their parents due to the financial pressures of COVID-19. While approximately 1.5 million Canadians have already completed the move, another 1 million (4 per cent) said they are considering it. “Between the high cost of rent in Canada’s big cities and a recession with record levels of unemployment, young people trying to launch or grow careers while paying the bills are now faced with challenges that may seem insurmountable, making returning home to their parents the most attractive option for many of Canada’s young adults,” said Scott Birke, Publisher at Finder.com. “Our data reveals about a million Canadians who haven’t yet moved home with their parents are still seriously 22 | Canadian Apartment | Part of the REMI Network |
considering it, which tells us this trend is not just confined to the pandemic and could be a longer-term setback when it comes to young Canadian adults building wealth and establishing their careers.” The provinces hardest hit by COVID-19—Ontario, B.C. and Quebec— saw the most moves among young adults, with Finder.com calling Ontario the epicentre of Canada’s ‘Generation Boomerang’. But the reverse scenario is also quite common: 278,532 older Canadians have moved in with their adult children and another 455,780 are seriously considering it. “It is safe to assume that many of the parents who moved in with their adult children are also grandparents who are helping to provide childcare for exhausted working parents of young children, who have limited or no childcare options until school begins,” Birke said.
