Archives 2006

All of our news releases and letters from 2006

Tenant Protection Act Reform

THE TORONTO TENANTS SUMMIT MEETING

Saturday, October  21, 2006  

1:00 p.m.

OISE
252 Bloor Street West, Toronto

Room 4422 (4TH FLOOR)

Bill 109, the Residential Tenancies Act, will most likely be brought into effect in early 2007.  The new act addresses many vital issues which tenants and the Federation have pressured government for over the years. It also leaves many concerns.

INFORMATION ON STRATEGIC APPLICATIONS FOR MAINTENANCE ISSUES & BLOCKING AGI'S

The Federation of Metro Tenants' Association invites you, our members and friends to participate in this Summit Meeting where we will discuss the new landlord-tenant law.  Join us for an informative afternoon where we will examine the changes in the legislation, and the specifics which will affect you and your neighbours. The afternoon will also include information on the strategic filing of applications for maintenance issues, blocking Above Guideline Increases and more.

PLEASE CALL TO RESERVE YOUR SEAT AT THIS IMPORTANT EVENT

416-413-9442

(Light Refreshments will be served)

World Habitat Day!

New Visions for Toronto: The Candidates Debate

Tuesday, October 3, 2006

Glenn Gould Studio, CBC Broadcasting Centre

Doors Open: 6:45 p.m.

Live Broadcast: 7:30 - 9:00 p.m.

Candidates featured:

 o     HRATCH AYNEDJIAN - Ward 41, Scarborough-Rouge River

o     DONALD BLAIR - Ward 44, Scarborough East

o     ALEJANDRA BRAVO - Ward 17, Davenport

o     DEBBIE LECHTER - Ward 26, Don Valley West

o     JOHN SEWELL - Ward 21, St. Paul's

Come out and pose questions to the candidates about housing policy and renter’s rights.  This is a great opportunity to make sure affordable housing issues are put on the election agenda.

For more information, visit the CBC’s website.

World Urban Forum

June 5, 2006

MEDIA ADVISORY

On August 12, 2003, Premier McGuinty promised tenants “We will get rid of vacancy decontrol which allows unlimited rent increases.”

Today, the Federation of Metro Tenants’ Associations will make a last ditch effort to convince the Government to keep that important promise.

Bill 109, the proposed Residential Tenancies Act will leave tenants vulnerable, now and in the future, if it is not amended to remove vacancy decontrol.

The Parliamentary Committee dealing with the Bill is holding its’ last day of deputations at Queens Park.  The Federation will be making its’ presentation at 5:50 pm.  Also presenting is Toronto Councilor Michael Walker to also call for an end to vacancy decontrol.

Tenant groups have been unanimous on this point.  The Federation has been working for eight years to end vacancy decontrol.

The Federation will be proposing 19 amendments to the legislation.  The Committee will be dealing with amendments on Wednesday and Thursday. 

 the "eviction factory"

These photos were taken on Parkdale Tenants' Association's Lord of the Slums Tour

the above photographs were taken by John Bonnar

Davenport Tenant Meeting Wednesday April 5th at 7:00pm

City of Toronto Tenant Forum Thursday March 9th at 7:00pm - 10:00pm (or go to the City's website for more information)

York West Tenant Meeting Tuesday February 28th at 7:00pm

Released February 20, 2006

Evictions on the Rise in Ontario

Ontario has set another dubious record.  More tenants face losing their homes than ever before.

There were 29,090 eviction applications in Toronto in 2005, an increase of 10.7% over the previous year, and the highest number since the imposition of the Tenant Protection Act in 1998.   For all of Ontario, there were a record 64,864 cases, an increase of 8.7%.

The figures also show that more than half of the tenants were evicted without a hearing at the Ontario Rental Housing Tribunal. 

The biggest increase was in the Scarborough office of the Tribunal with a 14.1% increase.

“These numbers are outrageous and distressing,” said Marcia Barry of the Federation of Metro Tenants Associations. “The Ontario Government needs to reform the Tenant Protection Act, improve the Tribunal, and deal with inadequate incomes of tenants by raising the minimum wage and providing decent support to people on social assistance.”

“Rents are far too high and the McGuinty Government needs to bring in real protection for tenants at all times, as they promised us during the 2003 election,” added Dan McIntyre, Program Co-Ordinator for the FMTA.

“And these figures do not tell the whole story” added Elinor Mahoney of the Tenant Advocacy Group.  “There are many more evictions that happen without a Tribunal Order. Some tenants just leave when the landlord tells them to, or are victimized by unfair settlements that are mediated at the Tribunal”.

These facts are in stark contrast to the message that all is well and good for tenants in Ontario.  Tenants are still facing annual rent increases, many for well above the annual rent guideline, and they are being evicted in record numbers.  A higher vacancy rate means nothing to sitting tenants trying to cope with unfair high rents.  Many of those tenants are living in slum-like conditions as recently illustrated by the Parkdale Tenants Association.

The McGuinty Government promised to replace the Tenant Protection Act by the end of 2004.  For some of the over 60,000 households in Ontario who faced eviction in 2005, that unkept promise may have cost them their homes.

The eviction statistics for both Toronto and Ontario in 2005

Eglinton-Lawrence Tenant Meeting Tuesday February 21st at 7:00pm

Toronto Centre - Rosedale Tenant Meeting Tuesday, February 7th at 7:00pm