It’s A Sanctuary

On July 6, 2020, opponents of Bill 184 gathered outside the mayor’s Yorkville condo, imploring him to take a stand against legislative amendments that expedite evictions. Protestors were criticized for ‘crossing the line.’ Ironic, considering the violence of state-enforced evictions.

The purpose of the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 is first and foremost the protection of rights of tenants— not the enhancement of rights of property owners or developers. Bill 184 permits landlords to circumvent the LTB, leaving Ontario’s most vulnerable tenants at risk.

Landlords (particularly small landlords) are right to be upset about procedural delays. It’s not right that some tenants rack up tens of thousands in arrears without consequence. But don’t forget that @fordnationdougford under-resourced tribunals for 2+ years, causing a MAJOR backlog.

Perhaps I’m being cynical, but @fordnationdougford is exploiting the pandemic to push through amendments that will result in mass evictions. Don’t be surprised if postal codes with the highest rates of eviction end up coinciding with parts of the city most devastated by #COVID19.

Being evicted is traumatic as fuck.

It’s not an exaggeration to say that being evicted is one of the worst things that can happen to an individual or family under any circumstances. @johntory & @fordnationdougford come from rich, property-owning families. They will never know the fear of eviction.

As an aside, did you know that 20-25% of MPPs are landlords?