Doug Ford's housing changes cost tenants and Hamilton big

QUEEN’S PARK — In question period on Thursday, Hamilton East-Stoney Creek NDP MPP Paul Miller thanked the City of Hamilton for stepping in to create a fund to help Hamilton renters dispute rent hikes, saying that it should never have come to this. The fund's creation comes after the Ford government cancelled rent control and paved the way for big increases in rent, leaving tenants in communities like Hamilton vulnerable to major rent increases and evictions.

“Tenants in Hamilton are being squeezed out by landlords who abuse the rules to seek rent increases that are higher than the guideline,” said Miller. “Last night, the City of Hamilton approved funding for a Tenant Defence Fund to help tenants defend themselves against such unethical practices.

“Families should expect more from their provincial government, not less, and shouldn’t be forced to turn to the City of Hamilton to get the protection that the province is supposed to provide.”

In its Fall Economic Statement, the Ford government cancelled rent control for all new rental units and allowed landlords to impose rental increases well above provincial guidelines. Miller said this leaves tenants who can’t afford to pay prone to evictions, which landlords may take advantage of to hike up the rent even more for the next tenant.

“Landlords are using unethical tactics to squeeze out tenants, because once the tenant is gone, they can jack up the rent to whatever they want,” said Miller. “The minister could protect these tenants but instead he actually wants to make it easier for landlords to evict tenants.”

“Does the Ford government think it is fair that tenants should be forced to turn to the city of Hamilton to get the protection that the province is supposed to provide?” Miller asked the Ford government Thursday.