NDP: Ford “hands-off” with LTB as tenants face unfair evictions

TORONTO – Ontario NDP Shadow Minister for Housing Catherine McKenney, and Shadow Attorney General Kristyn Wong-Tam have issued the following statement in response to the Ford Government allowing its Landlord and Tenant Boad (LTB) to continue holding hearings online, despite mandating a return to full-time in-person work for civil servants.

“While Ontarians are facing baseless evictions, their tenant protections that have already been gutted by the Ford government are now becoming even more difficult to access,” said McKenney. “Tenants should not have to face technological, economic, or language barriers when fighting for their basic rights and should be able to sit in the same room as the adjudicator who is deciding on the matter.

“A backlogged system thanks to years of Conservative underfunding is not the answer. Amid a housing freeze and soaring costs, Doug Ford should be removing barriers to accessing housing for Ontarians by mandating the return of in-person hearings.”

“A system built around online hearings is one that heavily favours wealthy corporate landlords, with sizable law firms at their disposal,” said Wong-Tam. “People living in the rural north or in low-income communities, those with communication challenges, and seniors are among a broad range of tenants for whom the need for a reliable internet connection and expensive equipment can get in the way of a fair and equitable process.

“People in our province should have the right to in-person hearings. It is critical that the Ford government makes this a reality once again.”