GILMOUR: Ford leaves sky-high rent increases under the tree for Ontarians

QUEEN’S PARK — The holidays are on the horizon, but tenants on both Triller and Spencer Avenues in Toronto are fighting to keep a roof over their heads. Their wealthy corporate landlord — Starlight — is hitting them with an above-guideline eight per cent rent increase, despite deplorable living conditions.

Ontario NDP MPP Alexa Gilmour (Parkdale—High Park) took aim at the Ford government today, pointing to the consequences of their war on tenants.

“Families on Triller have lived with roaches, black mold, and chronic disrepair for years,” said Gilmour. “Now, one of the worst corporate landlords is charging them for what should be basic, routine maintenance. We need real rent control for tenants by restricting above-guideline rent increases.”

Even though 81,000 Ontarians are currently homeless, the Ford government recently passed Bill 60 — making it easier for wealthy corporate landlords to evict tenants when they can’t keep up with soaring rent increases.

“The rent increases faced by tenants in my riding are just the beginning of Bill 60’s harmful impacts. Even Ontario’s big-city mayors sounded the alarm last week, calling for emergency action to address the homelessness crisis.

“Will Premier Ford listen to them — and to the thousands of tenants hanging on by a thread — and reverse Bill 60 before more families are pushed out on to the street?”