A heated confrontation erupted in the Ontario legislature after the provincial government passed a controversial housing bill that significantly strengthens the hand of landlords. The conservative Premier, Doug Ford, delivered a scathing remark to protestors, telling one to 'Go find a job, buddy'.
Clash in the Legislature
The incident occurred on Monday as members of the tenant advocacy group ACORN Canada protested the passage of Bill 60, known as the Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act. The group chanted their slogan, 'People over profits,' inside the legislature building before being escorted out by security. It was during this removal that Ford directed his now-viral comment at a protestor who was reportedly taunting a guard.
Marc Davignon, ACORN's Co-chair, later responded to the premier's jab, stating to CTV News that Doug Ford 'hasn't had to go looking for a job in a while'. Davignon added that the premier has 'no clue the difficulties that people are facing' and suggested that with Ford's family connections, he himself might not have struggled to find work either.
What Bill 60 Changes for Tenants and Landlords
The newly passed legislation introduces sweeping changes designed to accelerate housing construction, but it also tilts the balance of power in landlord-tenant disputes. Key provisions of Bill 60 include:
- Expediting the approval process for new housing developments.
- Reducing the notice period for eviction notices from 14 days to just seven.
- Barring tenants from raising new issues during Landlord and Tenant Board hearings.
- Removing the requirement for landlords to offer compensation to a tenant if they wish to use the property for themselves, provided they give 120 days' notice.
Critics argue the bill was fast-tracked, bypassing the crucial committee stage where public feedback is typically gathered. Ontario Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner slammed the move, asking, 'How can you bring forward legislation that's literally going to force more people to live on the streets and not talk to anyone who understands what tenants are going through?'
Mixed Reactions and Political Fallout
The response to the bill has been sharply divided. Housing Minister Rob Flack defended the legislation, asserting that it 'restores balance' to the system and will, in the long run, create more affordable housing supply and lower rents. He claimed that 'not one protection is being altered in this bill' and that it gives landlords the confidence to rent out their properties.
Conversely, Alejandra Ruiz-Vargas, president of ACORN Canada, warned that Bill 60 will 'worsen homelessness, the mental-health crisis and despair' across Ontario. The advocacy group fears it will lead to expedited evictions and strip tenants of their ability to defend themselves legally.
In a political counter-move, Ontario New Democratic Party leader Marit Stiles has already introduced a motion to repeal the bill, stating that 'Ontario is facing a jobs disaster, but Doug Ford is more focused on attacking renters.'
The bill also includes changes beyond housing, such as removing a bylaw that required new buildings to install green roofs, a move Schreiner warned could expose Toronto to billions in future flooding damages.
