Ontario M.I.A. on rent relief

April 28, 2020

QUEEN’S PARK — Mike Schreiner released the following statement urging the province to provide residential rent relief:

“May 1 is only a few days away and the Ontario government is missing in action.

Yesterday the Prime Minister said it is up to the provinces to provide rent relief to supplement the Canada Emergency Response Benefit, but the Premier is dropping the ball by not helping residential tenants.

8 of the 10 most expensive places to rent in Canada are in Ontario, with the average price for a one-bedroom unit in Toronto topping $2,300.

The federal relief will not cover it for many renters whose biggest expense is the roof over their head.

I am disappointed that the Premier is not providing more clarity to tenants and landlords on an area of provincial responsibility.

While many landlords are giving tenants a break, there are a number of landlords who simply cannot afford to provide relief and pay their own bills without rent from tenants.

Once again, I call on the province to use a portion of the $3.8 billion in contingency funds to provide emergency rental assistance to individuals and families struggling to find the money to pay May’s rent.”

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