I have approached local councillors, provincial representatives and Members of Provincial Parliament to register my concern about increasing rent during such unprecedented economic downturns. I believe it is both economically unfeasible and morally questionable to force people to pay more rent when the cost of rent is already unaffordable for many, especially in Toronto where the government has failed to manage the ongoing housing crisis.



Provinces such as British Columbia, Alberta and Manitoba are reversing previously planned rent increases in response to what many experts anticipate will be the biggest economic depression since the 1930s, if not ever.



I am calling on the The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (steve.clark@pc.ola.org) and the Premier, Doug Ford (doug.fordco@pc.ola.org) to cancel rent increases (N1s) during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario.



Photo by Joel Filipe on Unsplash



Sources:



Tenants in Toronto are still getting threats of rent increases and evictions amid the COVID-19 pandemic

https://www.blogto.com/real-estate-toronto/2020/03/tenants-toronto-threats-rent-increases-evictions-covid-19-pandemic/



‘Shocking and disgusting’: Tenants face rent increases despite coronavirus crisis

https://globalnews.ca/news/6731067/coronavirus-rent-increases-help-canada/



B.C. promises freeze on rent, eviction prohibition and subsidies in response to COVID-19

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/british-columbia/article-bc-promises-freeze-on-rent-eviction-prohibition-and-subsidies-in/



Rent freezes and eviction bans introduced in many Canadian provinces, including Alberta, as economy contracts

https://www.straight.com/news/rent-freezes-and-eviction-bans-introduced-in-many-canadian-provinces-including-alberta-as