Canada/Toronto makes two decisions to protect tenants and build more housing

Toronto City Council passed two resolutions on Wednesday to better protect tenants who are evicted when their apartments are renovated, and to build more housing that residents can afford.

In two separate votes, councillors voted in favour of a renovation by-law and pledged to spend over $350 million to help build housing across the city.

Arianne Robinson, a spokeswoman for the mayor, had said in an e-mail on Tuesday that the items submitted to council by Olivia Chow reflected her priorities for building more affordable housing and protecting tenants.

Wednesday marked the first anniversary of Ms. Chow's election to the City Council.

Council has asked city officials to prepare a bylaw by the end of October that will specify what steps landlords must take to be able to force a tenant to move out when renovating a unit.

The City of Hamilton recently adopted a similar by-law, which will come into effect on January 1. The by-law gives landlords seven days after sending an eviction notice to the tenant to apply for a municipal permit for renovations.

Toronto tenants need to know that their housing is stable and secure," said the mayor at a press briefing.

The only opponent to the motion, Councillor Stephen Holyday, believes that housing is a provincial jurisdiction and that a new by-law will only add to the administrative burden for landlords. He adds that the City will have to pay for its application.

The vast majority of councillors also voted in favour of an investment of over $350 million to accelerate the construction of 18 real estate projects totalling 6,000 rental units. Of these, more than 2,600 will be affordable apartments.

Source: ici.radio-canada.ca