Press Hits

Ottawa city staff say they aren’t recommending an anti-renoviction bylaw just yet because of its cost, provincial law covering some of the same ground and a desire to wait and see how other cities fare. Edward Roué, chairman of Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN)’s Central Ottawa chapter, said the issue is pressing as people are suffering daily from renovictions. “I don’t see why renters in Ottawa should have any less rights than renters in any of those other cities,” he said.

Waterloo Region ACORN, a tenants right advocacy group, is calling on Kitchener and local municipalities to put in renoviction bylaws to help renters stay in their homes. “The best, most effective, cost effective, safest, most dignified way to preserve tenant rights and to preserve people’s homes is to keep them in their existing affordable homes,” said Jacquie Wells, the interim chair of Waterloo Region Acorn.

Waterloo Region Acorn, a tenants right advocacy group, is calling on Kitchener and local municipalities to put in renoviction bylaws to help renters stay in their homes. “The best, most effective, cost effective, safest, most dignified way to preserve tenant rights and to preserve people’s homes is to keep them in their existing affordable homes,” said Jacquie Wells, the interim chair of Waterloo Region Acorn.

Hamilton’s new bylaw won’t apply to the Emerald Street tenants who received N13s before Jan. 1, but their situation demonstrates how new municipal rules could help protect other tenants in the future. The Emerald Street tenants, with support from tenant advocacy group ACORN, are prepared to fight the eviction at an upcoming hearing at the Landlord and Tenant Board, said Dick.

Hamilton tenant Amanda Dick’s home of nearly eight years hangs in the balance as she awaits a hearing before Ontario’s rental-dispute tribunal. Dick and dozens of others in the six-storey apartment building on Emerald Street South have received notices from their landlord to clear out for renovations. This is why the time it has taken the city to ready the bylaw has been “disappointing,” said Dick, who credits the advocacy efforts of Hamilton ACORN for pushing for the anti-renoviction measures and supporting her and fellow tenants in their fight against eviction.

Starting January 1st, the criminal interest rate on predatory lending will be lowered, meaning it should be safer to take out payday and installment loans. But these businesses have a tendency to skirt the law, adding unexpected fees and insurance rates to keep borrowers in the hole.