QUEEN'S PARK – MPP Suze Morrison, the NDP's Tenant Rights critic, says the Ford government needs to immediately enforce a real ban on all eviction notices, hearings and orders, as Thursday morning’s order still leaves people vulnerable to evictions during the pandemic.
"Thousands of people in Ontario are at risk of being thrown out of their homes, through no fault of their own, after losing income this year because of COVID-19. Calling off the sheriffs at the eleventh hour from enforcing evictions that have already been ordered will not keep folks housed and safe," said Morrison.
Morrison also criticized overly broad exceptions that will still allow eviction enforcement to continue under the new directive, despite widespread complaints that virtual eviction hearings have been rife with procedural unfairness.
"Doug Ford has baked in loopholes you could drive a truck through, allowing any evictions to continue at the discretion of the Landlord and Tenant Board. His government needs to stop putting out contradictory information and unequivocally ban evictions – that means a moratorium on all eviction notices, hearings and orders, as well as the suspension of eviction enforcement by the sheriff for the entire duration of the pandemic,” said Morrison.
The NDP is further calling for rent relief for those who have lost income during the pandemic.
Eviction ban must include notices, hearings, orders: NDP
Published on January 15, 2021