Mayor Olivia Chow and Toronto city council are raising urgent concerns about the Ford government’s Bill 60, warning that the province’s sweeping tenancy reforms could trigger a surge in evictions, overwhelm an already strained shelter system, and fuel a rise in encampments across the city. Council voted this week to formally oppose the legislation, arguing it threatens the stability of hundreds of thousands of renters.
Bill 60, introduced on Oct. 23, proposes major changes to the Residential Tenancies Act — many of which tenant advocates say will make it easier for landlords to evict renters. Chow emphasized that half of Toronto’s population relies on rental housing and deserves “stability, fairness and peace of mind,” not the fear of sudden eviction or unaffordable rent hikes.
The province insists the bill is designed to accelerate rental construction and clear bottlenecks at the Landlord Tenant Board (LTB). A spokesperson for Housing Minister Rob Flack said Bill 60 “restores balance” by protecting responsible tenants and holding problematic ones accountable. Still, the legislation’s most controversial measure — a proposal to consult on ending “security of tenure,” a pillar of Ontario’s tenant protections — was withdrawn after fierce public backlash, with critics saying it would have effectively removed rent control.
Even with that reversal, the remaining reforms mark a major shift in renter rights. The bill cuts the time tenants have to pay overdue rent before eviction filings — from 14 days to seven — and halves the appeal window for LTB decisions from 30 days to 15. It also removes landlords’ obligation to pay one month’s compensation in “personal use” evictions if they provide 120 days’ notice. Tenants facing eviction for rent arrears would also be restricted from raising new issues, such as maintenance problems or landlord harassment, without advance notice.
A new report from the city’s housing secretariat warns these changes could have severe consequences. Toronto’s rental market is already under extreme pressure, with a 2.3 per cent vacancy rate and two-bedroom units requiring an income of roughly $110,000 to afford at current market rates. Meanwhile, social assistance provides shelter allowances far below actual housing costs — only $390 per month under Ontario Works and $599 under ODSP — leaving displaced renters little chance of securing new accommodations.
The report predicts that weakening tenant protections in such a tight rental market will increase housing instability, drive more residents toward food banks, push more people into the city’s packed shelter system — where stays are already longer than ever — and result in more encampments across Toronto’s parks and public spaces.
For Chow, who won strong support from renters in her 2023 byelection victory, the fight over Bill 60 carries political weight as well as social consequences. Retaining that base could be crucial should she seek reelection in 2026.
Despite Toronto’s objections, the province is moving quickly. A time-allocation motion passed on Nov. 6 has cut off extended debate, and the bill is expected to be passed without committee hearings or public consultations when MPPs return next week. Only Etobicoke Centre Councillor Stephen Holyday voted against the city’s opposition motion, arguing the province should be given credit for trying to spur new housing supply.
For now, council’s stance may be largely symbolic — but its warning is stark: Bill 60 could reshape the city’s housing landscape in ways Toronto may struggle to manage.