Ontario’s legislature approved Bill 60, the “Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act,” in a 71-43 vote Monday at Queen’s Park, igniting heated debate over tenant protections and housing policy. The bill aims to streamline landlord-tenant disputes, but critics warn it may weaken tenant rights.
During the vote, public gallery protesters chanted slogans like “people over profit” and “shame.” The speaker ordered the gallery cleared as demonstrators were escorted out, shouting, “you’re putting people on the streets.”
Bill 60 introduces key changes affecting tenants. It bars tenants from raising new issues at Landlord and Tenant Board hearings, removes the requirement for landlords to compensate tenants when reclaiming a property for personal use with 120 days’ notice, and shortens the waiting period to evict tenants for non-payment of rent.
Supporters argue the bill will improve efficiency and encourage rental availability. Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Rob Flack defended the legislation, saying it does not remove any tenant protections and will give landlords confidence to rent units, potentially stabilizing rent prices. “This bill is designed to reduce delays at the Landlord and Tenant Board,” Flack said, emphasizing faster resolution of disputes.
Opponents see the bill as a tilt in favor of landlords, giving them greater power in eviction cases. Thousands of tenants marched in downtown Toronto over the weekend, warning that Bill 60 could put vulnerable renters at risk. NDP Leader Marit Stiles pledged her party will introduce an Opposition Day motion to repeal the legislation if it becomes law.
The bill also includes broader municipal and environmental provisions. It eliminates a Toronto bylaw mandating green roofs on new buildings, transfers oversight of water and wastewater services from Peel Regional Council to Mississauga, Brampton, and Caledon through a new public corporation, and prevents municipalities from reducing vehicle lanes to add new bicycle lanes. Other measures extend Waterfront Toronto’s mandate from 2028 to 2035, streamline municipal approvals, and initiate a review of the Ontario Building Code.
While tenants worry about reduced protections, landlords say the changes provide certainty and faster access to resolve disputes, making the rental market more efficient. The bill still requires royal assent before becoming law, keeping the debate ongoing as both sides prepare for the next round of legislative and public discussions.
