Landlords are not in the business of providing free housing | Letters to the Editor
Landlords are not in the business of providing free housing
As a landlord, I am encouraged by the
The reforms to the Residential Tenancies Act demonstrate a clear and thoughtful intent to restore balance within our rental housing system. By reducing delays at the Landlord and Tenant Board, the bill allows responsible landlords to address non-payment and dispute cases more efficiently — supporting the financial stability of small property owners who work hard to keep quality, affordable units available.
I also welcome the government’s initiative to define “persistent failure to pay rent” through regulation, bringing clarity and predictability for all parties. If implemented effectively, these reforms can help clear the Board’s backlog and ensure that tenants who meet their obligations, and landlords who manage their properties responsibly, are not disadvantaged by systemic delays.
Unfortunately, there are many myths and misunderstandings circulating about Bill 60, often spread by those with their own agendas. To them I ask: if you were providing a service and were not paid for it, would you continue, even at the risk of losing your own business? This bill addresses exactly that — ensuring fairness for everyone. Landlords are not in the business of providing free housing; we rely on rent to pay mortgages, cover expenses, and put food on the table. The banks do not wait, and neither can we.
I trust that as regulations are finalized, the government will continue engaging widely to strengthen Ontario’s rental housing sector without undermining fairness. Bill 60 is a meaningful step toward restoring confidence and balance in our housing system, and I thank the Premier and Minister of Housing for their leadership in this important work.
Romeo Jack Barbosa, Caledon East, ON
Rural residents pay Ottawa water tax but get no help
This may come as a surprise to most city of
but rural residents and farmers all the way to Burrits Rapids are paying a water tax and this will only get more expensive when the city implements its potential tax based on absorption rates on all properties.
The recent Citizen report on
shows that the city has no plans to help rural residents in times of drought and low water levels
Clearly the tax on the existing surface water drainage goes to the bottom line of the balance sheet as is meant to be spent in urban Ottawa.
Our rural councillors can yell and scream all they want but their appeals will be drowned out by misspent funds downtown. Look at rural tax bills and you will see surcharges for items afforded downtown property owners.
In Greely for example, most residents get garbage pick up and a somewhat random snow removal for the taxes paid. I think I saw a police car once this past year in our subdivision. The more homes built off the water and sewer grid are increasing and it feels like just more air in a balloon that could burst.
Brian Vachon, Greely
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