Letter – Hardeman states that ‘Liberals Blocked Rent Control Bill’

Apr 12, 2017 @ 12:00

Dear Brenda,

As PC Critic for Municipal Affairs and Housing, I hear from people all over Ontario who are concerned about the unaffordability of living in Ontario. Over the past few weeks I have been hearing from more and more people who, like the 31 seniors in Sault Ste. Marie, are facing huge rent increases.

 

On Monday, Ontario PC Leader Patrick Brown and I called on Premier Wynne to immediately introduce her plans to address rent increases and to stop publicly musing about rent control options.  The impact of chatter from Premier Wynne and her cabinet ministers is confusion and fear among renters and landlords. For example, we are seeing landlords have knee-jerk reactions and raising their rents thinking it could be their last opportunity.

 

This is simply unfair to everyone. It results in tenants being hit with huge increases and discouraging landlords from investing in new supply which we desperately need. That is why we have been calling on the government to table their plan immediately.

 

In a recent article it became clear that there was some confusion on this issue about where the Ontario PCs stand. Let me be clear, it was the Liberals who blocked the rent control bill introduced by NDP. It is the Liberals who are sitting idle, but exercising loose lips on this issue.

 

This is an important issue for the people who are struggling to afford a place to live, and I hope that we can work together to help people like the Sault Ste. Marie seniors facing large rent increases instead of pointing fingers and spreading misinformation.

 

Ernie Hardeman, MPP Oxford

PC Critic for Municipal Affairs and Housing