Burlington and Halton Hills mayors bring forward resolution to reinstate residential eviction ban

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Published June 29, 2021 at 4:42 pm

Halton Regional Council is urging the Province of Ontario to reinstate the residential eviction ban while COVID-19 restrictions remain in place.

At a recent meeting, Halton Regional Council unanimously carried the resolution, which was brought forward by Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward and Halton Hills Mayor Rick Bonnette.

Back in January, the Ontario Government issued emergency order O. Reg. 13/21 Residential Evictions through the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. E.9.

This resulted in a temporary pause on the enforcement of residential evictions and was done to protect homeowners facing evictions during the stay-at-home-order.

On June 2, 2021, the stay-at-home order expired and the ban on residential evictions was lifted. This is expected to result in a multitude of evictions.

Additionally, current restrictions are still resulting in challenges to pay rent as well as accessing necessary supports such as legal offices, landlord-tenant tribunals, financial, social and health support services.

As a result, the Halton Regional Council is urging the Ontario government to reinstate the residential eviction ban for the duration of time in which the COVID-19 restrictions across the province remain in effect.

Regional Council is also calling for a consultation to be conducted with municipalities who are responsible for housing under the provincial Housing Services Act and housing providers to gain a better understanding of rehousing and timing challenges.

In addition, they are asking that the resolution be sent to the Premier, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, AMO and Halton’s Members of Provincial Parliament.

Housing and tenant advocates are also calling on the Ontario government to reinstate the ban on residential evictions due to the fact that the potential loss of housing amid the pandemic would put lives at risk. They also agreed that evictions should be suspended as long as provincial COVID-19 restrictions remain in place.

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