Rent control measures may be in budget, says Ontario housing minister
Liberal government is 'so close' to putting forward legislation, says Minister Chris Ballard
The Ontario Liberal government is "so close" to introducing rent control legislation that it "doesn't make sense" to fast-track an NDP private member's bill to close a rent control loophole, according to Housing Minister Chris Ballard.
Last week, the Ontario NDP introduced a bill to expand rent controls in the province to include properties constructed after 1991.
The government may bring forward some rent control measures in the upcoming provincial budget, Ballard said in an interview with CBC Kitchener-Waterloo's Craig Norris on The Morning Edition on Tuesday. He said he would bring forward measures very soon, although he didn't say when.
Listen to his interview here:
On Monday, Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath told Craig Norris there's no reason the Liberals couldn't have fast-tracked the bill in order to protect residents of Ontario who are facing substantial rent increases.
"There's nothing that prevents them from putting in an emergency measure in place for this particularly egregious loophole and then following up with further legislation," she said, adding the Liberals should make the legislation retroactive, in order to prevent landlords from increasing rents before new legislation is put in place.
Listen to her interview here: