Delays at the LTB were not a…

Delays at the LTB were not a problem in the past, and they don't need to be a problem of the present. Prior to 2020, a landlord who was owed arrears or who had a problematic tenant could get resolution in just weeks. Tenants whose homes had water leaks or untreated bug problems could also get resolution in just weeks. The current delays are for two reasons.

The first reason is that with rents increasing, tenants are holding on to their places for dear life rather than moving at the first instance of struggle to keep up with rent or get along with neighbours. Concurrently, with profits increasing, landlords have no incentive to keep good tenants by maintaining their units and respecting their rights, or to help tenant neighbours work out their issues. This problem is not easily solved; we need more deeply affordable/social housing stock, more rent control, better income supports. It won't be solved by this Bill or any other quick fix.

But the second reason is relevant to this bill. The second reason for the delays is the LTB online model. It is a mess. An hour is wasted just signing people in. People are disconnected, unable to present evidence, unable to understand the proceedings. People are expected to wait up to 7 hours for their matter to be heard. There are no counters for people to attend to ask questions, file evidence, see documents. Can you imagine what would happen if ALL the banks closed their counters? This is what has happened at the LTB. Even small landlords are having to hire paralegals and lawyers to help them navigate this wild west system. Low-income people, seniors, people with language barriers, disabilities, technical limits are unable to participate in the processes as they are supposed it, which is leading to drawn-out matters when they are finally about to connect with help. There is very, very little tenant-side expertise available amoung paralegals and lawyers, and legal aid services are bursting at the seams - so no one can or will help these tenants figure out the system. This means that there is no procedural fairness, which is why everything is being drawn-out.

This bill will make the second reason so so much worse. Instead of this bill, if the LTB a. resumed counter service; b. allowed in-person hearings when a party expresses that it would make it more possible for them to partake; c. scheduled both landlord applications and tenant applications on fair timelines; d. limit hearing blocks at least to half-day sessions rather than full-day; and d. hire adjudicators with legal training, that would dramatically improve the LTB mess. It would allow landlords to have their matters heard more quickly and with more finality and give tenants some sort of recourse aside from withholding rent.

This will not improve the LTB. This will not save legal resources. This will not help to ensure that rents are paid. It will cause more homelessness of the vulnerable - the seniors and people with disabilities who cannot figure out the LTB system. Ottawa, Toronto, Hamilton, Kingston, and London will look like a very cold versions of San Francisco, with tents at every riverbank, underpass, and park; hoards of homeless on downtown streets; and children living out of cars.

Down with Bill 60, down with the Dodgers, go Blue Jays.