Toronto Pushes Back: City Council Rejects Bill 60 and Calls for Stronger Protections for Renters

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Toronto City Council has delivered a strong rebuke of Bill 60, the Ford government’s proposal to amend the Residential Tenancies Act. Councillors voted overwhelmingly to oppose the legislation, warning it would weaken tenant rights and accelerate evictions across the city. The province argues Bill 60 will speed up development and reduce Landlord and Tenant Board backlogs. But City of Toronto staff and housing advocates say the opposite — the changes could put thousands of renters at greater risk of losing their homes. At a media conference this week, Mayor Olivia Chow said the bill fast-tracks renovictions and owner move-ins, giving tenants far less time to challenge evictions or seek legal support. Council’s response is not just symbolic. The city is formally requesting that Ontario reinstate full rent control on units built after 2018 and bring back vacancy control — measures aimed at curbing rent hikes and preventing displacement. Chow also pointed to existing supports for struggling renters, including the Rent Bank, EPIC, the Tenant Support Program, and partnerships with nonprofits that help preserve affordable housing. She urged the province to focus on building and protecting rental homes rather than making it easier to remove people from them. Council members linked Bill 60 to broader health and homelessness pressures, warning it would further strain shelters, eviction-prevention services, and housing-stability programs across Ontario. The motion passed 23–1, with two councillors abstaining. For Regent Park and Toronto’s Downtown East — where most residents are renters — Bill 60 represents a threat to stability and the ability to remain rooted in long-standing communities. 

Decisions made at Queen’s Park will shape neighbourhoods already under intense housing pressure. 

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