FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NOVEMBER 27, 2025
GUELPH, ON – The Central Student Association (CSA), the undergraduate student union at the University of Guelph, strongly opposes the amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act that were introduced in Bill 60, Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act (2025). The changes proposed in this legislation would encourage eviction through hastening and simplifying the process. Additionally, Bill 60 removes key systematic protections for tenants by taking power out of the hands of the Landlord & Tenant Board.
With 5,000+ students leaving on-campus residence per year, and a growing number of first-year students unable to get a spot in residence, students are finding it increasingly difficult to afford housing. Every year, landlords take advantage of students who may not know the rights that they have as a tenant. At the CSA, our Student Help & Advocacy Centre assists 100+ tenants every year in understanding their rights, advocating for themselves, and finding legal aid. The number of cases SHAC takes on has significantly increased over the past year – and continues to go up.
Many instances have only been resolvable thanks to the clearly outlined processes of the LTB. Bill 60 would only make it more difficult for tenants to advocate for themselves and their rights. LTB checks & balances ensure reasonable notice and cause are provided to tenants in the case of eviction, protecting them from displacement; becoming unhoused; or placed in a vulnerable position to be taken advantage of, due to desperation for housing.
For those without direct access to support services such as SHAC, access becomes even more of a concern under Bill 60. Without a clear-cut, free, and uniform process to turn to, it can be hard to know where to begin. Hiring legal support is unaffordable for many, but without LTB protection, this may be someone’s only option.
The cost of housing in Guelph and surrounding areas continues to go up, as the average one-bedroom apartment is over $1,700/month. Bill 60 does nothing to address the rising cost of housing in our province, or the exploitative actions of many landlords. Indeed, the Premier initially wanted to remove security-of-tenure protections, which would make it easier for landlords to require short-term leases and increase the cost of rent between tenants.
The Ontario Government, under its current leadership, has previously undermined rent control protections in the Restoring Trust, Transparency and Accountability Act (2018), which eliminated the 2.5% cap on annual rent increases for any rental units built after 2018. This has only contributed to the $570/month increase in Guelph’s average over the past 7 years, with our city climbing to the second most expensive place to rent in Ontario.
In addition to the rising cost of housing, students also spend a significant amount of their income on tuition. With the proposed changes, tenants only have 7 days to pay any rent owing in the N4 notice before the landlord can apply to the LTB for an eviction hearing. Considering most hourly wage jobs are paid bi-weekly, the current period of 14 days is far more likely to be met by tenants. Under Bill 60, it will be easier than ever for a landlord to turn a simple late rent payment into an eviction order.
Bill 60 would:
• Decrease the amount of time tenants have to request a review of decisions by the LTB, and allow government to limit the circumstances under which an LTB decision can be reviewed
• Shorten amount of notice required for eviction hearings, giving tenants even less time to respond and increasing their risk of displacement.
• Make it harder for tenants to receive compensation when in the case of landlord ending lease.
Doug Ford has said that the goal of this legislation is to make the LTB process more efficient for all Ontarians. However, it has become clear that the only goal is to make the process more efficient for landlords. Under the guise of efficiency, the Ontario Government seeks to eliminate regulations that protect tenants from bad-faith evictions, empower predatory landlords, and silence vulnerable renters who lack the resources to fight back.
Bill 60 is yet another example of the Ford government prioritizing the interests of landlords, big businesses, and property developers over its most vulnerable populations. In an effort to “fight red tape”, Doug Ford will leave behind students, families, and tenants across the province.
The CSA calls on the Ontario Government to immediately rescind Bill 60 and strongly condemns any legislation that attacks the rights of Ontario’s tenants. Further, we urge the government to provide adequate funding to the LTB to truly increase its efficiency, enhance rent control protections, close loopholes that allow for the exploitation of tenants, and make it easier to hold landlords accountable for illegal and exploitative actions.
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The Central Student Association represents over 28,000 undergraduate students at the University of Guelph. As a student-led, not-for-profit organization, the CSA advocates for student interests and provides essential services, supports, and advocacy on campus.
