TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO:
Whereas under Conservative and Liberal governments, rent prices have skyrocketed, home ownership is completely out of reach for many, and affordable housing and assisted living space waitlists far outstrip availability;
Whereas in Ontario, half of renters give more than 30 per cent of their income to their landlords, and where 20 per cent of renters give more than 50 per cent;
Whereas Ontario’s waitlist for affordable housing has grown to more than 185,000 families, and seniors now account for over 35 per cent of the people waiting for affordable housing, putting Ontario on the brink of a homelessness humanitarian crisis;
Whereas instead of tackling the housing problem, the Conservative government cancelled rent control on new units, forcing double-digit increases in rent, has refused any direct relief for renters during the COVID-19 pandemic, and abandoned Ontario’s target of ending homelessness by 2025;
And Whereas everyone deserves a home – a stable, decent, place they can afford;
Therefore, we the undersigned petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to:
Make renting more affordable, and give renters more security. Make it easier to buy a home, and strengthen homebuyers’ protections. Take on greedy billionaires, speculators, flippers and bad developers to cool the market. Support a For Indigenous, By Indigenous housing strategy. Tackle the housing shortage in Northern Ontario. Give survivors a safe place to go. End homelessness and give more people safe and stable housing options.