In a swift reversal following criticism over Bill 60, the Ontario government has announced it will no longer proceed with a controversial proposal that threatened to dismantle key tenant protections in the province’s rental housing system.
Introduced October 23rd as part of a broader housing bill, the change would have allowed landlords to evict tenants at the end of their lease agreements—effectively eliminating Ontario’s long-standing “security of tenure” rules. The move sparked immediate concern from housing advocates, legal experts, and renters across the province, who warned that the change could destabilize the rental market and increase housing insecurity.
On Sunday afternoon, Housing Minister Rob Flack confirmed the government was walking back the proposal.
“Residents expect stability and predictability in Ontario’s rental market, and now is not the time to consider changes to this system,” Flack said in a statement posted to X. “As such, we have decided not to proceed with consultations on potential changes to month-to-month leases.”
The reversal comes amid growing scrutiny of Ontario’s housing policies, as affordability and supply challenges continue to dominate public discourse. While the government has pledged to build more homes and streamline development, critics argue that tenant protections must remain a cornerstone of any housing strategy.
ACORN Canada has been vocal in its opposition to the government’s now-abandoned proposal to eliminate “security of tenure” for renters. In response to the initial bill, the group launched a letter-writing campaign and issued a strongly worded statement condemning the move as “a backdoor to end rent control” and a “disaster for tenants”
ACORN wrote: “The government is claiming that moving to fixed term leases (a NIGHTMARE for tenants in other provinces) will unlock “tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of new units.” But let’s not forget that this was the same argument Doug Ford made in 2018 when he removed rent control on new developments. So has housing supply increased during this time? NO! Ontario housing starts are at an all time low.”
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