Ontario’s housing crisis has reached a point where doing nothing is no longer an option. Delays at the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB), backlogged eviction hearings, and a shortage of rental supply have all combined to create a system that frustrates both landlords and tenants. Bill C-60 — often criticized loudly, especially by activist groups — is actually a long-overdue modernization of Ontario’s rental and planning laws.
While opponents paint it as “anti-tenant,” a closer look shows that Bill C-60 aims to rebalance a system that has been dysfunctional for years. And if Ontario wants more rentals, more investment, and more stability, this bill is a step in the right direction.
Fixing a Broken System: Speed Matters
The LTB has been plagued by long delays — sometimes months or even over a year. These delays hurt everyone:
Tenants wait too long for resolution when they have legitimate complaints.
Small landlords face financial strain when they can’t address issues or reclaim units in a timely way.
Bill C-60’s changes to timelines and procedures are meant to restore efficiency. Shorter grace periods and quicker hearings aren’t about punishing tenants — they’re about ensuring the system works at all.
A justice system isn’t fair if it’s so slow that no one can rely on it.
Encouraging More Rental Supply — Not Less
Ontario desperately needs more rental housing. But many homeowners avoid renting out units because they’re afraid of getting stuck in long, expensive LTB processes.
Bill C-60 sends a clear message:
Ontario values rental providers and wants them in the market.
By reducing procedural barriers and giving landlords more confidence, the bill encourages:
more basement units
more small, private rentals
more investment properties
more supply overall
Every expert in housing supply agrees: if we want rents to stabilize, we need more units. Bill C-60 helps unlock them.
A Fairer Approach to Rent Arrears
A reduced grace period from 14 to 7 days sounds harsh at first — but it also reflects reality. Many small landlords rely on rent to cover mortgages, insurance, taxes, and utilities.
Bill C-60 encourages responsibility on both sides:
Tenants still have time to catch up.
Landlords get clarity sooner.
And importantly:
Tenants who communicate, negotiate payment plans, or seek assistance still have options.
But the law also ensures that non-payment can’t drag on for months without resolution.
Clarity for Personal-Use Evictions
Removing the mandatory one-month compensation for personal-use evictions (when 120 days’ notice is given) isn’t about being unfair — it’s about fairness to property owners.
If a landlord or their immediate family genuinely needs to move into a unit, requiring them to pay thousands of dollars in compensation isn’t always reasonable — especially for small-scale property owners.
The long notice period (4 months) still gives tenants ample time to plan their next move.
Improving the Appeal System
Reducing the appeal window from 30 days to 15 days makes the system:
faster
clearer
less vulnerable to stalling tactics
Appeals should be for genuine errors or injustices — not used as delay tactics. Shorter timelines encourage faster resolution while still protecting the right to appeal.
Strengthening Ontario’s Rental Market for the Long Term
The biggest misunderstanding about Bill C-60 is the idea that tenant protection comes only from strict regulations. In reality, the strongest tenant protection is a healthy, abundant rental market — one with:
more choice
more availability
more investment
more competition
more incentive to maintain units
Ontario has suffered from years of too few rental units being built. Bill C-60 is part of a broader plan to increase housing supply, speed up approvals, and make it easier for both small landlords and large developers to invest in Ontario.
The Bottom Line: Bill C-60 Creates Balance
Instead of framing the bill as “pro-landlord vs. anti-tenant,” it should be seen as:
pro-functionality,
pro-efficiency, and
pro-housing supply.
Ontario simply cannot maintain a fair housing system if the processes that govern it are broken. Bill C-60 modernizes outdated rules, removes bottlenecks, and makes the rental market more predictable for everyone involved.
In the long run, that’s good for tenants and landlords — and essential for solving Ontario’s housing crisis.
