10.04.2018 06:46 AM

You’d think the “chief planner” would know something like this

Ouch.

“Self-described affordable housing champion Jennifer Keesmaat did not appear to know that private condos in the province are now covered by rent control…Ontario’s former Liberal government extended rent control to all private rental units across the province in May 2017 — a move that responded to complaints of skyrocketing rents but which critics say came at the cost of more rental construction. Keesmaat did not seem familiar with this legislation, Whelan said.”

7 Comments

  1. Campbell says:

    I do hope that more than just two mayoral contenders attended that TREB forum, lest Tory appear to be a hypocrite with respect to his criteria for attending events.

    Having said that, I do completely agree that Keesmaat ought to have been aware of the change is legislation that occurred in 2017, even if she was no longer chief planner at that point in time.

  2. Derek Pearce says:

    Interesting, I did not know this at all. Am glad to hear it. But you’re right, she should have. Egg on her face on this one.

  3. Matt says:

    Maybe she’s been having secret meetings with Premier Ford like she accused Tory of having regarding the council cut and Ford told her he’s killing the legislation that brought in the rent controls on private units.

  4. Matt says:

    So, apparently her new big affordable housing idea is what she is calling “Rent to Own” which would be paid for by putting a surtax on luxury home sales (those over $4 million) in Toronto.

    Correct me if I’m wrong but she would need Premier Ford’s permission to do that. You know, the guy who came to power championing lower taxes and the guy she has been attacking from the day she announced she was running for mayor.

    Good luck with that.

    • doconnor says:

      Toronto was granted the right to create a Land Transfer Tax by the Toronto Act. They have had one for several years and are free to adjust the rates and thresholds. Rob Ford promised to eliminate it, but didn’t.

      Ford could stop them, but it requiring another urgent, vengeful law to be passed.

      • Matt says:

        The City of Toronto Act doesn’t give the Toronto carte blanche to do what they want. They still needs approval from the province for all kinds of things despite the City of Toronto Act.

        Road tolls for example. Tory wanted them. Wynne said no.

      • doconnor says:

        I was incorrect about the proposal. It is a property tax, not a Land Transfer tax, so I’m not sure if Toronto has the authority to impose it.

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