Ottawa ACORN protesters bring Bill 23 ‘exit’ concerns to minister’s home office

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Brockville — About 20 demonstrators from the Ottawa chapter of ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now), which advocates for low- and middle-income people, gathered at Clark’s Brockville constituency office, Building 23. , protested against the Build More Homes Faster Act (Bill 23), which is intended to encourage the construction of more homes amid a statewide housing crisis.

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Prime Minister Doug Ford’s government aims to build 1.5 million homes over the next decade, but demonstrators say the bill will create affordable housing while paving the way for new construction. It says it will remove the protection of evicted tenants to give up, the so-called “removal.”

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Edward Roué, Chairman of ACORN’s Central Ottawa Chapter, said:

“Most of the housing that is built is not affordable.”

The group argues that the bill would undermine cities’ ability to promote affordable housing through inclusive zoning, while also destroying existing affordable housing by accelerating demovictions.

In Ottawa, Roué said both the incoming city council and incoming city council wanted a blanket zoning law, but from the state “all of it will be thrown out the window by Dictat.”

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The Brockville demonstration was one of the few ACORN protests statewide in Toronto, the Peel area, Hamilton and London.

ACORN argues that cities with rental alternative ordinances that protect tenants when landlords demolish buildings or convert them into condominiums will no longer apply those ordinances if Bill 23 is passed.

When the protesters first approached the minister’s office, no one was there.

Clark’s cabinet staff said workers in the local constituency chose to work from home “out of an abundance of caution” after being informed of the protests.

The group chose to tape the banners and posters to the glass inside the office.

Clark is also an MPP for Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Lake Rideau.

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ACORN members then briefly picketed in front of Clark’s office before scattering around the neighborhood to talk to voters.

In a prepared statement sent to Postmedia, Clark rejected ACORN’s allegations.

“Our latest initiative, More Homes Built Faster, proposes decisive action to cut costs and reduce delays so more Ontarians can find homes that meet their needs and budgets. I do,” said the Minister.

“Nothing in the proposed law would alter or undermine the strict protections for Ontario tenants provided for in the Residential Tenancies Act. We retain all existing rights and obligations with respect to rights, indemnification and breach.”

Clark said the state government should “whether, and to what extent, municipal rental substitution ordinances, currently known to exist only in Toronto and Mississauga, could affect housing availability and renter protection.” He proposed consultation on how this would affect the situation.

“This proposal will promote consistency and clarity across the state, reduce bureaucracy at the local government level, and support the creation of more dedicated rentals in the future.”

Rzajac@postmedia.com