Photo by B. Shakyaver
Discussion at Huron County Council’s Meeting on Wednesday morning (January 24th) shed light on the significant delays presently being experienced at the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) – the governing body of evictions and tenancy disputes in Ontario.
Christine Hoffman, Manager of Housing Services, highlighted the freeze on LTB hearings across the province for five months at the beginning of 2020 in response to the pandemic, creating a backlog in hearings.
The absence of legal enforcement of evictions during this period also allowed occupants to stay in units for an extended time.
Hoffman said that Huron County’s usual caseload also experienced an explosion throughout this time, as cases across the province were pushed back.
A report initiated before the pandemic and released in May 2023, painted a clear picture of the state of tenancy and rental enforcement.
A letter from the City of Mississauga articulated their aim to expedite the resolution process, alleviating the financial burdens caused by excessive delays – which Huron County Council agreed with.
Despite recent improvements in the LTB’s process, Reeve of North Huron Paul Heffer enquired as to how many months it would take to go to hearing in Hoffman’s ideal timeline.
The council unanimously supported the motion to proceed with an advocacy letter, emphasizing the need for prompt resolutions to prevent increased costs for residents.
Written by: B. Shakyaver
