Tenants Disrupt Legislature as PCs Force Through Bill 60

ACORN denounces the Ontario government’s willingness to worsen homelessness to satisfy landlord lobbyists.

Today, the PC majority government passed Bill 60: the “Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act, 2025”, a bill that will fast-track evictions and push thousands closer to homelessness. ACORN members—low-income renters directly impacted by the crisis—packed the gallery at Queen’s Park alongside other tenant organizations to oppose the bill. As MPPs rose to vote in favour, ACORN members and other groups disrupted the proceedings, with the gallery erupting in chants of “People Over Profits.”

Alejandra Ruiz-Vargas, President of ACORN Canada, said:

“I can’t believe how awful this decision is. This government has ignored public opinion and denied us a voice. Bill 60 will worsen homelessness, the mental health crisis, and despair across the province. The Ford government will go down as one of the most heartless administrations in Ontario’s history. They keep squeezing tenants for every last dollar—trying to get blood from a stone—when rent already takes everything we have. When will it be enough?”

Bill 60 accelerates evictions and strips tenants of their ability to defend themselves. It won’t just target so-called “bad apples”—it will hit seniors, people with disabilities, single parents, and good tenants who suddenly fall behind (often for the first time) because of illness, job loss, or other emergencies. By cutting eviction notice periods and appeal times, and forcing tenants to pay 50% of their arrears just to be heard at the LTB, the bill gives people living paycheque to paycheque almost no time to secure legal help or emergency supports to cover their arrears. The most vulnerable will be hit the hardest.

Despite the Ford government’s retreat on fixed-term leases after 23,000 people emailed in protest through ACORN’s online campaign, the Province chose to ignore the massive public outcry against Bill 60. Why? ACORN members point to the undue influence of landlord lobbyists, particularly the Federation of Rental-Housing Providers of Ontario, which helped shape the bill and appeared publicly alongside the government to announce it.

Bader Abu-Zahra, Treasurer of ACORN Canada, said:

“It’s outrageous that landlords and developers with deep pockets have more influence over our elected officials than the people suffering under this housing crisis. Tenants are shut out while corporate lobbyists call the shots.”

The PCs’ decision comes after unprecedented tenant mobilization:

• 500-person province-wide tenant meetings
• Multi-city Halloween actions
• Countless media stories
• Daily canvassing
• Hundreds of calls to PC MPPs
• Over 130 organizations signing an open letter
• Municipalities warning about Bill 60’s strain on local services
• And more than 1,000 people rallying at Queen’s Park on National Housing Day

Despite this, the government chose to side with private profit over public good.

ACORN vows to remember every MPP who voted to make it easier to throw our members and neighbours onto the street come election time. A government that claims to be interested in tackling the housing crisis cannot justify legislation that increases evictions and deepens homelessness.

If there’s any silver lining, it’s the momentum this fight has created. More renters are joining tenant organizations like ACORN, determined to build power that can finally rival the landlord lobby. The surge of support and new members gives us real hope that this shift is already underway.

Contact [email protected] for more information.

The Aftermath…

After ACORN and other groups disrupted the Legislature over Bill 60, the fallout was immediate. Premier Doug Ford shouted “go find a job, buddy” at Hamilton ACORN leader Marc Davignon—whose “crime” was calling out that the bill will put people on the street, something he knows firsthand after surviving a renoviction.

The next day, Ford doubled down. In Question Period, he threatened to audit organizations “funneling money to ACORN,” branded us a “left-wing radical group,” and dismissed our low-income members as “paid protestors.”

Read ACORN’s full response in a letter sent to the Premier, Housing Minister, and Attorney General by ACORN Canada President, Alejandra Ruiz-Vargas.

Summary of Ontario ACORN’s response:

• ACORN is a grassroots organization of low- and moderate-income tenants who were denied any meaningful democratic avenue to provide input on Bill 60. Our members are volunteers with real stakes in how Bill 60 will impact their lives.
• Bill 60 will increase evictions and homelessness, ultimately costing taxpayers far more — including $75 million already spent clearing encampments and billions in municipal homelessness costs.
• Keeping people housed is cheaper than evicting them; a provincial rent grant program would save Ontario money, cover tenants’ arrears in emergency cases and keep people housed.
• The Premier’s threat to audit groups “funneling money to ACORN” is an intimidation tactic that distracts from the real issue: landlord lobbyists shaped Bill 60 while tenants were shut out.
• Ford’s “go get a job” remark to a disabled ACORN member was disrespectful and hypocritical, especially given his government’s cuts that have led to many job losses.
• ACORN members want a meeting with the Premier!