Late February, Ray Rashid (left on the picture), a member of our board of directors, alongside our lobbyist from Hillcrest Consulting, met with Doug Ford premier of Ontario, Doug Downey attorney general, Peter Bethlenfalvy minister of finances and other conservative political party representatives.
The evening kicked off with light banter, humor and a few speeches. Working the room, our SOLO representatives introduced themselves, our views and the injustices that landlords have faced.
During our quick meeting with Finance Minister Bethlenfalvy, we explained the financial hardships that landlords have experienced, and that we are a group that was forgotten during the pandemic. Ray explained that landlords felt unsupported when no financial relief was provided, while we witnessed other small businesses receiving support.
We met Doug (Ford) and Doug (Downey) next. We explained how the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) and Landlord Tenant Board (LTB) are heavily in favour of tenants, so we advocated for change to ensure that both parties are equally represented.
Thankfully, they agreed that efficient access to justice and policies that support both parties are on their radar. They reiterated that they empathize with landlords particularly “mom and pop” landlords.
Attorney General Doug Downey spoke about a new mediation system that he is in the process of implementing. He believes that this will improve mediation and arbitration, resulting in a faster, more efficient LTB. We reminded both Dougs that access delayed is access denied !
In conclusion, the event was a small win. Our brand, our mission and our members have made an appearance and have taken one small step in partnering with our political leaders. We must strive to continue to be in the presence of decision-makers and hold them accountable for their promises.
