A tenants group trying to avoid eviction in Trenton is holding a protest outside Bay of Quinte MPP Todd Smith’s office Friday.
Hands off our Homes Quinte West hopes that Smith, who is also the Minister of Energy, will arrange a meeting for the group with Housing Minister Steve Clark.
The group was formed after Bedford Properties handed out renoviction notices to some tenants of four Sidney Street apartment buildings with more expected to be delivered.
A spokesperson for Hands off our Homes says there has been no response from Bedford Properties or its owner Mark Knodell.
Shannon Lawrence says, “The purpose of the rally is to make Minister Smith know, that while it is great that his government made a funding announcement last week to give over six million to local governments to create programming to counter homelessness and the root causes, it does not address the fact current legislation contributes to the homelessness crisis.”
Lawrence further added, “If the government really wanted to help combat homelessness they would take a look at and make amendments to Bill 97 that is currently before the legislature. They need to allow landlords the ability to get rid of bad tenants in a more streamlined way while also protecting good tenants from the use of N13s like Mark Knodell of Bedford Properties has used in more than one city.”
Lawrence says Clark drives through the region when travelling between his home riding of Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes and Queen’s Park and could stop in to see the situation for himself any time.
The rally begins at 10 a.m. at Smith’s office in Rossmore.
