Issue 74 – 25, October 26th, 2025
Concerns About Ontario’s Proposal of New Housing Laws
On Thursday, Premier Doug Ford's government introduced a new housing bill that aims to speed up the building of new homes. But hidden inside this bill are proposals that end rent control. The government is planning to make big changes to rental housing laws, and these changes could be very harmful, especially for seniors and union retirees who rent their housing.
Right now, most tenants in Ontario have something called "security of tenure." This means they can stay in their rental homes as long as they follow the lease rules and laws. Landlords can't kick out tenants without a good reason, and after a fixed-term lease ends, tenants can often stay on a month-to-month basis. This protection helps keep tenants, especially seniors and people on fixed incomes, safe from sudden evictions.
The government wants to change this rule. The new bill suggests that landlords could decide how long someone can stay in their rental unit, based on market conditions, personal needs, or business plans. Most worryingly, the bill ends rent control entirely. Without rent control, landlords could raise rents as high as they want, whenever they want, making it harder for seniors and vulnerable tenants to afford their homes.
Many seniors live on fixed incomes, like pensions or savings. They depend on predictable rent prices and a safe place to live. If rent control ends, their rent could suddenly skyrocket, or they might be forced to move out because they can no longer afford it.
The bill also suggests ending rules that require landlords to give tenants compensation if they take back a rental unit for their own use. It means tenants could be evicted without extra money to help them move. Additionally, the government wants to speed up eviction procedures, making it easier for landlords to kick out tenants quickly, which could make it harder for tenants to challenge or delay evictions. If these laws pass, many long-term tenants could lose their homes.
Seniors and people with disabilities, who depend on stability, might be forced to move. This could lead to more homelessness among seniors. Overall, the housing situation could become worse, with more people struggling to find affordable, stable housing.
It’s important for the government to hear that everyone wants fair, affordable, and secure housing, especially for those who need it most.
Read more - Doug Ford Moves to End Rent Control - ACORN Canada
Why Cooperative Housing Is Important for Seniors and Union Retirees
Housing is a basic human right. Everyone deserves a safe, affordable place to live, especially seniors and union retirees who often need stable and affordable housing options. One of the best ways to provide this kind of housing is through cooperative housing, or co-ops.
A housing co-op is a group of people who come together to own and manage their homes. Instead of owning a house or apartment outright, members buy shares in the cooperative. They work together to make decisions about maintenance, rules, and expenses. Cooperative housing is flexible and can include small buildings or large apartment complexes. Some co-ops rent out units, while others are owned by the members.
Co-ops often have lower rent or fees because members share costs. This helps seniors and retirees on a fixed income afford their homes. Living in a co-op creates a close-knit community. Seniors can enjoy social activities, support each other, and avoid feeling lonely. Co-ops usually have rules to keep housing affordable and prevent sudden rent increases or evictions. This stability is vital for retirees who need to plan their finances. In co-ops, members work together to take care of their homes, which can lead to better maintenance and a cleaner, safer environment.
Government policies are very important in making cooperative housing a good option for seniors and retirees. Some countries recognize housing co-ops as part of their affordable housing strategies. When governments support co-ops, they help legitimize these housing options and connect them to programs that provide funding or resources.
However, in many places, cooperative housing is seen as a niche or informal solution. This means they might not get enough support or legal protection. To fix this, governments need to include co-ops in national housing policies, making it easier for them to access funding, land, and legal protections.
Governments should collect regular data about housing co-ops. This helps understand how many exist, what challenges they face, and how to support them better. Unfortunately, in Canada, data about co-ops is not always easy to find or separate from other types of housing. Better data collection can help improve policies and support for co-ops.
Laws are also essential. Clear rules about how co-ops are formed, how they manage money, and how disputes are settled make co-ops more stable and trustworthy. Some laws specify how members can buy, sell, or transfer shares, and how co-ops handle maintenance and governance. Strong legal frameworks help co-ops thrive and provide safe, affordable homes for seniors and retirees.
Organizations like the Canadian Co-op Housing Federation support local co-ops by providing training, legal advice, and advocating for better laws. They also work with government agencies to create policies that help co-ops grow and succeed.
Cooperative housing is an important way to provide affordable, stable, and community-focused homes for seniors and union retirees. Government support through good policies, clear laws, and proper data collection can help more people access this beneficial housing model. As a society, supporting co-ops ensures that everyone, especially our elders, can enjoy a safe and comfortable place to live.
Let’s hope the federal budget looks at these efforts in a big way. Read more - In My Opinion: Revitalization at Coxwell and Queen is an Affordable Housing Success Story - Councillor Paula Fletcher
Read more - International Legal Research and Analysis Initiative of the International Cooperative Alliance | ICA
Is Canada’s Health Care System Moving Fast Enough?
Getting care fast when you are sick or have a new concern is very important. It helps catch problems early and can stop them from becoming serious. But in 2024, only about 27% of adults with a primary care provider could see a doctor on the same or next day for a non-urgent issue. For older adults, only 25% could get care quickly. Children and youth are slightly better, with about 42% able to see a doctor quickly.
Even though the number of primary care providers has increased, it’s just enough to match Canada’s growing population. This means about 5.7 million adults and 765,000 children still don’t have a regular doctor. A recent survey found that Canada has fewer people with access to a regular provider than other high-income countries. Some reasons for not having a provider include doctors retiring, not accepting new patients.
Our primary care system, which includes family doctors and nurses, helps keep us healthy. When people get care early, it can prevent big health problems later. This saves lives and money. But many Canadians are still having a hard time getting the care they need, and some say the system is moving too slowly to fix these issues.
Some provinces and territories have more providers than others. How long people wait to see a doctor affects how much they trust the health system. In 2024, about 61% of Canadian adults said they were satisfied with their wait time. Older adults were more satisfied than younger ones. People in cities are more likely to get same-day care than those in rural areas. Interestingly, people living in rural areas were more satisfied with wait times, even though they had less access to same-day appointments. Waiting a long time to see a doctor can be frustrating, especially for people with complex health conditions that need ongoing attention.
Without a regular doctor, many people turn to walk-in clinics, urgent care centers, or emergency rooms. While these places can help in emergencies, they don’t always provide the follow-up care needed for long-term health. Some people decide not to seek care at all, which can lead to worse health problems down the road.
Having chronic conditions that need regular care can lead to hospital visits if problems aren’t caught early. Sadly, the number of hospitalizations for conditions that could be avoided with good primary care increased slightly in 2024. This shows that the health system still needs to do better.
Canada is working on many ways to make primary care better. For example, British Columbia opened a new medical school to train more family doctors. Other provinces are trying to increase the number of health care providers, make it easier for international professionals to work here, and use virtual care (like video calls with doctors) to reduce wait times.
In Quebec, new laws have made it easier for doctors by reducing paperwork, freeing up thousands of appointments each year. These efforts are important, but it takes time to see real improvements.
Canada’s health care system is trying to keep up with its growing and aging population. But it still faces challenges in making sure everyone can see a doctor when they need to, get care quickly, and be satisfied with their experience.
Read more - Taking the pulse: Measuring shared priorities for Canadian health care, 2025 | CIHI
Interesting Webinar, Wednesday, October 29, 2025, 12-1 PM ET
In recognition of Canadian Patient Safety Week 2025 (taking place from October 27 to 31st), join Dr. Emily McDonald — physician specializing in patient safety and Director of the Canadian Medication Appropriateness and Deprescribing Network — for a live, interactive webinar. Learn essential questions to ask to ensure all your medications are still necessary and helping you!
Read more - 5Q Webinar — Do I still need this medication? Is deprescribing for you?