ACORN Canada | Uniting Communities for Justice

Tenants in New Westminster Stand up to Slum Landlords

ACORN Canada members in BC were at it again, going after problem landlords and holding them accountable as part of our larger Healthy Homes Campaign.  This time in New Westminster, ACORN members had city inspectors out to inspect their building and at the same time held an action to demand their landlord, the Sahota family, clean up their act.  

You may remember from previous BC updates that this isn’t the first time a building owned by the Sahota family has been in the news.  Less than two months ago, a member in Surrey won a precedent setting fina against the family for failing to maintain a building in Surrey.   Moving forward ACORN will be laying out reforms to the Residential Tenancy Act, and reforms to how the act is enforced, as well as turning up the heat on the Sahota family and other slum landlords who think having families live in hellacious conditions is acceptable. Stay tuned for this as our members have no plans of stopping until everyone has a healthy home!

Inside Toronto: Toronto tenants, politicians to talk rent control

Toronto politicians and tenants will talk this Saturday, May 12, afternoon about whether Ontario's government should reinstate permanent rent controls and allow the city to license its landlords.

ACORN Canada (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, Canada) has fought for a system of landlord licensing in Toronto which would force landlords to pay for repairs, but it cannot happen without changes in provincial law.

The advocacy group, which says the city's rents "continue to skyrocket" as buildings deteriorate, also wants to see the province return to rent controls which limit permitted rent increases on apartments whether or not those apartments are vacant.

Liberal and New Democrat MPPs and city councillors have been invited to a provincial housing forum on these issues at 1:30 p.m. at the Ontario Federation of Labour building on Gervais Drive, near the corner of Don Mills Road and Eglinton Avenue East.

Original article available at: http://www.insidetoronto.com/news/local/article/1353953--toronto-tenants-politicians-to-talk-rent-control

We Are Ontario Rally a Success

Toronto ACORN members joined with over 15,000 activists, labour organizations and community groups from across the province on the lawn of Queen's Park earlier this month to rally against austerity measures in the Liberals’ provincial budget.  

The crowd heard moving and powerful speeches from representatives of nearly 20 organizations before moving forward in an impressive march through the city.  The event helped put pressure on the government to vote for a budget that adds a surtax on the super rich, and rejects a social assistance rate freeze.

Ottawa ACORN Rally for Improved Social Assistance

Ottawa ACORN members and our allies from the Put Food in the Budget campaign will take Dalton McGuinty shopping to show how social assistance is failing recipients who are trying to buy healthy food for their families. There will be a press event and outreach in front of 1465 Merivale Rd (Food Basics) on Thurs, May 24 at 12 noon.

Ottawa ACORN & Put Food in the Budget are calling for an increase in Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program.

Cape Breton ACORN Continues Impressive Growth

Cape Breton ACORN is growing fast! Dozens of people came together to rally (link) for affordable and livable housing, and hundreds are now involved. Members are planning the next steps of their Healthy Homes campaign, and deciding what other issues to build campaigns in response to.

There’s an important municipal election on the horizon in Cape Breton, and ACORN Canada members will be working hard to make sure tenants’ voices are heard. Member-organizers will work door-to-door to boost voter turnout and make their issues into election issues.

To get involved, contact Cape Breton ACORN (http://www.acorncanada.org/contact)!

Ottawa Citizen: Tenants group presses for better housing standards

OTTAWA — Members of Ottawa ACORN rallied Wednesday in Sandalwood Park to press the City of Ottawa for better housing standards in their battle to get quicker action from landlords on repair and maintenance issues.

About 20 members were at the park near Herongate Mall, holding signs that read “We Want Healthy Homes” and “Make Landlords Accountable” and reiterating their concerns about the need to live in safe and clean housing.

ACORN Ottawa has about 9,700 members and is one of the largest tenant organizations in the city.

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