Item - 2025.EC24.10

City Council considered the following items together:

EC24.10 headed “Understanding the Impacts of Bill 60 on Homelessness in Toronto”;

EX27.1 headed “Impacts of Provincial Legislation that Weakens Rental Protections”; and

HL28.5 headed “Understanding the Impacts of Bill 60 on Health and Well-Being in Toronto”.

The Economic and Community Development Committee recommends that:

1. City Council request the Association of Municipalities of Ontario to convene a province-wide research collaborative to prepare forecasts, models, and estimates for the province-wide impacts of Bill 60 on reducing housing stability and the need for municipal shelter and housing services.

The Economic and Community Development Committee:

1. Directed the General Manager, Toronto Shelter and Support Services and the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat, in collaboration with the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer and other relevant divisions, to report to the November 12, 2025 meeting of City Council with analysis on the potential impacts of Bill 60 on housing stability for Toronto renters, including the increased financial burden for tenants facing eviction; the potential cost to the City for enhanced emergency shelter services, and housing and legal supports; and the contemplated changes to “security of tenure” or a further weakening of rent control.

On October 23, 2025, the provincial government introduced Bill 60: Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act, which includes concerning changes to tenancy rights and eviction protections. This legislation has sweeping consequences for Toronto renters and threatens to deepen the homelessness crisis in our city.

It is a good sign that the province has backed away from their initial proposal to also look at changing or ending “security of tenure” after outcries and organizing from tenants across the province. For the sake of Torontonians, we need to make sure this isn’t contemplated again in the future.

Earlier this year, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario reported that over 80,000 people are experiencing homelessness across our province in 2024. In Toronto, the 2024 Street Needs Assessment showed significant increases in the number of people experiencing homelessness since 2018, with demand for City shelter and housing services at a record high. Critically, 42% of people surveyed in the Street Needs Assessment said that information about their legal rights as tenants could have prevented their loss of housing.

If the provincial government’s proposals to erode tenant rights and make it easier to evict Torontonians becomes law, we could see a significant increase in renters losing their housing, becoming homeless, and requiring access to already-stretched City shelter and housing services. My recommendations request that City staff provide analysis on the potential impacts of Bill 60 on homelessness in Toronto so that we can be prepared.