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Zurich Citizens News, 1975-11-12, Page 19is Jottings by Jack from Queens Park The Residential Premises Rent Review Act, was introduced by the Honourable John Rhodes, Minister of Housing, in the Leg- islature this week. Mr. Rhodes said that the introduction of rent control in Ontario, at this time is in keeping with the Govern- ment's undertaking during the last election, and that it should be viewed in the context of the fed- eral government's anti-inflation measures which it is designed to complement. The Minister indic- ated that he was concerned that the possibility of rent control could have an adverse effect on the development of rental accommodation which is already scarce in a number of commun- ities. However, Mr. Rhodes said that at a time when rents have been climbing, wages limited ZURICH CITIZENS NEWS, NOVEMBER 12, 1975 - PAGE 19 Rentreview act discussed by Huron MPP and prices subject to review, rent levies must be legislated for the common good. The General principles of the Legislation are - -Leases commencing• between July 29, 1975 and January 1, 1976, will be limited to a maxim- um rental increase of 8% of the rent paid in July, 1975. During this period the allowable increase cannot be appealed 'by either party. Appeals will be allowed either party for the balance of the tEdin after January 1, 1976. Provision is made to require landlords to refund overpay- ments. -Leases commencing between December 31, 1975 and August 1, 1976 will be subject to a max- imum rental increase of 8% which may be appealed be either landlord or tenant. -Leases commencing between July 31, 1976 and August 1, 1977, will be subject to a new maximum rental increase establ- ished by Order -In -Council, which may be appealed by either land- Iord or tenant. -Disputes will be first heard by a rent review officer with a right of appeal by either party to the rent review board. -The onus will be on the land- lord to demonstrate that increas- ed costs justify the rent increase. -Residential premises for the purpose of the Act will either be a dwelling unit that contains bathroom and kitchen facilities or land used as a site for a mob- ile home. -Rent will mean, not only the amount paid by the tenant for accommodation, but that paid for any ancillary service "or thing" such as parking or lockers. -A tenancy agreement may be written, oral or implied. -The rent review officer will be empowered to approve the amount sought by a landlord if he is satisfied the costs presented justify the amount of the rent increase. On the other hand he can order the landlord to reduce the rent increase to an amount less than 8%. This Act will not apply to a number of residential premises. These include those owned by federal or provincial govern- ments or government agencies, buildings of four residential units or fewer, luxury accommodation, which is defined as having a rent of more than $500 a month, co-operatives and non-profit housing and several similar exclu- sions. Also exempted are new buildings, no part of which were occupied for residential purposes before January 1, 1976. Any person who knowingly contravenes the Act, is liable to a fine not exceeding $2,000. The Attorney General, The Honourable Roy McMurtry, informed the Legislature that in view of the introduction of the Residential Rent Review Act, further legislation to ensure security of tenure, is required. Therefore, he intends to introd- uce amendments to the Landlord and Tenant Act, to protect ten- ants who become involved in rent disputes. Last Tuesday evening some 3,000 Metro Toronto high school teachers staged a mass demonst- ration at Queen's Park "to urge the Government to take a more responsible stand on the hand- over of provincial control of educ- ation to the federal government," because the Anti-inflation Board in Ottawa is to have the final say in settling the matter of the teachers' new contract. Opposition Members have pres- sured the Provincial Government to establish a provincial board to deal with wages of employees in the public sector, such as teachers, instead of giving juris- diction to the federal govern- ment under the new anti-inflat- ion guidelines. In fact, Liberal Leader Bob Nixon, tabled a mot- ion in the Legislature to the effect that the House regretted the failure of the Government to accept its responsibility to provide for the direct administ- ration of federal Wage and Price Controls. The Provincial Government continues to insist on leaving the administratin of the new controls with the federal Board. Teachers have refused to sign for an inc- rease beyond the federal guide- lines, conditional on approval of Ottawa, accepting an interim increase of 12%, and Ottawa cannot review a contract until it has been signed. This means that negotiations are at a stale- mate, and the teachers have now voted overwhelmingly to go on strike, which will affect some 140,000 high school students. In reply to a question by Mr. Vern Singer, Liberal Member for Wilson Heights, as to what progress the Attorney General made in tightcning up or having the federal authorities tighten up the drinking and driving laws, Mr. McMurtry indicated that he attended a federal -provincial meeting of Attorneys -General in Halifax recently and made representations to his federal counterpart with respect to a proposed amendment to the Criminal Code. The proposed amendment dealt with removing from the Criminal Code the power of a judge, in most instances it would be a trial judge, to make order or prohibition arising as a result of a drinking and driving offence. Mr. McMurtry said he indicated that in his view this was not in the best interest of controlling or reducing the very serius problem relating to drink- ing and driving on our provincial highways and requested the am- endment be changed and that trial judges be given the power to make driving prohibitions up to a period of a lifetime for the appropriate case. Mrs. Margaret Campbell, Liberal Member for St. George, asked the Minister of Commun- ity and Social Services, whether he has given consideration to redefining disability for the purp- oses of GAINS. Mr. Taylor the Minister of Community and Soc- ial Services, said that a great deal of consideration has been given but that it is a difficult problem as there is supposedly a difference between the perman- ently unemployable and the permanently disabled. There has been a review of everyone from 60 to 65 years and there has been a massive transfer. Mrs. Andeman, NDP member for Peterborough, asked the Minister of Consumer and Com- mercial Affairs whether he was aware of the different require- ments made for married women who wish to get credit from a credit union or a bank as opp- osed to those made for married men. xs t f 1 t / , / / / / , / I , / , / t , / 1 r , / , / / , , , , / I, , t / / , / / / / , , / , / / t / / / , / •, , / , / / I / e s , / , , / , , NthN.•••••••"`•\\\\\•\.\%••1\•\\•Nr • • ♦\\w\\\v\a\\\xis\ %Nov / / , / / f / / / / / r / , / DEJONG'S GRAND BEND CLOTHING 47 Main St. — Grand Bend PHONE 1382358 Hudson Bay Coats 70 TO OFF Continues to November 15 E XI lei mg Wyndham Fashions *Hudson Bay & Croydon Coats * Wyndam Pant Suits *Slacks, Blouses * Apple Bee Shirts *Blue Jeans And More ma4ter rge. Everything Reduced To Clear / / i , , / I / t / / / / , , , / / l / / , / / , , / , / / , / y / / r t t / /. 4, / f / / / s I r / , , , CHARGEX 1 % ,i\%NOW%••'%a%%IN"%••%%%%\%I%%NM;%\.N.'•••••%•\>T•;%.0.0\0:\,O\% 0llr>%,\.