Toronto brothers were almost evicted for being a single penny short on rent

Two brothers in Toronto narrowly avoided eviction late last year over a one-cent shortfall, and tenant advocates say it reveals just how dicey renting has become in Ontario, and how proposed legislation could make it even worse. 

According to the York South-Weston Tenant Union, Toronto brothers Olliver and Carl received an eviction order last year without a hearing or warning. Based on documents supplied by the union, their landlord filed for eviction after the brothers paid $1,860 instead of the required $1860.01, just a one-cent difference. 

Thankfully, with the help of the union, the brothers were able to "set aside" the order, which allows tenants to contest an eviction after it has been issued. However, the union warns that under the proposed legislation introduced by the Ford government, that option could disappear altogether. 

The eviction order received by the brothers. Photo: York South-Weston Tenant Union.

Last month, the provincial government introduced Bill 60: Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act, 2025, which sets out several proposals focused on housing, development, and infrastructure, as well as proposed amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) and the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB).

The bill contains 13 tenancy-related initiatives, with the province's stated goal being to speed up and increase the supply of rental homes. Some of the proposals include shortening eviction processes for rent arrears and reducing compensation for renters being evicted. 

"Bill 60 would have put me and my brother on the streets over one penny we didn't even know that we owed. We can't let this Bill pass," Olliver said. The union notes that the brothers are just one of hundreds of members whose landlords have tried to evict them over small amounts of money. 

"There isn't a doubt in my mind that Bill 60 is going to lead to more people living in tents," said Chiara Padovani, co-chair of the York South-Weston Tenant Union. 

"One penny eviction orders are already happening at the Landlord and Tenant Board, and Doug Ford wants to take away tenants' ability to defend themselves against such outrageous eviction attempts by passing Bill 60." 

In a letter sent to City Council on Monday, the executive director of the City's housing secretariat, Doug Rollins, wrote that while the changes may speed up LTB processes, they "limit renters' rights" to protect their tenancies and appeal decisions. 

"These changes will also increase the likelihood of evictions in Toronto and across the province, and could add pressures to City programs which provide financial support, eviction prevention services, and housing stability supports," Rollins wrote. 

Mayor Olivia Chow also strongly opposed the bill in a letter to the City's executive committee, writing that she was "shocked" to learn of the provincial government's proposals. 

"Sadly, our progress to empower and protect renters is at risk due to the Province of Ontario's new legislation. Bill 60 proposes changes to the Residential Tenancies Act that would make it easier to evict renters, and cut the financial compensation renters get when they are evicted," Chow wrote. 

If passed, Mayor Chow says the bill would block renters from introducing new evidence to support their cases at LTB hearings, cut in half the time available for renters to appeal unfair decisions at the LTB to 15 days, and make it easier for landlords to evict renters but cutting notice periods in half. 

Even when Doug Ford doesn’t make you a priority, when his own political interests are threatened, he backs down. I spoke about how we took a strong stand and fought back on the province’s recent attack on tenants’ rights through Bill 60. pic.twitter.com/jepBVISDCV

— Josh Matlow (@JoshMatlow) November 13, 2025

On Wednesday, City Council voted overwhelmingly to oppose the Ford government's proposed amendments, with many councillors calling them a threat to housing stability.

The motion, which was introduced by Mayor Chow, passed 23 to one (with two abstentions. Only Councillor Stephen Holiday (Etobicoke Centre) voted against it, arguing that the province's proposals are aimed at getting developers to construct crucial rental housing.