Ontario premier warns landlords price-gouging after Barrie tornado to 'stop immediately'
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is "strongly urging" landlords involved in price-gouging rental properties in Barrie following a tornado that caused roughly 100 people to be displaced to "stop immediately."
"These incidents of price-gouging in Barrie are absolutely unacceptable," the premier said Thursday. "No one should be taking advantage of people who are in vulnerable situations through no fault of their own."
Last week, the premier toured the tornado-stricken neighbourhood and spoke to several residents who lost their homes in the storm that produced winds of 210 km/h.
"I saw first-hand how local residents came together to help their neighbours in their time of need. That is the true Ontario spirit," Ford said.
Kim Ridgers' house was significantly damaged on the eve of reopening her Oxygen Yoga & Fitness studio, leaving her searching for a place to rent.
"There are some really awful people out there trying to capitalize on this, and it's just heartbreaking," she said. "I went to showings that went up thousands of dollars by the time I got there. That's just crazy."
Ridgers eventually signed a lease but not before the landlord came back and wanted $200 more per month. She says she walked away from another deal after that landlord asked for another $500 per month after they had agreed on a price.
Doug Cornwall is trying to rebuild his life after the EF-2 tornado and said the prices of rental properties "have increased everywhere we look."
Rent for a single-family home in the city is up roughly six per cent from last year, according to the Barrie and District Association of Realtors (BDAR).
BDAR president Chantal Godard said landlords are taking advantage of people.
"A detached home in Barrie, for a three-bedroom home you're looking at about $3,000 and up for rent for that," said Godard.
Barrie ranked in third place as the most expensive city to rent in Canada, surpassing Toronto, which fell to fourth place.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Maple Leafs fall to Bruins in Game 3, trail series 2-1
Brad Marchand scored twice, including the winner in the third period, and added an assist as the Boston Bruins downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series Wednesday
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
New Indigenous loan guarantee program a 'really big deal,' Freeland says at Toronto conference
Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was among the 1,700 delegates attending the two-day First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) conference that concluded Tuesday in Toronto.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.