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
BREAKING King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
'Unacceptable': Trudeau reacts after AFN chief says headdress taken from plane cabin
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief said her headdress was taken from an airplane cabin this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the incident 'unacceptable' and a 'mistake' on the part of Air Canada.
Regina police officer injured after being accidentally shot by fellow officer's gun
An investigation is underway after a Regina police officer was accidentally shot by a fellow officer’s gun during the search of a house early Friday morning.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The current overall public health risk posed by the H5N1 bird flu virus is low, the World Health Organization said on Friday, but urged countries to stay alert for cases of animal-to-human transmission.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Island near Mull of Kintyre for sale for US$3.1 million
An idyllic 453-acre private island is up for sale off the west coast of Scotland and it comes with sandy beaches, puffins galore, seven houses, a pub, a helipad and a flock of black-faced sheep.