Premier warns landlords to be fair on rent relief

As Ottawa and Queen’s Park team up to bring $900 million in commercial rent relief to small- and mid-sized businesses, Premier Doug Ford is warning “greedy landlords” to be reasonable to tenants.

“I’m trying to be fair, but don’t push me,” Ford said on the eve of Wednesday’s announcement by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to help companies affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“These big landlords want to take advantage of small little companies and people that are struggling. I’m going to come down on them like they’ve never seen before,” the premier thundered.

However, Ford has resisted calls from small business groups to impose a moratorium on commercial evictions during the coronavirus crisis.

In Ottawa, Trudeau said a portal to apply for the new “Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance” program would open Monday.

The prime minister said it provides “forgivable loans to landlords so that they can reduce by 75 per cent the rent for small business tenants that have lost the majority of their revenue because of COVID-19” for April, May, and June.

“Once this launches, you’ll receive your relief quickly. Our government, along with the provinces and territories, will cover 50 per cent of the rent. We’re asking that landlords absorb 25 per cent and tenants pay the rest with the support of programs like the (Canada Emergency Business Account program.)”

Ford has also been urging landlords to be flexible — and pragmatic.

“We’re giving you 75 per cent of what you’re asking for. Nothing drives me more crazy than greedy landlords taking advantage of people and small business owners that are just trying to keep their head above water.”