The NDP Attacks ON LL`s: the OLA (a friend of REIN) Responds!

[ontariolandlord]

In Canada`s most read paper, the Landlord/Tenant wars continue....

QUOTE Published On Thu Sep 16 2010

New Democrat MPP Cheri DiNovo is pushing for a law forcing landlords to be licensed and their premises inspected for bedbugs, saying Ontario is "doing nothing" to stop the growing scourge of pests.

"The landlord simply doesn`t get their license renewed if they don`t have a bug-free unit," the MPP for Parkdale-High Park said Thursday in proposing a private member`s bill.

"It protects good landlords and calls bad landlords to account."

Landlords would be charged a small fee for each inspection, making the initiative self-funding, DiNovo said.

The Ontario Landlords Association is the accepted official opposition to the Tenant activists. The Star added their comments:QUOTE A group representing landlords who own five units or less—often in the same building where they live themselves—accused DiNovo of "political opportunism" for trying to lump bedbugs in with the larger issue of landlord licensing.

"Let`s focus on the bedbugs first," said Stuart Henderson of the Ontario Landlords` Association, which encourages its members to inspect and thoroughly clean units when tenants leave.

The OLA is fighting anti-landlord legislation and I hope all Ontario landlords join the fight for their own financial interests.

The fight is political: http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/bedbugs/ar...-landlords?bn=1

 

[Thomas Beyer]

Some misguided alarmists many years ago disallowed DDT, causing millions to die in Aisa and Africa due to Malaria .. and bedbugs to become a real problem again in many major cities.

DDT`s benefits far outweigh it`s negative aspects when properly administered !

Allow DDT .. problem solved !

 

[housingrental]

DDT debate was before my time - was the just of it concern about increased cancer rates from exposure, and data doesn`t support this? or?

 

[EdRenkema]

QUOTE (ThomasBeyer @ Sep 18 2010, 10:43 AM) Allow DDT .. problem solved !

This is a practical solution, leftist beauracracies of course - anything but practical.

Premier `Dad` in Ontario also banned all lawn spray chemicals, useful products when properly administered, forcing certain individuals to default to using contraband substitutes which of course are available anywhere outside of Ontario (or from any farmer).

In Ontario the real solution to the problem is another provincial gov`t!

 

[GarthChapman]

QUOTE (EdRenkema @ Sep 18 2010, 07:55 PM) In Ontario the real solution to the problem is another provincial gov`t!

Indeed, but this would first require voters in Ontario to change their expectations and what they are prepared to accept from their gov`t, and what they are prepared to do about it. Don`t hold your breath Ed...all levels of gov`t in Ontario are far too pervasive in the lives of its citizens...and unless you have lived elsewhere you don`t know what you are missing.

 

[RebeccaBryan]

QUOTE (EdRenkema @ Sep 18 2010, 08:55 PM) This is a practical solution, leftist beauracracies of course - anything but practical.

Premier `Dad` in Ontario also banned all lawn spray chemicals, useful products when properly administered, forcing certain individuals to default to using contraband substitutes which of course are available anywhere outside of Ontario (or from any farmer).

In Ontario the real solution to the problem is another provincial gov`t!


I heard the weeds in Toronto are out of control because of the banned lawn spray chemicals as well.

 

[RebeccaBryan]

QUOTE (GarthChapman @ Sep 18 2010, 09:11 PM) Indeed, but this would first require voters in Ontario to change their expectations and what they are prepared to accept from their gov`t, and what they are prepared to do about it. Don`t hold your breath Ed...all levels of gov`t in Ontario are far too pervasive in the lives of its citizens...and unless you have lived elsewhere you don`t know what you are missing.


I moved from Saskatchewan to Alberta in 2001 because I did know what I was missing. Sometimes the grass is greener on the other side of the fence.

I`m not trying to slam Saskatchewan, there`s nothing like being brought up on a farm in the boonies, however, when it comes to the government, you never know what you are going to get. And it shows the intelligence level of the population to have actually ever have voted in the likes of Lorne Calvert. Brad Wall is now trying to turn things around, however, how long can he stay in power to actually have a good shot at it? There is an extremely high population of socialists in Saskatchewan so we`ll have to see what happens.

On another note, that`s why it always worries me when some REIN members from Alberta even consider investing in Saskatchewan. It`s never going to be another Alberta because it just doesn`t have a stable government and Big Business knows that.

I noticed a complete change in the attitudes of people in Alberta vs Saskatchewan when I moved here. It`s truly like night and day.

 

[MonteDobson]

QUOTE (RebeccaBryan @ Sep 19 2010, 08:10 AM) I moved from Saskatchewan to Alberta in 2001 because I did know what I was missing. Sometimes the grass is greener on the other side of the fence.

I`m not trying to slam Saskatchewan, there`s nothing like being brought up on a farm in the boonies, however, when it comes to the government, you never know what you are going to get. And it shows the intelligence level of the population to have actually ever have voted in the likes of Lorne Calvert. Brad Wall is now trying to turn things around, however, how long can he stay in power to actually have a good shot at it? There is an extremely high population of socialists in Saskatchewan so we`ll have to see what happens.

On another note, that`s why it always worries me when some REIN members from Alberta even consider investing in Saskatchewan. It`s never going to be another Alberta because it just doesn`t have a stable government and Big Business knows that.

I noticed a complete change in the attitudes of people in Alberta vs Saskatchewan when I moved here. It`s truly like night and day.
Easy now Rebecca!! Times are a changing here in good ol` Sasky...and our football team is on the rebound again too

You are right though, SK has been a very socialist regime for a long time. But I do believe though that those days are over and the attitude is changing. I am in my early 30`s and many of my friends moved away after high school to AB to make the big bucks in the oil patch. But now I am seeing many of them return because there are now good opportunities back closer to home, and they would rather raise a family here vs many areas of AB. We resisted the temptation to move to AB back in the day, something that I sometimes regret because I would have made a lot more money, but we stuck it out and are doing just fine. As for the people moving back, most of them blew all their money on fancy jacked up trucks and recreational toys and have nothing to show for it anyway...haha.

We invest both in AB and SK as I believe they are and will be the two strongest economies in the country over the next 5-10 yrs for 3 reasons - FOOD, FUEL and FERTILIZER.

 

[RebeccaBryan]

QUOTE (MonteDobson @ Sep 19 2010, 11:14 AM) Easy now Rebecca!! Times are a changing here in good ol` Sasky...and our football team is on the rebound again too

You are right though, SK has been a very socialist regime for a long time. But I do believe though that those days are over and the attitude is changing. I am in my early 30`s and many of my friends moved away after high school to AB to make the big bucks in the oil patch. But now I am seeing many of them return because there are now good opportunities back closer to home, and they would rather raise a family here vs many areas of AB. We resisted the temptation to move to AB back in the day, something that I sometimes regret because I would have made a lot more money, but we stuck it out and are doing just fine. As for the people moving back, most of them blew all their money on fancy jacked up trucks and recreational toys and have nothing to show for it anyway...haha.

We invest both in AB and SK as I believe they are and will be the two strongest economies in the country over the next 5-10 yrs for 3 reasons - FOOD, FUEL and FERTILIZER.

Monte, I`m the first one to admit that raising a family in a farming community is awesome!! I grew up there and my oldest three children grew up on a farm there as well. I was dying to go to the farm at harvest this year to run a combine, however, it was more important that I stay here to manage my Mom`s business. She`s in Saskatchewan running a combine. Harvest is somewhat dragged out this year because of having so much rain and crops seeded late.

As far as the young people that moved to Alberta and blew their money on consumer goods; that`s not Alberta`s fault, that`s their own. Too many young people aren`t willing to sacrifice a little and make those hard financial decisions not to have all the bling before they actually make money. Many don`t understand the difference between an asset and a liability and that`s what gets them in trouble. They are too worried about what other people think, so they live beyond their means. Caviar spending on a crackerjack budget. If you look at most of the multi-millionaires that are in REIN and otherwise, you can`t tell they have money. They don`t care what other people think, they just focus on themselves, stick to their plan, and put one foot ahead of the other.

There are multiple reasons that this overspending happens to our young; may I suggest it starts with our education system. There isn`t classes on how to become an entrepreneur. Why? I would suggest there isn`t qualified people to teach it, or they lack interest to do it. It`s a pretty complex issue and our education system isn`t the singular reason. Once we become adults we need to take responsibility for our own actions. We all make choices and it`s those choices that determine what kind of financial success we will enjoy.

Unfortuneately, many people don`t know where to start to get help, and some don`t realize that they need it. They just think that struggling financially is everyone`s destiny. It`s businesses like REIN that educate people and change lives.

I am a firm beleiver that if you are born into society and have a working brain, that the biggest obstacle that you need to overcome is yourself. There are many men and women that have rose above their circumstances and became successful, and that makes those of us that were born with a silver spoon in our mouth and chose not to capitalize on continuing to build the wealth that was created by the generation before us look pretty selfish. (and lazy)

The more wealth you can build, the more you have to give to society, be it employing others or giving to charity through your time, knowledge or money.

Anyway, that`s just more babble. I almost burnt the strawberry rubarb pie I made for dinner tonight. I had a little domestic moment this morning. That doesn`t happen often.

 

[mark186]

QUOTE (RebeccaBryan @ Sep 19 2010, 09:56 AM) I heard the weeds in Toronto are out of control because of the banned lawn spray chemicals as well.


Weeds are out of control as well as those of us with allergies. Thanks, Dalton.

 

[ontariolandlord]

Ontario, under a business-friendly government will be a great market for investors. I would advise everyone in the ROC to watch carefully.

1. Rob Ford is looking to be the new Mayor of Toronto (up 25 points with 5 weeks to go and the Toronto Star and The Globe and Mail trying to smear him any way they can).

2. Conservative Leader Tim Hudak is tied with Liberal Mcguinty.

Ontario could easily be the new economic leader in Canada under sound, non-socialist leadership!

Also, current Ontario property investors should support those who are fighting the NDP and the left wing Liberals! Join lobby groups and make your voices heard!

There is nothing wrong with being a wonderful and optimistic and strong RE investor from REIN...and also joining a hard-headed OLA lobby group that is fighting tooth and nail for landlord rights!!!

C`mon people. The RTA and the LTB do matter. They are now trying to license all Ontario landlords...and to control all `rent increases` even if it`s new tenants moving in you can`t increase rents...!!!

 

[EdRenkema]

QUOTE (GarthChapman @ Sep 18 2010, 09:11 PM) Indeed, but this would first require voters in Ontario to change their expectations and what they are prepared to accept from their gov`t, and what they are prepared to do about it. Don`t hold your breath Ed...all levels of gov`t in Ontario are far too pervasive in the lives of its citizens...and unless you have lived elsewhere you don`t know what you are missing.
I do know what I am missing - I was born at night it just wasn`t last night

My MPP is Tim Hudak, next time I see him I`m going to call him `Mr. Premier elect`

Sadly tho you are correct: all levels of gov`t in Ontario are far too pervasive in the lives of its citizens...
In the dim recesses of my memory I do recall s/th called The Common Sense Revolution can anyone help me with this?

 

[GarthChapman]

QUOTE (EdRenkema @ Sep 19 2010, 07:02 PM) I do know what I am missing - I was born at night it just wasn`t last night

My MPP is Tim Hudak, next time I see him I`m going to call him `Mr. Premier elect`

Sadly tho you are correct: all levels of gov`t in Ontario are far too pervasive in the lives of its citizens...
In the dim recesses of my memory I do recall s/th called The Common Sense Revolution can anyone help me with this?

Yes indeed. Voted out by the majority, it seems from out here that the majority of Ontario voters work for some level of Gov`t or newspaper or CBC, so it`s no wonder...but, if the Ontario economy gets/stays bad enough for long enough, maybe another generation of Conservatives will get a shot at rule by common sense and business friendly conditions will once again draw corporations back where hundreds of thousands are ready to get back to work.

 

[Pheenix]

QUOTE (ThomasBeyer @ Sep 18 2010, 12:43 PM) Allow DDT .. problem solved !

QUOTE (EdRenkema @ Sep 18 2010, 10:55 PM) This is a practical solution, leftist beauracracies of course - anything but practical.


Is DDT politically selective?

 

[Pheenix]

The principle problem is not left or right but the notion of responsibility. There is societal disconnect between action and consequence.

Tenant activists are a large and powerful group which arguably had their roots at a time when there was a great deal of abuse. Like powerful unions they often forget the way they are fighting the battle and the lines they drawing may have unintended consequences. Sadly, the dramatic value escalations of recent decades plays to their arguments about fat-cat landlords, lost is the risk and work side of the equation.

Politicians are not known for doing what is right but what is expedient. The more tenant horror stories that hit the news the better. Maybe if more home owners realized how difficult it is to deal with tenants conducting illegal activites they would be a little more sympathetic.

Accordingly, landlords might be better working with homeowner associations to educate people whose neighbourhoods are affected by drug houses and grow-ops, sanitation issues, general property neglect rather than being so narrowly focused on political lobbying and directly fighting the activitsts.

Similarly, individual landlords, by ensuring their nieghbours are made `partners` keeping an eye on the place, and using each contact as an opportunity to inform them of our issues and concerns at the political/bureaucratic level, can do a lot to mitigate the political problem.

Maybe some of the landlord associations could prepare `info pac`s` or flyers for distribution by members (maybe REIN members have something to share here) at various community events or more casually with personal contacts. This is the way tenant activists work.

This might be especially effective if also coordinated with local police, utilities (they hate grow-ops too), etc..

Just some thoughts.

 

[GarthChapman]

QUOTE (Pheenix @ Sep 20 2010, 05:35 AM) The principle problem is not left or right but the notion of responsibility. There is societal disconnect between action and consequence.

The nail has been hit precisely on the head!

 

[BrianPersaud]

QUOTE (EdRenkema @ Sep 19 2010, 09:02 PM) I do know what I am missing - I was born at night it just wasn`t last night

My MPP is Tim Hudak, next time I see him I`m going to call him `Mr. Premier elect`

Sadly tho you are correct: all levels of gov`t in Ontario are far too pervasive in the lives of its citizens...
In the dim recesses of my memory I do recall s/th called The Common Sense Revolution can anyone help me with this?

Hi folks, thanks to REIN members highlighting this we`re going to do a show on this tomorrow night. Be sure to tune in Inside Toronto real estate tomorrow night at 7p.

If you can`t get the show in your region, please call in at 416.446.7090 or [email protected]. Identify you are a REIN member and i`ll do my best to get you on with the MPP pushing this through