To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:
WHEREAS Ontario renters frequently spend more than 30% of their income on rent;
WHEREAS Above Guideline Rent Increases (AGIs) are being consistently exploited by corporate landlords to raise rents for tenants in rent-controlled homes above the provincial maximum annual increase of 2.5%;
WHEREAS AGI requests have increased by 250% in the last 11 years;
WHEREAS the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) requires landlords to maintain their properties using rent for upkeep, despite many tenants facing ignored maintenance requests and buildings suffering from chronic disrepair;
WHEREAS Tenants can pay up to $35,000 more in rent during the approximately 10-15 year lifetime of an AGI;