Premier Doug Ford took aim at those 'vicious' commercial landlords who are set to evict struggling small businesses during COVID-19 pandemic rather than take part in government assistance programs.
A frustrated Ford said during a media availability today that he "sides with the tenants", telling landlords it makes sense to give small businesses a break since the landlords are eligible for emergency funding that will cover a significant part of the rent.
At the end of April, the federal government announced the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance Program, which provides a forgiveable loan covering up to 50 per cent of commercial rent for landlords, and lowers rent by 75 per cent for tenants for three months. But landlords must apply for it and some reportedly have not.
“If the tenant moves out, what does the landlord think, you’re going to have an army of people wanting to move in?” said Ford. “People are struggling. They’re going to sit there vacant.”
