Last week, I took the opportunity to visit the new Ingleside ONroute electric vehicle (EV) fast-charging stations. Our Government is following through on its commitment to help Ontarians lower gas emissions by actively expanding EV charging availability. We now have 11 ONroutes locations with chargers, including our region’s first one in South Glengarry, next to the Quebec border. Eventually, there will be 69 stations at all 23 ONroute service centres. The charging expansion will make life easier for people to drive EVs while promoting economic opportunities in the manufacturing and mining sectors. As a result, we expect EV sales in Ontario to skyrocket in the coming years so that by 2030, one in three vehicles sold will be electric. We are also evaluating new ways to decrease the cost of electric charging, such as implementing a new ultra-low overnight Time-of-Use pricing plan.
This week, our Government announced that LG Energy Solution and automaker Stellantis are joining forces to build the province’s first large-scale electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturing plant. The joint venture will invest more than $5 billion to build a facility in Windsor to manufacture batteries for EVs in Canada, representing the largest automotive manufacturing investment in the province’s history. This historic investment puts Ontario on a path to becoming one of the most vertically integrated automotive jurisdictions in the emerging North American EV market. The battery facility will supply Stellantis plants across the North American market and is expected to be operational in 2024 and employ approximately 2,500 people.
Finally, I want to reassure the residents of Cumberland Gardens that our Government is committed to ensuring the well-being of the people of Ontario and making sure we treat both tenants and landlords fairly. When we formed the Government, “renovictions” were occurring far too frequently. Through Bill 184, the Protecting Tenants and Strengthening Community Housing Act, we added protections to stop the practice by significantly increasing fines and providing the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) with additional tools. Every tenant facing eviction has the right to an LTB hearing, and does not need to move out unless and until an adjudicator issues an eviction order. The landlord must also pay the tenant up to three months of rent. Tenants also have the right to move back into the unit when the repairs or renovations are done, at the same rent they would have been paying under normal conditions. To do this, the tenant must give the landlord notice in writing before vacating the rental unit and inform the landlord of any address change. The LTB may also require projects to be completed in phases if requested and appropriate. Tenants should seek legal advice before signing any documents, including the N9 form, as it is typically signed when a tenant wants to terminate their tenancy and vacate the rental unit. We encourage tenants to contact the Rental Housing Enforcement Unit (RHEU) toll-free at 1-888-772-9277 if they believe there has been an offence under the Residential Tenancy Act. Our Government has consulted with tenants, landlords, developers, and stakeholders to ensure Ontario has the measures to protect landlords and tenants while ensuring we have the new units required for our growing population.
Jim McDonell,
MPP for Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry
