TORONTO — The Ontariogovernment has issued an emergency order to temporarily pause the enforcementof residential evictions and ensure people are not forced to leave their homesduring the provincial declaration of emergency and while the stay-at-home-orderis in force.

"Bytemporarily pausing residential evictions, we are ensuring that all Ontariansare able to stay home, stay safe, and save lives," said Steve Clark, Ministerof Municipal Affairs and Housing. "Our government will ensure that residentialevictions continue to be paused for the remainder of the state of emergency, aslong as it lasts."

This is thesecond time in less than a year that the province has paused residentialevictions. This emergency order will also protect homeowners who are facing evictionsdue to court orders for possession of their properties.

Sincethe onset of COVID-19, Ontario has introduced a number of measures to protecttenants and provide supports to those most affected by the pandemic, such as freezing rent so the vast majority of Ontario's residentialtenants will not see an increase this year. Changes to the ResidentialTenancies Act also require the Landlord and Tenant Board to consider whether alandlord attempted to negotiate a repayment agreement, before resorting to aneviction for non-payment of rent during COVID-19.

"We'reencouraging landlords and tenants to work together - as they have been doingfor the last several months - to ensure that we keep Ontarians safe," said MinisterClark. "We want to remind tenants who can pay their rent that they mustcontinue to do so, to the best of their abilities."

The latestmodelling trends in key public health indicators havecontinued to worsen, forecasting an overwhelming of the health system unlessdrastic action is taken. The pause on residential evictions is one part ofthe province's plan to stop the spread of COVID-19.