Ontario Rental Housing Tribunal (ORHT), governed by Tenant Protection Act (1997)(TPA), has been introduced to Ontario by the Tory Mike Harris to expedite eviction, making it easy and simple. The legislation became an instrumental power in the hands of the landlords and agony to the tenants.

As a result families are thrown to the street in a blink of an eye without further notice signifying the homelessness crisis of Ontario cities.

The reckless implementation of the Tenant Protection Act has been conducted in a systematic fashion depriving the tenant of the basic concepts of natural justice and fairness. Tribunal members usually reach a decision regarding disputes between landlords and tenants even before the hearing starts. It is a common practice that a tribunal member justifies the eviction by reciting "I found the landlord credible..", "I found the tenant evasive and contradictory", and "the tenants statements are vague" without justifying why the landlords is credible, without giving an example on why the tenant is evasive or why the tenant's statements are vague.

What makes the catastrophe full is most the adjudicators are incompetent for such vital matter, leaving the order to arbitrariness of adjudicator such as Susan Ellacott who even does not have a university degree.

Orders have been issued against tenant carrying an eviction date of the order's date. It happened that an order has been made on October 18, 2002 evicting the tenant on October 18, 2002 (same date), even though the tenants themselves received the order on October 21, 2002. The eviction was without further notice giving up all the tenants' possessions to the landlords. Contacting the Ontario Rental Housing Tribunal for and explanation, 4DATA INTERNATIONAL was informed that an eviction could happen any time and date without further notice.

Jacques Chartrand, LLB, from West End Legal Services, Ottawa, Ontario has elaborated on this crisis: " A tenant must dispute an Application to Terminate the Tenancy within five days of being served with the Notice of Hearing". Not only that the tenant has a few days to dispute the eviction application. The tenant has usually neither financial resources nor legal experience to proceed.

London Free Press, June 21, 2002 has reported that provincial statistics show that the Ontario Rental Housing Tribunal issued 118,800 eviction orders -- 58 per cent of the landlord applications -- without hearing from tenants, between June 1998 and December 31, 2001. Yet, Tina Molinari, associate housing minister claims "I think it's fair".