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Page 12, Terrace Bay-Schreiber News, Wednesday, June 11, 1986 Don't pay illegal rent columnist explains By Pilar Amaya-Torres (Fifth in a series) The common practice of charging illegal rents creates hardship, especial- ly for tenants on low or fix- ed incomes. Since 1976 it has been il- legal for rents of rent con- trolled units to be raised over four per cent per year unless a rent review hear- ing has been held and an Order has been issued by the Residential Tenancy Commission. Units not covered by rent review may have the rent raised without limit. But for any increase, 90 days written notice in proper form is re- quired by law. (These rules will probably change under the new law.) Some examples of illegal rent raising practices are: increasing the rent between tenants; increasing the rent when another person joins the tenant's household; charges for services or facilities (such as hydro, parking, or laundry) even though it had been argued that these were included in the rent; charges for ser- vices or -improvements added without an applica- <p Contact: Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce has an opening for Part-time Teller experience preferred C. Hamilton 14 Simcoe Plaza Terrace Bay NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE tion to rent review. Some landlords request or demand cash payments of the illegal portion of the rent. Others may go as far as to threaten to evict the tenant(s) if they do not comply. These practices are illegal. Tenants do not have to pay illegal rent increases. If you are already pay- ing an illegal rent increase, you may be entitled to a rollback (having your rent rolled back to the amount you should legally be pay- ing) and a rebate (a refund of the excess rent you have paid). You may need to prove that the rent you are now paying is illegal. Con- tact the Residential Tenan- cy Commission, a lawyer or legal clinic, or a tenants' association for information and assistance with the procedures. If you suspect that you are paying an illegal rent but you do not have documentation, talk to previous tenants of your unit and other tenants in the building to gather the infor- mation and proof you need. (You cannot be evicted for doing this). e Removes cuals of unwanted paint and stain o Restores grey weainere' right new Iresnness e For masonry and most metal 1d wood 10 + surlaces brush on/hese ond too! = aay use - "ruth of It's that easy. Say goodbye to sanders, chemicals. With new Cuprinol Paint and Stain Remover, you don't need them anymore. All you need is a brush and a garden hose. _dust brush it on. Wait -- allow the product to work. Then just wash the old paint or stain away. And right now you can try the product at no charge. Drop in for your FREE sample to try at home. Samples available between June 11 - June 28, but hurry, limited quantities are available. grinders and smelly CUPRINOL does it right. The name Cuprinol stands for higher quality Wood Stains, Coatings, Preservers and Paint and Stain Remover. -_CEBRARIO'S HARDWARE & LUMBER Schreiber If you find out that you have been paying an illegal rent for more than two years, you may wish to make you application for a rebate immediately because the new legislation, when passed, may limit your rebate to only two years. What if the landlord asks you to pay an illegal in- crease? You do not have to pay it. No landlord can evict you for failure to pay an illegal increase. Contact one of the above resources for help. Document your conversations with the landlord. Continue to pay the legal amount of your rent. The government of On- tario will soon be starting a province wide rent registry. The maximum legal rent for every unit in Ontario will be registered (eventually). Any tenant will be able to telephone the registry to find out the maximum legal rent of any unit. : This will be an effective tool for stopping illegal rent increases. At the same time, some amnesties on 'minor' illegal rents are proposed. It will be the job of the Rent Review Ad- visory Committee to make recommendations for the definitions of "minor" vs. '*substantial" illegalities. How will the rent reg- istry. work? That is the topic for next week Best Driver Laura M. Prill of Terrace Bay was recently presented with a Kimberly-Clark.company jacket by Assistant Superintendent of the Number 2 mill, Bryan Webb, after Laura was named Best Lift Truck Driver at the Terrace Bay K-C mill. She placed first in a field of 12 drivers when she scored 363 out of a possible 375 points during an in-plant life truck operation contest. (Photograph supplied by Gerry T. Withers) Free trade only answer: MP When it comes to the free trade negotiations be- tween Canada and the Un- ited States, Keith Penner, MP for the Terrace Bay and Schreiber area, feels the current mood south of -- the border is "very dis- tressing" and that the en- tire world may suffer as a consequence. "'T don't think there is 51 Terrace Heights Dr. OWNER WANTS TO SELL this three __ bedroom, all brick bi-level home. Large eat "in kitchen with center island, deck, workshop, rec room, spotless condition. A MUST TO VIEW! OPEN TO OFFERS! Lynn Hodder ... 825-9077 Corporate & Govt. Relocation Program And Complete Referral Network Call for details any alternative to free trade now," he said on June 2 during a stop in Terrace Bay. "We can work out some sort of agreement... we have to, there's no longer any choice.' The real obstacle facing the Canadian negotiators is the "bunker mentality"' in the States. "*They are getting very protectionistic," the Coch- rance-Superior riding MP said of the US. "They're drawing back into them- selves lately. I find this very, very distressing."' If and when the free trade talks get underway in earnest, Penner believes "'we are going to have to give in order to get, and that's what the provinces are worrying about."' He admitted that no one, including himself, really knows what will come out of the agreement, if one is reached. 'But we need one be- cause it's like buying an in- surance policy," Penner noted. "'It's the lesser of - two evils, really." One way northern On- tario can help itself econ- omically is to tap "the tremendous potential" in tourism that it has. ""We've got something here, we should use it," Penner pointed out. He cautioned, though, that it's not just a matter of luring visitors in from out- side of the province. New skills have to be learned if tourists are expected to come back year after year. "*You have to gear your- self up for tourism here,"' he said. "These people coming in are not intrud- ers...we have to stop think- ing of them as such."' Penner admitted his rid- ing is facing some severe economic difficulties, but added it is important to keep a positive outlook. "'T still think our region has a solid future," Penner said. Campaign... continued from page 3 the camps in August. Both attended camp in 1984, and are looking forward to spending a very special time together this year. NOTICE OF MEETING The North of Superior Community Mental Health Program Corp. ANNUAL MEETING TUESDAY JUNE 17 will hold its 7:30 P.M. in the cafeteria of THE GERALDTON DISTRICT HOSPITAL Geraldton, Ontario For further information please call 854-1321 Nominations for Directors should be sent to: The Nominating Committee c/o T.J. Lottman Box 911 Geraldton, Ontario POT 1MO The Ontario March of Dimes is only able to pro- vide these important ser- vices through generous donations and grants. Watch your mail for an ap- peal, and please, give as generously as you are able. Donations can also be sent to Summer Campaign, On- tario March of Dimes, 60 Overlea Blvd., Toronto, Ontario, M4H 1B6. Ontario March of Dimes Hospital... continued from page 7 beds, at a cost of $25 million. As a comparison, the Central East district, which includes the Toron- to area, will get 1,557 more chronic beds and 748 more acute beds at a total cost of $400 million. Another 207 beds are now being added to Nor- thern Ontario communities under the Northern Ontario Extended Care (EldCap) program. The program is designed to assist small northern communities, where it is impractical to establish independent hos- pitals for elderly residents.