Latest updates

Tenants in Ontario are facing new rules that may seriously affect their rights and responsibilities. These changes to the Residential Tenancies Act became law on September 1.
This month’s On the Radar looks at 2 of the more significant new rules.
Landlords can now apply to the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB):

after a tenant has moved out,

Steps to Justice‘s family law content, Family Law Guided Pathways, and Steps in a Family Law Case have been updated to reflect changes that took effect on September 1, 2021. The changes say that financial statements have to be updated, served, and filed less often.

In March this year, the government made several important changes to family law procedures. There are more changes taking effect in August and September. The 2 main ones allow:

judges to combine case and settlement conferences if separating partners have tried mediation and meet other conditions
financial statements to be updated less often

This month’s On the Radar looks at these changes.

Steps to Justice has more information on your right to services in French, including:

at a family law, criminal law, small claims court, or provincial court proceeding
health care services
education

Steps to Justice has new content about how criminal courts deal with certain mental health issues, including:
bail, diversion, and sentencing for people with mental health issues
drug treatment court
people who aren’t criminally responsible
people who aren’t fit to stand trial

Steps to Justice has a new interactive illustration of a criminal courtroom. This illustration gives you an idea of what a typical criminal courtroom looks like. You can click on the pop-up buttons to get more information about who the key players are and their roles.

As summer heats up, it’s a good time for tenants to pull out their leases and review the rules about air conditioners.
This month’s On the Radar looks at the different ways air conditioning can be handled in a lease.
Update – Air conditioners: A hot topic for tenants and landlords
Following the release of July’s On the Radar,

Fill out the Landlord and Tenant Board forms for rental housing cases using CLEO’s Guided Pathways
Tenants can use the pathway to the Landlord and Tenant Board’s Form T1, Tenant Application for a Rebate of Money the Landlord Owes to get money back their landlord owes them.
Use the pathway to complete the Landlord and Tenant Board’s Form T6,

Steps to Justice now has information about provincial offences, including:

speeding tickets
noise complaints
trespass

There is also information about trials and appeals in Provincial Offences Court.

Steps to Justice has two new tools to help you understand Ontario Works (OW) and the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP):

Three simple flowcharts that explain applying for OW, applying for ODSP, and appealing an OW or an ODSP decision.