A
new scam hitting Ontario involves a fraudster posing
as a representative of the Consumers Service Bureau
of the Ontario Government. The letter claims that
the recipient owes money in back taxes. The amount
of back taxes is shown on the letter with a request
to send a certified cheque or money order to "Stephen
Smith" (MGS) Consumers Services Bureau.
The
fraud often seems to be directed to newcomers to Canada.
Any letter asking for cheques to be made to an individual
in the government is fraudulent. The government never
asks anyone to make cheques payable to an individual.
To
know more about these scams, contact the Consumer
Services Bureau at 1.800.889.9768 or 416.326.8800
if you have received one of these letters. If you
are a victim of this fraud, call local police or PhoneBusters
at 1.888.495.8501.
On
January 31, 2007, the Residential Tenancies Act became
law. "It ensures that Ontario's rental housing
system works for everyone while keeping our rental
housing market strong," said Minister Gerretsen.
Under
the Act, the five-day default eviction process is
eliminated; the annual rent increase guideline is
now tied to the Ontario Consumer Price Index and above
guideline rent increase is based on real and necessary
investment. The Ontario Rental Housing Tribunal has
been renamed the Landlord and Tenant board to reflect
the intent of the legislation.
Information
about the act, the Landlord and Tenant Board and service
fee reduction is available at:
