Mr. Tal said. “Clearly efforts and funds should be devoted to affordable housing in the GTA, but rent control should be a non-starter.”

Ok, why? 

Landlords, being profit motivated, will drive rents up as high as the market will bear, to the detriment of the economy around them.  If people have no money left over after rent, food and clothing are paid for, the economy is going to be pretty bleak.

If a worker is living paycheque to paycheque, then the costs associated with moving (social, financial, legal) give people a lot of incentive to simply accept an exorbitant rent increase, and tighten their belts. "Santa is not coming this year kids."

 If people cannot afford to live in Toronto, then they will either live elsewhere, or salaries are going to rise sharply. Is housing generated inflation preferable to rent control?

"Funds should be devoted to affordable housing in the GTA..." So Mr. Tal is a socialist now? No? Then where does Mr. Tal think these "funds" should come from?