There's one thing everybody seems to be forgetting about. Its a shop. If its considered a commercial space, is he even allowed to live there. If the answer is no, and he goes for help from the government.... what are they going to say to him? Different rules for homes and commercial spaces. Landlord can always claim he didn't know the guy was sleeping there. Sounds like the landlord just wants you out and no matter what you do, he is going to make your life difficult.
I'll go ahead and be a dick. OP hasn't replied to anything yet. Dropped in from out of nowhere, asked a bunch of people he doesn't know for help and money, and disappears. He's had an account for seven years but never interacted with anyone that we know of. I'm all for helping folks, but something is off here.
In reply to slefain:
I'm patiently waiting also.
GRM moves fast, it still catches me by surprise sometimes. Since he doesn't post here often he might not realize how quick these threads move. 
slefain wrote: I'll go ahead and be a dick. OP hasn't replied to anything yet. Dropped in from out of nowhere, asked a bunch of people he doesn't know for help and money, and disappears. He's had an account for seven years but never interacted with anyone that we know of. I'm all for helping folks, but something is off here.
Check out the second post:
Jay wrote: FYI I was the friend who suggested posting here. Chris is a truly good guy & a proper gearhead who I know well from my local autocross group back when I used to do a ton of it. I've been out of that scene for a while (moved far away) but still consider him a friend. He wouldn't be asking for help on a whim. He could genuinely use the support here.
Jay may not be the regular here he once was, but was one of the most regular posters in the day
tr8todd wrote: There's one thing everybody seems to be forgetting about. Its a shop. If its considered a commercial space, is he even allowed to live there. If the answer is no, and he goes for help from the government.... what are they going to say to him? Different rules for homes and commercial spaces. Landlord can always claim he didn't know the guy was sleeping there. Sounds like the landlord just wants you out and no matter what you do, he is going to make your life difficult.
No one is forgetting about it. That has been addressed a few times. It appears that, even if it is listed/registered/taxed as commercial space, Cannuckistan may extend residential leasing protections because he has been living there, thereby making a residence.
I've been in touch with Jay.
He says he's gonna make sure the OP is watching.
SVreX wrote: I've been in touch with Jay. He says he's gonna make sure the OP is watching.
If Paul's good, I'm good. I'm just not as trusting a person as I used to be.
Devo's seen the thread, and was greatly appreciative of some of the advice posted. AFAIK he's lawyering up. Gotta be tough to stay active on social media when everything you thought you had going gets thrown into the air like this.
Also, if he's lawyered up it's very possible he's been advised not to make further comments. Glad to hear he's standing up for himself.
thank you everyone that's commented or shared on this thread, after dealing with facebook i expected a torrent of hate along with a few people sharing the link. i have a major anxiety disorder, so it made even trying to look at thread after posting extremely difficult, i had to have friends read the thread and tell me what was going on.
after being told that it was all advice, encouragement and polite comments, i was nearly in tears, THANK YOU.
so yeah, Jay is right, i'm lawyering up, if only to stretch this out as far as i can while i look for somewhere else to go. i'd like to stay here, it's a ton of space for not a ton of money, but i do recognize that the landlord probably just wants me out for one reason or another.
alright! i'm just making dinner so i have a few minutes spare, i'm gonna try and quote and answer a few in order, here we go:
EastCoastMojo wrote: Welcome Chris! Sounds like a crappy landlord thing to do. By chance have you a copy of your lease? Perhaps it outlines the billing arrangements that the landlord was supposed to adhere to, which might give you some recourse for making payment arrangements. In any case, welcome aboard. I know our members will have more ideas to help you.
I'm trying to find my original lease, i may have to ask for a copy of it from the landlord in the end. i have a previous version of it, before i signed(there were a lot of revisions in the end). it just says that i'm responsible for the utilities, without listing a time frame of any kind.
John Welsh wrote: In the US there are eviction laws and steps that must be followed. Most of these steps tend to favorites the Tennant more than the landlord. Certaily, Canada and Ontario must have similar. If a US landlord presented you with old bills all at once and then demanded payment you could not be evicted immediately. I am not claiming to know these US laws other than they exist but have you seeked out legal recourse? PS: Welcome Chris. Your largest error is that you didn't come here earlier.
My intent is to speak with the Landlord Tenant Board as well as a lawyer. I understand i can't be evicted immediately, but i can receive notice at the end of the month if i can't pay, giving me only 30 days to be out, which is unfortunately what the notice he gave me this past friday was all about.
As for the shop, and what i can do here... I run a fledgling performance shop called Mötörshed. i am not a licensed mechanic, nor do i employ one, so i can't do safeties, pre-safeties or emission tests, but the laws in Ontario state i can do just about everything up until those things as long as my customers know i'm not licensed.
we can rebuild engines, do engine/transmission work and swaps, brake/suspension work, minor body work, and i make shift knobs in a variety of materials(wood, aluminum, steel, stainless, copper, bronze, delrin, etc).
between my business partner and i we have near 40 years experience with a variety of car makes and models. my personal specialty is Mitsubishis, especially mid 80s to mid 90s, but i've owned, repaired and worked on way more than just that.
Apparently you found the only Canadian who is a dick. And you are renting from him.
I see you have seen the writing on the wall which was what my feedback was going to be: the landlord had a better deal lined up and wants you out.
The first thing to do is prepare yourself to move like you are doing.
The second thing you can do (if you really want to ruin his day) is figure out how to legally drag this out long enough to wreck his new deal right before you move out and leave him with no tenant.
But sometimes I can be an ahole.
I have to say, Mötörshed is a pretty berkeleying awesome business name. You should trademark that immediately if you have not already. 
In reply to Devolution:
How long is your lease?
If it's a long term lease, there may be another approach.
It might be worth getting a small business loan, pay off the utilities, and deny your landlord the ability to evict you. If you are paid up, he can't touch you.
It sounds like you have a legit enough business to be able to make the loan payments.
Ask the bank for more money than $5K. Make it more like $25K, and use it for marketing to expand the business.
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