As Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs, Cooke announced that the government would restrict most rent increases to 4.6% for the present year and 5.4% for 1991. The provisions for 1990 were made retroactive. Tenants' groups supported these changes, while landlord representatives were generally opposed. A few days after the policy announcement, a landlord group placed a $25,000 advertisement in "The Wall Street Journal" suggesting that investors avoid Ontario. Their ploy was widely criticized. Cooke later announced that he would work to factor in the costs of legitimate building renovations.