(Montreal) Several hundred people demonstrated in Montreal on Saturday against Housing Bill 31, which would allow property owners to more easily reject rental agreements.
Posted at 2:04 p.m
Coralie Laplante The Canadian Press
Equipped with signs, whistles or instruments, the demonstrators gathered in the Parc Extension district at midday despite the gray weather.
PHOTO JOSIE DESMARAIS, THE PRESS
The demonstration took place in the Parc-Extension district.
PHOTO JOSIE DESMARAIS, THE PRESS
Micheline Giroux
PHOTO JOSIE DESMARAIS, THE PRESS
Banners and posters called for the resignation of France-Élaine Duranceau, the minister responsible for housing.
PHOTO JOSIE DESMARAIS, THE PRESS
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“It has been shown time and again for a long time that these are abusive rent increases between tenant changes. At the time of the move, the owners are taking advantage of this to circumvent the law and make abusive rent increases,” explained Martin Blanchard, co-coordinator of the Regroupement of Housing Committees and Tenants Associations of Quebec (RCLALQ), at the microphone before the crowd started the march begins.
The demonstration took place as the lease transfer article in Bill 31 was approved article by article in the parliamentary committee earlier this week during detailed consideration of the bill.
We are taking away the only means from tenants that has ever helped calm them down.
Martin Blanchard, co-coordinator of RCLALQ
In addition to the RCLALQ, the Front for the Fight for Popular Real Estate (FLIP) and the Parc-Extension Action Committee also took part in organizing the event.
If Bill 31 is passed, an owner may refuse an assignment of a lease for reasons other than serious ones. Housing Minister France-Élaine Duranceau defended herself this week, arguing that if an owner refuses to transfer the lease, the lease will simply be terminated. The tenant is therefore free to leave the house.
PHOTO JACQUES BOISSINOT, CANADIAN PRESS ARCHIVE
The Minister responsible for Housing, France-Élaine Duranceau
She emphasized that the rent transfer was not a rent control measure and that all price setting rules would continue to apply.
The organizations that organized the demonstration called for Minister Duranceau’s resignation on Saturday. They also advocate an “immediate rent freeze and the socialization of all new apartments”.
“With each article we try to find out how we can improve the situation of tenants in the context of the housing crisis. The bill is not yet ready and we do not know whether we will be able to finalize it this week. I have several amendments and so do the other opposition groups,” said Québec Solidaire (QS) member Andrés Fontecilla during the demonstration. The parliamentarian involved in the detailed consideration of the bill said he did not know whether the bill would be passed by Friday.
“The situation is serious, rents continue to rise, it leads to practices such as renovations, it leads to more homelessness, it leads to the impoverishment of lower income households and also middle class households,” he explained together with his colleague for the constituency Verdun, Alejandra Zaga Mendez.
” This is unacceptable “
Saturday’s demonstration was attended by several tenants concerned about their fate in connection with the housing crisis.
“It’s a problem for me because I’ve always done it [en arrière de ma tête l’idée] that I could be pushed out. “It’s not reassuring to know that there aren’t many options as a renter,” said Julia Stirling. The tenant, who is also a social worker, says she sees the impact the current crisis is having on the population.
“I’m really angry that the government doesn’t care about inequality,” she said.
Annie Charbonneau, a worker at shelters that help struggling women, particularly victims of domestic violence, said she has seen the effects of the housing crisis in the context of her work.
“There are more and more customers, we can serve less and less, and there are people who have never been on the streets, who have never been homeless, but because of the new rent increases they are homeless,” she explains.
When it comes to female victims of domestic violence, “we often see a woman return to her abusive spouse” because of a lack of housing, Ms. Charbonneau added.
“Given that 40% of the population are renters today, I think it is unacceptable to suppress or roll back the rights of these people,” said another protester, Simon Bilodeau.
Miet Verhuwaert, who also took part in the demonstration, said she is now able to pay her rent but fears she will have to move one day.
“What’s happening with rents today is ridiculous. “I’m scared, I live alone and my current rent is fine, but as soon as I have to move, I’m scared that I won’t be able to pay the rent myself,” she said.
With information from Thomas Laberge