Mr Prime Minister,
I would like to share with you the growing concern of senior tenants in Quebec regarding the delays of the CAQ regarding Bill 198, better known as the Françoise David law.1.
I am a convinced Caquiste and I have always voted for your party. But lately, I no longer identify with your government’s hesitations regarding housing.
On the one hand, the government recognizes that health care is expensive, and that Quebec’s population is aging faster than it is being renewed and, therefore, that health costs are destined to skyrocket. We therefore encourage seniors to stay at home, in particular by offering subsidies to adapt their homes and offer them home care, which is less expensive than that provided in CHSLDs. Furthermore, recognizing that life in CHSLDs was not adequate during a pandemic, the CAQ government even began to build seniors’ homes which cost the Quebec Treasury even more.
The government also recognizes that there is a shortage of places in private residences for seniors (RPA). Even recently, many have had to close their doors; according to The Pressmore than 75 RPAs would have closed their doors in 20232.
As for housing for all, I won’t teach you anything by saying that there is a shortage of it everywhere, even in the regions.
However, on the other hand, the government claims that Bill 31 consolidated the position of tenants by putting the responsibility for proof of eviction in the hands of owners.
But have you noticed that since the introduction of the law there are no longer many evictions, but that so-called “repossessions” have increased?
These housing repossessions are in the majority simply disguised evictions. You only have to read social networks to be convinced of this. So the law hasn’t changed anything for low-income tenants.
A defense worthy of the labors of Hercules
You still maintain that people aged 65 are able to defend themselves. But do you know what it costs, monetarily and morally, to adequately defend yourself against an experienced owner at the Administrative Housing Tribunal? For elderly people with low income and, what’s more, in poor health, this is downright worthy of the labors of Hercules!
Very often, if they win their case before the judge, it is often too late, they have already been evicted from their accommodation.
And you probably know that housing prices have increased faster than inflation, and therefore, the extra hundred dollars appearing on pension checks are well below the rent increases that await tenants who must find themselves new accommodation. Because to find accommodation equivalent to the one they would have had to abandon, we are talking about $700 to $800 more per month. So I’m afraid that elderly people will soon have to choose between adequate housing or food.
So, Mr. Prime Minister, I really don’t understand why you are still hesitant to vote in favor of Bill 198 as presented by Québec solidaire. For a rare time, it would cost nothing to the public treasury and, after having been seen as the good father of the Quebec nation during the pandemic, you could now be seen as the good son for our elders. So, I implore you, listen to the elderly tenants! And I promise to vote for you again in the next provincial election.
1. Read “The Françoise David law protecting seniors from evictions could soon be expanded”
2. Read “Seniors’ residences – The wave of evictions continues”
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reference: www.lapresse.ca