Despite the criticism that has come from all sides against her since the tabling of her recent bill, deemed too favorable to landlords and unlikely to stem the housing crisis, the Minister responsible for Housing, France-Élaine Duranceau, denies being disconnected from the reality of tenants.
While two demonstrations were taking place to denounce the provision of his bill which would limit the transfer of leases between tenants, Mme Duranceau attended Thursday the official inauguration of 215 social and cooperative housing units under construction in the Pointe-Saint-Charles district.
“My bill is part of a more global plan, which aims to build more, to preserve our current housing stock, to better protect and equip tenants”, she assures, citing in particular provisions which, according to better protect tenants against evictions.
Prime Minister François Legault caused a reaction this week when he said that, under his leadership, no one had found themselves on the street on 1er July.
Are the proliferation of camps throughout Quebec and the growing proportion of tenants struggling to pay their rent not signs that the government should do more for these citizens?
These are difficult situations. But if these people don’t call [Société d’habitation du Québec]don’t go to the website, don’t contact the local housing office, it’s hard for us to help them.
France-Élaine Duranceau, Minister responsible for Housing
It highlights the implementation of assistance services by municipalities throughout Quebec in anticipation of the 1er July, to find accommodation for each household.
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On Thursday, the Regroupement des Comités Logement et Associations de Tenants du Québec (RCLALQ) deplored, on Radio-Canada, that France-Élaine Duranceau had refused to meet with its representatives before the tabling of its bill, while the homeowners associations have had the ear of the minister.
In an interview, Mr.me Duranceau began by saying that she had indeed met the RCLALQ. But later, his press officer came back to tell us that this meeting had not taken place.
Lack of social housing
According to data from the Metropolitan Community of Montreal, the proportion of social housing has stagnated, or even decreased, for 20 years in Greater Montreal: it has gone from 4.2% to 4.1% of housing. The proportion of social housing has increased slightly on the island of Montreal, but it is down in the suburbs.
Only 536 social housing units were added in 2022 in all of Greater Montreal, which is far from meeting demand. By way of comparison, 2,179 social housing units were delivered in 2006.
PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, THE PRESS
Site of 215 social and cooperative housing units under construction in the Pointe-Saint-Charles district
The project for which Minister France-Élaine Duranceau came to Pointe-Saint-Charles on Thursday took 12 years to materialize.
“It was so long that some founding members of the co-op’s board of directors died or left the neighborhood,” says Karlene Keith, president of the board of the Cooperative d’habitation de la Pointe Amiable, which will soon take delivery of 93 homes in the project.
My son was 7 years old when we started this project. I thought he could grow up in our co-op, but he’s 20 now.
Karlene Keith, President of the Board of the Friendly Point Housing Cooperative
Mme Keith also points out that the volunteer administrators of the cooperative, who have been keeping this project at arm’s length for all these years, felt left out during Thursday’s small inauguration ceremony: they were only warned a few days in advance and were not invited to speak at the event.
“We were treated like less than nothing,” she laments.