Many Montrealers getting priced off the island, meaning Moving Day will be busy
The cost of living in Montreal continues to rise, and Moving Day is right around the corner at a time when many Montrealers are getting priced off the island.
Bill Rusnak lives in Montreal's NDG borough and is moving to Brossard where he bought a house.
Rusnak said he couldn't afford a place on the island.
"It’s wild right now," he said. "These are stories you grow up hearing about Toronto or Vancouver, where people are paying $100, $150,000 over. And I just couldn’t stay in NDG."
This year's July 1 moving day comes as the cost of living in Montreal is exploding.
"My rent didn’t change, but the next guy going in for sure will be paying more," said Rusnak.
For movers, it means some logistical hurdles, as it seems more people are making the move off the island this year.
"When it first happened last year, yes there were a lot of cancellations and things that were pushed off to a later date," said Bust-A-Move co-owner Bob Clark. "We know the rush is coming. It’s just something we get used to, it’s busier."
The average rent cost on the Island of Montreal is more than $1,300 a month, and a lot of people who put off moving during the pandemic may be making up for lost time now.
The rising rents has created something of a housing crisis that the city's administration is looking to improve.
"We’ve been working for more than six months to create units for people who find themselves in the street who couldn’t find an apartment," said Mayor Valerie Plante.
Plante said the city is adding about 300 affordable housing units, about a third more than last year, in a bid to head off a housing crunch.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.