Quebec moves ahead with three-year moratorium on evictions

Quebec Housing Minister France-Élaine Duranceau takes part in a press conference on May 22, 2024. LA PRESSE CANADIENNE/Jacques Boissinot

Quebec City -

As the housing crisis continues, the Quebec government has unanimously passed a bill that will impose a three-year moratorium on evictions, protecting more seniors from the practice.

Housing Minister France-Élaine Duranceau's new law enhances protection against eviction for seniors who have lived in their dwelling for at least 10 years. It lowers the age of eviction protection from 70 to 65, and increases the income limit for eligibility by 25 per cent.

During the study of the bill, Quebec Solidaire (QS) and the Parti Québécois (PQ) tried to have the protection for seniors extended even further, but the minister refused, saying that a balance had to be maintained.

As the vacancy rate is currently very low, the new law will also prohibit evictions aimed at "subdividing the dwelling, substantially enlarging it or changing its use".

The moratorium will end sooner if the vacancy rate in all Quebec urban centres with a population of at least 10,000 reaches 3 per cent.

The bill was recently amended to allow the moratorium to continue in certain regions of Quebec, even if the overall vacancy rate reaches 3 per cent.

Nevertheless, the three-year limit is maintained.

QS salutes collaboration

The two elements of the legislative package were long-standing demands of QS.

In fact, after the vote on Thursday, Solidaire MNAs Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, Christine Labrie and Andrés Fontecilla crossed the Salon bleu to shake hands with Duranceau and Premier François Legault.

"I salute the collaboration of Minister Duranceau and thank all the parties for the rapid adoption. When we all work together, we can make a difference. It's a great day for Quebec politics,” wrote the Solidaire parliamentary leader on X.

Although it voted in favour, the Liberal Party expressed reservations about the moratorium.

"I fear that this moratorium for all will stagnate the real estate market, particularly the development of rental housing," said Liberal MNA Linda Caron on Wednesday at the Salon bleu.

The PQ was also in favour of the bill, but MNA Joël Arseneau was quick to criticize the minister and QS a few weeks ago: "Let's face it, this is a public relations venture to rehabilitate Minister Duranceau's image - which is obviously tarnished - with the collaboration of Quebec Solidaire," he said, just before the legislation was tabled in May.

Change of course

Duranceau's new law represents a major change of direction for the government. During the study of another housing bill (Bill 31) a few months ago, she was less than receptive to the opposition's proposals.

The minister rejected amendments from QS and the PQ aimed at protecting more seniors from eviction.

At the time, the minister said that her bill already contained several measures to protect everyone, regardless of age. Duranceau said she has “evolved” on the issue since then.

It should be remembered that Bill 31 provoked a great deal of resistance, notably because it restricted the use of lease assignments.

-- This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on June 6, 2024.