Toronto, ON – September 16, 2024 – Today, the federal government released a new Blueprint for a Renters’ Bill of Rights – a critical measure that could help address Canada’s housing affordability crisis by strengthening protections for renters across the country.
The blueprint includes a range of important measures that aim to improve fairness, equality, access and affordability for renters. It also makes clear that the federal, provincial and territorial governments are all responsible for fulfilling the right to housing of all Canadians, which requires improving the renting system across the country. This includes adequately investing in affordable housing that meets the needs of renters. However, despite some reporting requirements, the blueprint falls short of providing strong direction and accountability mechanisms to ensure that provincial and territorial governments will fulfill their responsibilities.
“It’s promising to see many measures in the Renters’ Bill of Rights blueprint that would help level the playing field between landlords and renters,” says Sara Beyer, Manager of Policy at the Canadian Centre for Housing Rights (CCHR). “However, currently it lacks the strong federal direction needed to ensure that these critical protections for renters will actually be realized. Without requiring provinces and territories to amend their laws to ensure rents are well-regulated and that eviction is treated as a last resort, we’re concerned that the Renters’ Bill of Rights will be a missed opportunity to curb rising rental costs, and prevent evictions and homelessness.”
Public opinion polls by Leger and Abacus Data from the past year show that an overwhelming majority of Canadians view the housing affordability crisis as a serious problem, yet they do not feel that our governments are taking the necessary steps to tackle the crisis. Likewise, in a recent survey conducted by CCHR of over 50 tenant groups and housing organizations across the country, the vast majority agree that strong renter protections are essential to tackling the housing affordability crisis. Yet, many are skeptical that their provincial or territorial government would enact any of the measures necessary to ensure renters can afford to stay in their homes and that they do not face excessive rent increases or unfair evictions.
Renter protections vary significantly depending on where you live in the country. The Renters’ Bill of Rights provides a key opportunity for all levels of government to work together to ensure that all renters – no matter where they live – enjoy the same rights and protections, for which CCHR has long advocated. If the federal government gave the Renters’ Bill of Rights real teeth, it has the potential to make a meaningful impact on the housing affordability crisis and address systemic issues related to inadequate and disparate protections for renters across the country.