Renter protections are a patchwork across the country, and in some provinces and territories, renters have little to no protections from massive rent increases, unfair evictions, discrimination and many other issues. To address these challenges, the federal government recently released a Blueprint for a Renters’ Bill of Rights, which aims to strengthen protections for renters by setting minimum standards that could be implemented across Canada. If implemented, the Renters’ Bill of Rights could help ensure that all renters have standard protections, no matter where in the country they live. However, there are critical gaps in the blueprint and currently there is no federal enforcement mechanism requiring provincial and territorial governments to adopt the Renters’ Bill of Rights in their jurisdictions.
There will be a long road ahead to implement a strong Renters’ Bill of Rights across Canada. We hope this panel discussion serves as a starting point to build awareness and mobilize communities to advocate for a Renters’ Bill of Rights that advances and protects the right to adequate housing.
Ahead of National Housing Day, we’re bringing together renters and advocates from across Canada to discuss:
- What the Renters’ Bill of Rights is and how it can be improved and implemented.
- How it can help address systemic rental housing issues related to affordability, displacement, accessibility, Indigenous housing, discrimination and access to justice.
- How you can get involved to ensure that it truly reflects renters’ experiences.
Language: English with simultaneous interpretation in French
Location: Online
Date: Wednesday, November 20
Time:
- 10:00am -11:30am PST
- 11:00am -12:30pm MST
- 12:00pm -1:30pm CST
- 1:00pm – 2:30pm EST
- 2:00pm – 3:30pm AST
- 2:30pm – 4:00pm NDT
Speakers:
- Yutaka Dirks, Senior Policy & Outreach Advisor – Canadian Centre for Housing Rights
Yutaka has been involved in housing and homelessness advocacy for the past two decades in cities across Canada, including Calgary, Toronto, and Winnipeg. Yutaka is a Senior Policy and Outreach Advisor at CCHR. In addition to his work with CCHR, he is a PhD candidate in the Political Science department at York University, where his research focusses on the intersection of housing financialization and settler-colonialism.
- Sara Beyer, Manager of Policy – Canadian Centre for Housing Rights
Sara is a policy professional with experience in the non-profit, public and private sectors across Ontario, where she has focused her practice on housing affordability and Indigenous-settler relations. Sara is the Manager of Policy at CCHR, where she works to advance human rights-based housing policy at all levels of government.
- Michèle Biss, National Director – National Right to Housing Network
Michèle is the National Director of the National Right to Housing Network (NRHN). Prior to her work at the NRHN, Michèle was the Policy Director and Human Rights Lawyer at Canada Without Poverty. She has extensive professional experience working for marginalized groups, particularly women, persons with disabilities, newcomers, and Indigenous persons through casework, research, and community legal education. In her local Ottawa community, she sits on the board of directors of Ottawa Community Legal Services. She is a human rights lawyer and was called to the Ontario bar in 2014.
- Nikoletta Erdelyi, Public Policy Specialist – Spinal Cord Injury Ontario, Accelerating Accessibility Coalition
Nikoletta works in Public Policy as Spinal Cord Injury Ontario and is part of the Accelerating Accessibility Coalition, a first of its kind coalition that is focused on enhancing accessible housing for Canadians. Nikoletta was born with a physical disability and uses a wheelchair for mobility – this has shaped her experience and she hopes to use it to make Canada more inviting and accessible for everyone. She loves to write, cook and study philosophy.
- Gaelle Mushyirahamwe, Senior Research Coordinator – National Association of Friendship Centres
- Tanya Burkart, ACORN Canada
Tanya Burkart is leader of ACORN Canada, a national community and tenant union of low- and moderate-income people. Tanya has been a champion of ACORN’s national financialization of housing campaign and has spoken at various federal standing committees on this issue.
