Official colours of the federal Liberal Party, Conservative Party, New Democratic Party and Green Party.

The 2025 federal election comes at a time of deep political, social, and economic uncertainty and turmoil. The escalating housing and homelessness crisis remains a top concern for millions of people across Canada, with renters facing increasingly precarious conditions, few affordable options to turn to, and limited protections to help them stay in their homes. Now, with the onset of an unprecedented trade war with the United States, they face even greater instability, with job and income loss already making its way through the Canadian economy. Without safe, secure, affordable homes, renters are facing housing precarity, displacement, and homelessness now more than ever before. To ensure a healthy, equitable, and sustainable future, the next federal government must prioritize those most impacted by the housing and homelessness crisis: renters and people experiencing homelessness.

To help inform voters ahead of election day on April 28, we have summarized commitments made by the Liberal Party, Conservative Party, New Democratic Party and Green Party to tackle the housing and homelessness crisis, as identified in their 2025 federal election party platforms and other announcements they have made during this period. We have organized these commitments under our top three housing priorities that require urgent action by the next federal government.

Read the federal parties’ commitments to:

The information on this page was last updated on April 17, 2025. 


Provide immediate support to renters and people experiencing homelessness

Urgent support is needed now to keep renters in their homes and to house people experiencing homelessness. Rapidly rising rents, alongside other rising costs, are forcing low- and medium-income renters out of their homes and preventing people from accessing housing in the first place. Expanding and directing immediate financial and other support to those in greatest need is critical to tackling the housing and homelessness crisis in the short-term. At the same time, urgent action is needed to ensure that the human rights and dignity of people experiencing homelessness are upheld and respected. 

Note: To date, none of the parties have made any commitments related to rent supplements or subsidies, such as the Canada Housing Benefit or other housing-specific income supports. Also, we have not listed tax relief proposals here, as they do not provide immediate or targeted support.

  • Immediately develop homelessness reduction targets with each province and territory to inform Housing First investments and end encampments. 
  • Increase the Guaranteed Income Supplement by five per cent for one year. 
  • There has been no explicit mention of immediate support for renters and people experiencing homelessness. 
  • Create an $8 billion Communities First Fund to support provinces and territories to expand housing-enabling infrastructure, including by requiring housing security strategies to end encampments and homelessness.  
  • Double the Canada Disability Benefit and increase the Guaranteed Income Supplement. 
  • Expand investments in Housing First programs and wraparound support services.
  • Expand federal funding for youth shelters and transitional housing, with dedicated housing supports for young people at risk of homelessness.
  • Introduce a Guaranteed Livable Income. 

Protect renters from excessive rents and unfair evictions

Rent supplements are an important stop gap measure, but in the absence of strong rent regulations and protections against evictions, they will not ensure safe, secure, and affordable homes for renters. Renters across the country are facing excessive rents, arbitrary and unfair evictions, renovictions, demovictions, disrepair, discrimination, and many other issues. While landlord and renter matters are primarily governed by provincial and territorial governments, there is an important role for the federal government to play in helping to regulate rents and prevent evictions, as it has done in the past. Renters and advocates are increasingly looking to the federal government to play a stronger role in renters’ rights and protections

  • There has been no explicit mention of measures to address excessive rents or unfair evictions.
  • There has been no explicit mention of measures to address excessive rents or unfair evictions.
  • Introduce a Renters’ Bill of Rights that ties access to federal funding for provinces, territories, and municipalities that introduce strong renter protection measures. 
  • Implement national rent control. 
  • Ban fixed-term leases, renovictions, demovictions, and other predatory and exploitative practices. 
  • Ban rent price-fixing and collusion, including the use of shared data platforms and coordinated pricing tools.   
  • Recognize the right of tenant unions to negotiate with landlords. 
  • Require provinces and territories to implement strong rent and vacancy controls and sufficiently fund landlord/tenant dispute resolution agencies as a requirement to access federal housing funding.

Build and protect deeply affordable housing

For decades, the federal government withdrew from its role in building and protecting affordable housing. Despite the government’s recent re-engagement in affordable housing development, federal housing investments have failed to produce truly affordable housing that meets the needs of those most impacted by the housing and homelessness crisis. This is due in large part to the government’s over-reliance on the private sector to build new housing, which has not produced housing that is affordable for low- and medium-income renters due to insufficient affordability requirements. At the same time, the government has provided inadequate support for the non-market sector (e.g., Indigenous, public, non-profit, and co-operative housing) to build new and protect existing affordable housing, including rent-geared-to-income housing. This approach has also contributed to the increasing financialization of the housing sector.    

  • Act as a developer to build affordable housing at scale, including on public lands, and provide $10 billion in low-cost financing and capital to affordable homebuilders, of which: 
    • $4 billion would be directed towards long-term fixed-rate financing. 
    • $6 billion would be directed towards rapidly building deeply affordable housing, supportive housing, Indigenous housing, and shelters.
  • Reintroduce the Multiple Unit Rental Building (MURB) tax incentive. 
  • Reduce the tax liability for private rental housing providers when they sell their building to a non-profit operator, land trust, or non-profit acquisition fund, with requirements for the proceeds to be reinvested in building new purpose-built rental housing. 
  • Sell 15 per cent of federal government buildings to be turned into affordable housing. 
  • Create an $8 billion Canadian Homes Transfer to support cities to build affordable homes quickly, including by committing to 20 per cent non-market housing in every neighbourhood.
  • Ban corporations from buying existing affordable rental buildings.
  • Restrict large corporate landlords from accessing low-interest federal loans, preferential tax treatment, and mortgage loan insurance.
  • Boost the Rental Protection Fund to help community housing providers purchase and acquire private rental buildings.
  • Set aside 100 per cent of suitable federal land to build over 100,000 rent-controlled homes by 2035.
  • Redesign and double the Public Land Acquisition Fund to invest $1 billion over five years into acquiring more public land to build more rent-controlled homes.
  • Develop a new Community Housing Bank to partner with non-profit housing developers, co-operative housing operators, and Indigenous communities. 
  • Clearly define “affordable housing” to ensure that government-funded housing costs no more than 30 per cent of a household’s income. 
  • Use covenants to ensure that housing built with public funds stays affordable over the long term. 
  • Close loopholes to prevent the use of real estate for money laundering. 
  • Eliminate preferential tax treatment for Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and other corporate landlords. 
  • Prevent corporations from buying single family homes. 
  • Launch a public housing construction program, including building 1.2 million non-market homes over seven years.
  • Transfer federal land to Indigenous-led housing organizations to support community-driven housing solutions.

A new report released today by the Canadian Centre for Housing Rights (CCHR) finds that racialized individuals, newcomers and people with children across Canada face heightened discrimination when searching to secure a rental home. It also finds that people with disabilities face high levels of discrimination while living in a rental home.  

The research study, conducted in partnership with Dr. Gordon Hodson at Brock University, is the first national study discrimination in rental housing ever published in Canada. It used an experimental design method to analyze the responses from landlords and property managers to individuals who had inquired about a vacant rental home. It also analyzed survey responses from renters about their experiences during their search for a rental home, and while living in one.  

The research team studied 57 communities across Canada. By analyzing 1,178 messages sent to landlords and property managers, and 586 survey responses from renters, the study found that, in comparison to white individuals, landlords responded less often to racialized individuals, and even less when racialized individuals had a child. Landlords asked these individuals more questions about their personal life – for example about their marital, family and citizenship status – and even more of these questions to newcomers. They also requested more proof of income and employment from racialized individuals and women as compared to white men. Landlords ultimately rejected more rental applications from racialized individuals, and the most from newcomers. 

“Marginalized groups continue to face concerning levels of discrimination in rental housing across Canada, and these problems may only be worsened by low vacancy rates and high income inequality,” says Megan Earle, Independent Researcher. 

“With these conditions, landlords are able to be very selective in who they’re renting to.” says Sophie O’Manique, Senior Researcher at the Canadian Centre for Housing Rights. “This research confirms widespread discrimination against some groups of would-be renters, which creates even steeper barriers for them to find a reasonable place to live.” 

The study also found that landlords very often required people with disabilities to follow different rules than other renters who did not have a disability. People with disabilities also reported experiencing very high rates of aggression and violations of their boundaries from landlords. 

“Even after finding a rental home, marginalized groups often face additional discrimination at the hands of their landlords during their tenancy,” says Earle. “Policy and advocacy efforts are needed to confront landlord discrimination on both fronts – during renters’ search for housing, and while they’re living in their home.” 

“For many, this is an impossible situation,” says O’Manique. “Governments need to act with urgency to ensure an adequate supply of affordable rental housing, and work to enforce existing human rights protections.” 


Read the report

A picture of the Canadian flag among others


On this page, find key information about the rent regulation laws in place in your province or territory, including about:

  • Rent regulation policies that are in place
  • Rules around rent increases
  • Limits on rent increases, and when those limits can be lifted
  • Rent increases and limits when renters change

* The information on this page was last updated in February 2025.

  • Alberta

    Can my landlord increase my rent?

    Yes, subject to certain rules.

    Does my province have a rent regulation policy?

    No, Alberta does not have a rent regulation policy, and there are no limits to how much a landlord may increase the rent. But there are some rules in the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) on how and when rent can be increased.

    What are the rules around rent increases?

    • After a renter moves in, a landlord must wait at least 12 months before raising the rent. After that, any rent increases must also be 12 months apart.
    • A landlord must give at least 3 months’ notice before the rent goes up for a month-to-month lease, and 12 weeks’ notice for a week-to-week lease. No written notice is required for a fixed term lease. A fixed term lease starts and ends on specified dates.
    • A landlord cannot increase the rent midway through a fixed term lease agreement and must wait until the fixed-term agreement has ended.
  • British Columbia

    Can my landlord increase my rent?

    Yes, subject to certain rules.

    Does my province have a rent regulation policy?

    Yes, British Columbia has a rent regulation policy in the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) which sets the maximum limits by which landlords can increase the rent every year.

    What are the rules around rent increases?

    • After a renter moves in, a landlord must wait at least 12 months before raising the rent. After that, any rent increases must also be 12 months apart.
    • Each year a landlord can only increase the rent according to the limits set in the RTA.
    • Sometimes a landlord can raise the rent if the Residential Tenancies Branch, the body that resolves disputes between landlords and tenants, decides that they can or if the renters agree to an increase in writing.
    • If a landlord does not raise the rent, they cannot apply a rent increase retroactively the following year.
    • A landlord must give at least 3 months’ notice before the rent goes up.

    Can my landlord increase my rent by more than what the limit allows?

    If a landlord wants to raise the rent beyond the limits allowed in the RTA, they can apply to the Residential Tenancies Branch. The RTA lists specific reasons why a landlord can apply for an above limit which include:

    • A landlord has completed repairs or renovations that could not have been foreseen under reasonable circumstances and will not happen again within a reasonable time frame.
    • Where an extraordinary increase in operating expenses has caused the landlord to incur a financial loss.
    • Where the landlord incurs a financial loss from financing costs related to a purchase which could not have been foreseen under reasonable circumstances.

    Do rent increase limits apply when renters change?

    When a renter leaves a unit, there are no legal limits for how much a landlord can increase the rent for a new renter.

  • Manitoba

    Can my landlord increase my rent?

    Yes, subject to certain rules.

    Does my province have a rent regulation policy?

    Yes, Manitoba has a rent regulation policy in the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) which sets the maximum limits by which landlords can increase the rent every year. The Residential Tenancies Branch can order a landlord to roll back rents and repay unauthorized rents to renters if they find that a renter has been charged an unauthorized rent.

    What are the rules around rent increases?

    • After a renter moves in, a landlord must wait at least 12 months before raising the rent. After that, any rent increases must also be 12 months apart.
    • A landlord must give at least 3 months’ written notice before they raise the rent.
    • Some units are exempt from rent increase limits in the RTA.
    • When a property owner decides to rent their home or other type of unit as a residential unit for the first time, they can set the rent without following the rent increase limits in the RTA. But they cannot increase the rent for 12 months after the renter moves in. After the first year, the annual rent increase limit will apply.

    Can my landlord increase my rent by more than what the limit allows?

    A landlord may apply to the Director of Residential Tenancies to be allowed to raise the rent above the annual limit if they can show they have increased operating costs or capital expenses. If a renter objects to the increase, they may file an objection with the Director.

    Do rent increase limits apply when renters change?

    If a renter moves out of a unit in a building that has four or more units, the rent charged for the new renter may be increased to the average rent being charged for similar units in the same building if notice is given to the new renters. But if a renter moves out of a rental unit in a building that has three units or less, the landlord can increase the rent by any amount that they decide, if they provide notice to the new renters.

  • New Brunswick

    Can my landlord increase my rent?

    Yes, subject to certain rules.

    Does my province have a rent regulation policy?

    Yes, New Brunswick has a rent regulation policy in the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) which sets the maximum limits by which landlords can increase the rent every year. This policy was introduced in 2025.

    What are the rules around rent increases?

    • After a renter moves in, a landlord must wait at least 12 months before raising the rent. After that, any rent increases must also be 12 months apart unless the landlord and renter have agreed otherwise in writing.
    • Landlords must give at least 3 months’ written notice before they raise the rent for a fixed term lease (a lease that starts and ends on specified dates), and at least 6 months’ notice for a lease that is week-to-week, month-to-month, or year-to-year.
    • If a renter suspects the landlord increased the rent because the renter filed a complaint against them, they can contact the Tenant and Landlord Relations Office (TLRO) for support.
    • When a renter receives a notice of a rent increase, they can choose to request a review through the TLRO or end their lease. If they choose to request a review, they must apply within 60 days of receiving the notice.

    Can my landlord increase my rent by more than what the limit allows?

    Landlords can apply to a residential tenancies officer for permission to raise the rent by more than what is allowed in the RTA, up to a maximum limit. In order to obtain approval to raise the rent above what is allowed in the RTA, landlords must provide proof that they have incurred capital expenditures for renovations.

    Do rent increase limits apply when renters change?

    When a renter leaves a unit, there are no legal limits for how much a landlord can increase the rent for a new renter.

  • Newfoundland and Labradaor

    Can my landlord increase my rent?

    Yes, subject to some rules.

    Does my province have a rent regulation policy?

    No, Newfoundland and Labrador does not have a rent regulation policy, and there are no limits to how much a landlord may increase the rent. But there are some rules in the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) on how and when rent can be increased.

    What are the rules around rent increases?

    • After a renter moves in, a landlord must wait at least 12 months before raising the rent. After that, any rent increases must also be 12 months apart.
    • A landlord has to give a renter 6 months’ written notice before they raise the rent for a month-to-month or fixed term lease, and 8 weeks’ notice for a week-to-week lease.
    • If a landlord wants to raise the rent because they are providing a new or additional service, the landlord and renter can agree to the increase in writing and there is no need for written notice from the landlord in this case.
    • If a landlord discontinues a service, the value of the discontinued service could be considered a rent increase.
  • Northwest Territories

    Can my landlord increase my rent?

    Yes, subject to certain rules.

    Does my territory have a rent regulation policy?

    No, Northwest Territories does not have a rent regulation policy, and there are no limits to how much a landlord may increase the rent. But there are some rules in the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) on how and when rent can be increased.

    What are the rules around rent increases?

    • After a renter moves in, a landlord must wait at least 12 months before raising the rent. After that, any rent increases must also be 12 months apart.
    • Landlords must give renters 3 months’ written notice before raising the rent.
    • If a renter wants to end their lease because of a rent increase, the landlord must give the new renter a copy of the last notice of rent increase and rent the unit at the same price. This does not apply to subsidized housing.
  • Nova Scotia

    Can my landlord increase my rent?

    Yes, subject to certain rules.

    Does my province have a rent regulation policy?

    No, Nova Scotia does not have a permanent rent regulation policy, and there are no limits to how much a landlord may increase the rent. But there are some rules in the Residential Tenancies Act on how and when rent can be increased. The province implemented a temporary rent regulation policy in November 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has been extended to December 31, 2025.

    What are the general rules around rent increases?

    • After a renter moves in, a landlord must wait at least 12 months before raising the rent. After that, any rent increases must also be 12 months apart.
    • A landlord must provide 4 months’ written notice before raising the rent for year-to-year and month-to-month leases, and 8 weeks’ written notice for week-to-week leases.
    • For fixed term leases, which start and end on specified dates, the lease must state the amount of any rent increases and the dates of when they will start, which cannot be more than once in one year.
    • A landlord cannot charge different rental amounts depending on the term of the rental agreement. For example, a landlord could not charge a renter a different amount for a year-to-year, month-to-month, or fixed-term lease.
    • These rules do not apply to subsidized housing.

    What is the temporary rent regulation policy?

    • As of 2024, landlords cannot raise the rent by more than 5% annually. Since this is a temporary policy, it might change in future years.
    • This does not apply to renters signing a new lease, except renters who have a fixed-term lease and are signing a lease for an additional fixed-term in the same rental unit. It also does not apply to renters living in subsidized housing.
  • Nunavut

    Can my landlord increase my rent?

    Yes, subject to certain rules.

    Does my territory have a rent regulation policy?

    No, Nunavut does not have a rent regulation policy, and there are no limits to how much a landlord may increase the rent. But there are some rules in the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) on how and when rent can be increased.

    What are the rules around rent increases?

    • Landlords cannot increase the rent more than once in a 12-month period.
    • Landlords must provide renters with 3 months’ written notice before they raise the rent.
    • If a renter wants to end their lease because of a rent increase, the landlord must give the new renter a copy of the last notice of rent increase and rent the unit at the same price. This does not apply to subsidized housing.
  • Ontario

    Can my landlord increase my rent?

    Yes, subject to certain rules.

    Does my province have a rent regulation policy?

    Yes, Ontario has a rent regulation policy in the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) which sets the maximum limits by which landlords can increase the rent every year. In Ontario these are referred to as guidelines.

    What are the rules around rent increases?

    • After a renter moves in, a landlord must wait at least 12 months before raising the rent. After that, any rent increases must also be 12 months apart.
    • Landlords must give renters a written notice of at least 90 days before the rent goes up. The notice should be on one of the forms from the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB). Even if the landlord does not use the LTB form, a notice might still be valid if it includes all the information that can be found on the LTB form.
    • Rental units first occupied after November 15, 2018 are not covered by the rent increase guideline.

    Can my landlord increase my rent by more than what the limit allows?

    Landlords can apply to the LTB for permission to raise the rent by more than what is allowed in the guideline. This is referred to as an above guideline increase or AGI. The RTA lists specific reasons why a landlord can apply for an AGI which include:

    • An increase in the cost of municipal taxes and charges.
    • Extra costs incurred from repairing the building or one or more of the units in it.
    • Operational costs related to security services provided for the building by someone other than the landlord. Renters can challenge a landlord’s application for an AGI at the LTB.

    If the landlord gets approval for an AGI, they must still wait 12 months between rent increases and give 90 days’ written notice to the renter before the rent goes up.

    Do rent increase limits apply when renters change?

    When a renter leaves a unit, there are no legal limits for how much a landlord can increase the rent for a new renter.

  • Prince Edward Island

    Can my landlord increase my rent?

    Yes, subject to certain rules.

    Does my province have a rent regulation policy?

    Yes, Prince Edward Island has a rent regulation policy in the Rental of Residential Property Act. The Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission decides the maximum limits by which landlords can raise the rent every year.

    What are the rules around rent increases?

    • After a renter moves in, a landlord must wait at least 12 months before raising the rent. After that, any rent increases must also be 12 months apart, even if a new renter moves into the unit.
    • For a weekly lease, landlords must provide at least 3 weeks’ written notice before raising the rent and 3 months’ written notice for a monthly lease.

    Can my landlord increase my rent by more than what the limit allows?

    If a landlord wants to raise the rent above the limit that is allowed, they must apply to the Office of the Director of Residential Rental Property, and the Director will decide on the increase. A hearing must take place which may be attended by the renter. The Director will consider different factors when making their decision including:

    • Whether the increase is necessary to prevent the landlord from sustaining a financial loss in the operation of the rental units;
    • Increased operating costs or capital expenditures provided by the landlord;
    • The expectation of the landlord to have a reasonable return on their capital investment; and
    • The date and amount of the last rent increase.
    • Other factors that were added in 2023. More time will be needed to find out how the new factors will affect the Director’s decisions.

    Do rent increase limits apply when renters change?

    Rent increases are attached to the unit and not the renter. Rent cannot be automatically increased between different renters. If a new renter moves in, the landlord can only increase the rent according to the rules around rent increases mentioned above. If a landlord wants to increase the rent beyond the limit, they must apply to the Office of the Director of Residential Rental Property.

  • Quebec

    Can my landlord increase my rent?

    Yes, subject to certain rules.

    Does my province have a rent regulation policy?

    Yes, Quebec has a rent regulation policy, but it only applies if a renter refuses a proposed increase within one month of receiving notice of it. If a renter does not refuse, then a landlord can increase the rent by any amount.

    What are the rules around rent increases?

    • A landlord must give proper notice of any rent increase.
    • Both the landlord and renter must agree that a rent increase is reasonable before the rent is raised. The renter has the right to accept or refuse the proposed increase within 1 month of receiving notice of it.
    • If a renter rejects a proposed rent increase, the landlord may apply to the Quebec Rental Board so that it can determine what the rent should be or make a decision on the rent increase.
    • The Quebec Rental Board publishes guidelines every year on suggested rent increases, but landlords are not required to follow them.
    • If a lease provides for a change in rent, the landlord or renter may apply to the Quebec Rental Board to contest the change if it is too little or too much and ask the Board to decide on the rent amount.
    • A renter or someone who is subletting a unit may apply to the Quebec Rental Board to have their rent determined by the Board, if their rent is higher than the lowest rent paid during the 12-month period preceding the beginning of the lease or sublease, unless that rent has already been determined by the Board.
    • In all instances where rent is determined by the Board, it will remain in force for the term of the lease.

    Do rent increase limits apply when renters change?

    Rent increases are attached to the unit and not the renter. Rent cannot be automatically increased between different renters. If a new renter moves in, the landlord can only increase the rent according to the rules around rent increases mentioned above. They must disclose in the lease the lowest amount of rent that the previous renter paid within the last 12 months.

  • Saskatchewan

    Can my landlord increase my rent?

    Yes, subject to certain rules.

    Does my province have a rent regulation policy?

    No, Saskatchewan does not have a rent regulation policy, and there are no limits to how much a landlord may increase the rent. But there are some rules in the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) on how and when rent can be increased.

    What are the rules around rent increases?

    • In a fixed term lease, which has a specific end date, landlords are not allowed to raise rent during the duration of the lease unless at the beginning of the lease the landlord and renter agree on how much the increase will be and when the rent will be raised.
    • For a periodic lease, which is a lease that continues until it is ended by the tenant or landlord according to the rules of the RTA, landlords must give the renter written notice at least 12 months before raising the rent and cannot raise the rent more than once a year.
    • If a landlord is a member of the Saskatchewan Landlord Association or the Network of Non-Profit Housing Providers of Saskatchewan, they may give a renter 6 months’ advance written notice before raising the rent and shall not increase rent more than twice each year.
    • These rules do not apply to subsidized housing where the rent is tied to the renter’s household income.
  • Yukon

    Can my landlord increase my rent?

    Yes, subject to certain rules.

    Does my territory have a rent regulation policy?

    Yukon does not have a permanent rent regulation policy. However, a temporary rent regulation policy has been in effect since January 31, 2023. Since this is a temporary policy, the rules around rent regulation might change in future years.

    What are the general rules around rent increases?

    • After a renter moves in, a landlord must wait at least 12 months before raising the rent. After that, any rent increases must also be 12 months apart.
    • A landlord must give a renter 3 months’ written notice before raising the rent.

    What is the temporary rent regulation policy?

    • Landlords cannot raise the rent by more than the annual rent increase limit that is set by the territory. As of May 15, 2025, landlords cannot increase rent by more than 2%.
    • The annual rent increase limit is tied to the renter not the rental unit. When a renter leaves a unit, there are no legal limits for how much a landlord can increase the rent for a new renter. Once a new lease begins, it is then subject to the annual rent increase limit.
    • Annual rent increase limits do not apply to housing where the rent is tied to the renter’s household income.

Tell your government: It’s time for strong rent regulation

With over 170 entries, this annotated bibliography represents the first comprehensive collection of grey literature on the right to housing for disabled people in Canada, focusing on four provinces – British Columbia, Manitoba, Nova Scotia and Ontario – as well as Canada-wide and international sources. It aims to fill a significant gap in existing research by providing a resource that captures the evolving landscape of housing rights for disabled individuals over the past 30 years.

This bibliography is particularly valuable because it highlights both progress and ongoing challenges in this area, offering a nuanced view of what has and has not changed. As grey literature often bypasses the lengthy peer review and editorial processes of academic publishing, it can provide more current and diverse insights. This is especially important for underrepresented areas and authors who might lack access to traditional publishing platforms.

Our hope is that it will serve as a crucial tool for both academic researchers and community-based groups, reflecting the lived experiences of disabled individuals and the work of non-profit organizations dedicated to service and advocacy. Ultimately, we envision this bibliography as a catalyst for political and social change, informing efforts to secure and improve the right to housing for disabled people in Canada.

Literature on the right to housing for disabled people. Annotated bibliography.

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Our aim is continue adding new entries to this annotated bibliography in the coming year. If you would like to make a contribution, please contact us:

Email: research [at] housingrightscanada.com


A note on terminology

* The use of “person-first” language (people with disabilities) vs. “identity-first” language (disabled people) is contentious within disability communities. Identity-first language is generally preferred by contemporary disability activists as it places the focus on societal barriers (i.e., disabled people are disabled by society). However, some others, especially people labelled with an intellectual disability, tend to prefer person-first language. We have used both forms in this paper to respect the preferences of members of these various communities. 

The lack of affordable rental housing and the sharp rise in rents have become key issues in Alberta. On December 5, 2023, Alberta’s Housing Critic tabled a Private Members’ Bill to introduce temporary rent caps. Bill 205 represents a vital first step toward rent regulation in the province, and if implemented, can help keep Alberta’s renters in their homes.  

Our Advocacy Toolkit for Bill 205 offers several actions that you can take to lend your voice in support of the bill and rent regulations in Alberta. 


Highlights include:

  • Why rent regulation is needed in Alberta.
  • Signing and starting petitions to the provincial government.
  • Sending a formal letter of support for Bill 205. Read our letter of support here.
  • How to participate in the public consultation.

See also: Our Tenant Leaders’ Toolbox

Inside the toolbox you’ll find:

  • A toolkit on implementing the right to housing in Canada.
  • Resources on a human rights-based approach to housing, empowering communities to claim this right, and how to target your advocacy.
  • Guides on engaging with local, provincial and territorial governments, and how to make a submission to the Federal Housing Advocate.

The Canadian Centre for Housing Rights undertook a research project from 2023-2024 to deepen an understanding of the relationship between gender-based violence (GBV) and housing insecurity in Ontario, as well as to understand how the province’s housing affordability crisis is impacting the housing experiences of survivors.

The new knowledge produced through this project will help inform policy solutions that can improve the housing conditions of survivors of GBV.  

Gender-based violence (GBV) and intimate partner/interpersonal violence (IPV) are pervasive problems in Canada, and there is extensive literature on these issues. However, little is known about the relationship between GBV and housing insecurity. To address this knowledge gap, CCHR examined this relationship and how the housing affordability crisis in Ontario is impacting survivors’ housing experiences in five Ontario communities: Toronto, Ottawa, Peterborough, Thunder Bay and Lanark County.  

CCHR undertook a survey with survivors, interviews with service providers and an analysis of housing market conditions in each community under study to illustrate the ways in which the ongoing crisis of housing affordability in Ontario is impacting the housing security of survivors. 

Our research findings 

Our research report “Nowhere To Go: Gender-based Violence and Housing Insecurity in Ontario” presents a detailed examination of these key findings from our research: 

  1. Unaffordable housing is a significant barrier for survivors of GBV. 
  2. Survivors are facing a high degree of housing insecurity that originates from their experiences of GBV and is compounded by Ontario’s housing affordability crisis.  
  3. Many survivors are either remaining in unsafe housing with their abusers or are returning to live with their abusers after having left, because of a lack of available housing options.
  4. Survivors are facing significant barriers to accessing housing in the private rental market, including a high degree of discrimination. 
  5. Existing shelter, income and other community supports are inadequate or are not meeting the diverse needs of survivors. 
  6. Experiencing GBV and related housing insecurity in smaller and more rural communities poses unique challenges to survivors. 

Our policy solutions

Based on these key findings, CCHR has also developed the following policy recommendations that aim to improve the housing conditions of survivors. Read our report for detailed information about these solutions. 

Affordability measures: 

  1. Increase the supply of social housing. 
  2. Attach affordability requirements to funding for private sector developers. 
  3. Expand programs that preserve affordable housing. 
  4. Amend the Ontario Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) to increase affordability. 
  5. Address the financialization of housing. 

Provision of services and supports 

  1. Fund targeted programs for women and gender-diverse people, while reducing barriers to access. 
  2. Expand funding and criteria for the Canada-Ontario Housing Benefit (COHB). 
  3. Change the definition of homelessness in current programs to include hidden homelessness and survivors who are unable to leave contexts in which they are experiencing GBV/IPV. 
  4. Increase investments in existing services. 
  5. Create second-stage shelters in smaller communities. 
  6. Increase social assistance rates. 
  7. Reduce barriers in accessing social assistance. 
  8. Amend the Special Priority Policy (SPP) application process. 
  9. Reduce barriers to accessing subsidized housing. 
  10. Introduce safe at home programming. 
  11. Collect more data in rural and remote areas. 

Address discrimination 

  1. Establish monitoring and enforcement mechanisms.
  2. Provide no-fee guarantor services to support survivors.
  3. Investigate the scope of discrimination. 
  4. Restore funding to the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario. 

Inclusive and anti-colonialist considerations 

  1. Increase targeted services for groups in greatest need.
  2. Increase accessible housing. 
  3. Be alert to the experiences of Indigenous women and gender-diverse people. 
  4. Increase investments in For Indigenous, By Indigenous housing. 

Acknowledgements

This project is generously supported by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s National Housing Strategy Research and Planning Fund.

CCHR would also like to acknowledge the contributions of our advisory council, Dr. Carolyn Whitzman, the Canadian Women’s Foundation and the Woman Abuse Council of Toronto (WomanACT), in informing the project’s methods, in carrying out data collection and in advising this research. CCHR would like to thank Dr. Jewelles Smith of Procne Navigation for her support with this research. CCHR would also like to thank the many individuals working in service provision who took time to participate in an interview and distribute the project’s survey as well as the individuals with lived experience of gender-based violence and related housing insecurity who generously shared their time and expertise to participate in our survey. 

This research received ethics approval from the Community Research Ethics Office in Waterloo, Ontario. 


The problem

Evictions are an unfortunate reality in Canada. Nearly one out of 10 Canadian households (7%) report that they have been evicted at some point in their lives. Provincial laws use evictions to address a wide range of issues, such as financial difficulties leading to unpaid rent, disputes between neighbours, safety concerns, owners’ changing plans, and more. Undeniably, these issues need to be addressed. However, eviction is a blunt instrument which has devasting impacts on renter households. It should only ever be used as a last resort.

In Canada, evictions are not always a last resort. Eviction laws in Canada do not adequately address alternatives to eviction. Instead, laws frequently treat eviction as the only solution available to address tenancy issues. To take just a few real-life examples of how alternatives to evictions are not systematically pursued:

  • In Manitoba, a tenant is evicted because she owes $450 in rent – even though she can pay the full amount by the next day.1
  • In Newfoundland, a tenant is evicted even though he can afford his rent because, during the COVID-19 pandemic, he paid half of his rent at the start of each month and half in the middle of the month.
  • In Prince Edward Island, a tenant asks for a chance to pay her rent arrears to avoid eviction. The Director of Residential Rental Property refuses to even consider the request before ordering the eviction.
  • In Yukon, a landlord is unable to prove that their tenant has done anything to warrant eviction – but eviction is ordered anyway.
  • In Saskatchewan, a tenant is evicted because they owe $5.
  • In Quebec, a tenant is evicted because they owe $2.

In each of these cases, and countless others, a renter lost their home unnecessarily because the law did not require that the adjudicator consider any alternative to eviction.

In order to pursue eviction as a last resort, proportionality can be used as an assessment tool.

Defining proportionality

Proportionality is a legal framework for deciding whether an eviction is necessary. Under a proportionality framework, a household can only be evicted if all of the following are true:

  • The eviction must have a legitimate objective.
  • Eviction must be necessary to achieve the objective, and there must be no reasonable alternative. 
  • The consequences of eviction must be proportionate to the objective.

The proportionality framework requires that an adjudicator consider all the circumstances of the case, and only order eviction if they are satisfied that all three of the above conditions have been met. The adjudicator must consider the interests of both the tenant and the landlord, but must come to their own objective conclusion as to whether eviction is really necessary.

The proportionality framework was originally developed by the European Court of Human Rights.2 Council of Europe member states are required to incorporate the framework into their eviction laws. A household facing eviction in Europe can appeal to the Court of Human Rights if the proportionality of the eviction is not properly considered.

The proportionality framework has also been adopted by the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which uses it to determine whether evictions around the world are compliant with the right to housing under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR).3 Almost every country in the world, including Canada, has ratified the ICESCR. Hence, countries which carry out evictions without a proportionality assessment are in contravention of their obligations under the ICESCR. Unfortunately, there is no legal mechanism to force Canada and other non-compliant countries to meet their obligations.

Proportionality in Canadian law

Eviction laws are different in every province and territory. In Ontario, Saskatchewan,4 Quebec,5 and Northwest Territories, legislation explicitly allows adjudicators the discretion to consider alternatives to eviction. Court and tribunal decisions have confirmed that adjudicators also have that discretion in Alberta,6 New Brunswick,7 and Manitoba,8 and in some cases in Yukon.9 The law gives adjudicators little to no discretion in British Columbia. The law is unclear in Nova Scotia, Newfoundland,10 Nunavut,11 and Prince Edward Island.12

This means that in some parts of Canada, but not others, adjudicators have the authority to avoid unnecessary evictions by considering reasonable alternatives. This is an important policy which makes a real difference in the lives of countless renter households.

However, no Canadian law requires that adjudicators follow a proportionality framework in eviction decisions. Hence, while adjudicators are often allowed to choose alternatives to eviction, they are not required to refuse eviction in cases where reasonable alternatives are available. In every part of Canada, renter households continue to be evicted unnecessarily.

The solution – how to implement proportionality in Canada

Proportionality in eviction is an important legal framework to ensure that eviction is always treated as a last resort. Provinces and territories can implement the framework by:

  • Amending their residential tenancies laws to ensure that adjudicators have the authority to choose alternatives to eviction.
  • Amending their residential tenancies laws to direct that adjudicators must choose alternatives to eviction, except in cases where eviction is the only reasonable solution.
  • Training adjudicators to treat eviction as a last resort.
  • Ensuring that tenants have full, fair access to legal advice and to tribunal proceedings so that they can participate in eviction decisions.

Proportionality as a tool to respond to Canada’s affordability crisis

The proportionality framework is an important tool for preventing unnecessary evictions. However, it cannot solve the housing crisis or fully protect households from eviction by itself. That is because it does not address the underlying causes of problems that lead to eviction.

For example, if a household falls behind on their rent, the proportionality framework can protect them from eviction by giving them the opportunity to pay back the rent on a repayment plan. However, this will not be enough if the rent is no longer affordable because of inadequate rent regulation that leads to unaffordable rent increases.

Governments must ensure that renters not only have access to affordable homes but are also able to maintain their tenancy. It is important that our governments implement eviction prevention policies like the proportionality framework to stabilize housing and reduce housing precarity. However, proportionality is not a silver bullet and the road to housing security for renters across Canada will also require governments to implement policies that address the root causes of our housing affordability crisis.



References

1 Manitoba Residential Tenancies Branch (RTB), ORDER NO: 2002W3538 & 2002W3539 (2002) (Unpublished decision available from the RTB through a subscription service).

2 The framework applies to all human rights in Europe. Its application to the human right to the home was confirmed in McCann v. the United Kingdom, no. 19009/04, ECHR 2008 at para. 50.

3 Lopez Alban et al. v. Spain, E/C.12/66/D/37/2018 (2019); Rosario Gomez-Limon Pardo v. Spain, E/C.12/67/D/52/2018 (2020); El Goumari and Tidli v. Spain, E/C.12/69/D/85/2018 (2021); El Ayoubi and El Azouan Azouz v. Spain, E/C.12/69/D/54/2018 (2021); Soraya Moreno Romero v. Spain, E/C.12/69/D/48/2018 (2021); Lorne Joseph Walters v. Belgium, E/C.12/70/D/61/2018 (2021).

4 Residential Tenancies Act, 2006, SS 2006, c R-22.0001, s.70(6); Williams v Elite Property Management Ltd., 2021 SKQB 46 (CanLII).

5 Civil Code of Québec, CQLR c CCQ-1991, s.1973; Sylvania Construction c. Boretsky, 2011 QCCQ 7008 (CanLII).

6 615247 Alberta Ltd. v. Wimperis, 2007 ABQB 55; Gosine v. Hepas, 2008 ABQB 321.

7 Nethervue Park v. MacKinnon et al., 2013 NBQB 15; Haldor Ltd v Ross, 2022 NBQB 14.

8 Unpublished decisions of the Manitoba Residential Tenancies Branch (RTB), available from the RTB by subscription service.

9 G.H. v H.A., 2021 YTRTO 5 (CanLII); A.J. & R.J. v F.N., 2021 YTRTO 4 (CanLII); J.B. & M.H. v E.H., 2020 YTRTO 9 (CanLII).

10 The Newfoundland Residential Tenancies Office does not appear to have ever considered that it could have the discretion to make an order other than eviction.

11 The Nunavut Residential Tenancies Office does not publish its decisions, and the Nunavut courts have not considered the question of discretion in eviction decisions.

12 A new Residential Tenancy Act was proclaimed in PEI in April, 2023. It has not yet been interpreted by the courts and tribunals.


Read also:

This resource provides an overview of a human rights-based approach to housing. It is designed to help tenant leaders identify the root causes of housing challenges, the groups whose rights are most impacted by those challenges, and the institutions that have an obligation resolve them. It provides guiding tools to develop rights-based housing solutions and to hold institutions accountable for implementing the right to housing.


Highlights include:

  • What is a Human Rights-Based Approach (HRBA).
  • Who are rights-holders and duty-bearers.
  • Why is a rights-based approach necessary in housing policy.
  • What are the PANEL Principles and how can they be used in community-based policy advocacy.

This resource is part of our Tenant Leaders’ Toolbox

Inside the toolbox you’ll find:

  • A toolkit on implementing the right to housing in Canada.
  • Resources on a human rights-based approach to housing, empowering communities to claim this right, and how to target your advocacy.
  • Guides on engaging with local, provincial and territorial governments, and how to make a submission to the Federal Housing Advocate
A woman stands in front of an apartment building. She is wearing a white t-shirt and a grey sweater, and is holding a purple folder in her arms.

Across Canada, the number of people who rent their homes is growing rapidly, and the challenges they face in their homes are growing too. Many renters face excessive rent increases that leave them vulnerable to “economic eviction.” Many have so few housing options available to them that they must live in inadequate homes that are inaccessible or poorly maintained where they present dangers to their health and safety. Many even face discriminatory and illegal behaviour from some landlords, with no effective recourse available to them to protect themselves and their rights.

These are common issues that renters across Canada are facing every day. Right now, laws that apply to renters in Canada are unequal across the country, and not all renters enjoy the same basic legal protections that would allow them to live securely in their homes. This is not acceptable and it has to change.  

Housing is a human right, and it’s time for our governments to acknowledge that renters, like everyone else, need homes that are adequate and secure. 

Contact your local representatives and tell them that renters need secure homes so that:  

  • They will not face discrimination when applying for housing or while renting, and there is effective recourse available if they do.  
  • They will be able to remain in their homes and will not face “economic eviction” due to excessive rent increases at a landlord’s whim.  
  • Their home will be accessible, well-maintained and in a state of good repair.  
  • They will be able to access the support and help they need in order to challenge unfair or illegal behaviour on the part of landlords.  

All renters – no matter where they live – need basic legal protections so they can live in secure and adequate homes. 

The Canadian Centre for Housing Rights’ (CCHR) Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Annie Hodgins as CCHR’s next Executive Director.

A woman stands in front of a bookcase, smiling at the camera. She has long dark brown hair, and is wearing a black blazer jacket.

Following a comprehensive national search, the Board has selected Annie to continue her trajectory with the organization in this leadership capacity, a role she has held in an acting position since July 2022. 

Annie is a seasoned non-profit leader with expertise in housing law and policy, fund development, operations and strategic management, knowledge mobilization, capacity-building, public engagement, and advocacy. Over nearly a decade, she has served the organization in several roles including in executive leadership, operations, tenant services and public legal education. Most recently, Annie worked alongside the previous Executive Director to expand the organization’s work across Canada, to respond to the growing housing challenges facing people and communities. As a result, the organization is working to advance systemic change on a larger scale than ever before, with expanded services, a renewed focus on community-relevant and evidence-based policy advocacy, a new research department, and a thriving law reform practice. 

Outside of her role at CCHR, Annie serves as the co-chair of the City of Toronto’s Housing and Homelessness Services Network, as a member of Toronto City Council’s Tenant Advisory Committee, and as a board member at All Saints Church and Community Centre. 

“Annie is a passionate and dedicated leader, with a strong commitment to advancing the right to housing for all Canadians. The Board congratulates Annie on this appointment, and thanks her for her years of service to the organization. Through Annie’s leadership, we know the organization will continue rising to meet the challenges that lay ahead and to drive the important work of the organization until everyone has a safe and secure place to call home.”

CCHR Board Co-Chairs

About Annie Hodgins

Annie has worked with communities, advocates and governments to advance the right to housing in Canada for a decade. In her time at CCHR she has held various roles including Deputy Executive Director, Manager of Operations and Strategic Initiatives, and Manager of CCHR’s Tenant Services Program. Annie is a skilled writer and public speaker with expertise in housing law and policy, fund development, operations, strategic management, knowledge mobilization and capacity building. Before joining CCHR in 2013, she worked in fund development and as a Researcher and Office Manager for the Institute on Governance, supporting the work of Vice President of the Toronto office. Annie has a Bachelor’s degree in History and English from the University of Toronto and a Master’s degree in History from York University. She also holds certificates in Strategy and Competitive Advantage from the Rotman School of Management, and Non-Profit Leadership from the University of Toronto. She is involved in several committees and boards, including as the co-chair of the City of Toronto’s Housing and Homelessness Services Network, as a member of Toronto City Council’s Tenant Advisory Committee, and as a board member at All Saints Church and Community Centre. 

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