Smog, increased costs among new challenges for Montrealers on Moving Day

With the rising prices for housing and a smog warning in effect Saturday, the annual Moving Day is posing new challenges for Montrealers.

The wildfire-linked smog in the city has made it difficult to work for extended periods, some people told CityNews, as it caused breathing issues.

“Now as we are moving, start putting in the truck and breathing is a bit difficult now,” said Ishan Raina, who moved Saturday. “And I had a problem with asthma before, so it is quite difficult. I had to take some rest after 10 minutes, had to drink some water. I had to take some deep breaths.

“It’s humid, it’s hard, it’s smoky. It’s very difficult.”

Added Nicholas Davis, who was also moving: “I have asthma, so it does impact me. But overall, I try not to think about it, so it doesn’t bother me as much. But it does affect you.”

A low vacancy rate and steep increases in prices for rental housing has been the focal point of Moving Day this year, with some individuals not fortunate enough to have found a new home in Montreal by July 1.

Those who did find housing were faced with the increased costs – making the day stressful for many.

“The prices are getting ridiculous for small places, so I’m actually resorting to move off island,” Davis said. “That’s the reason why we’re moving today. And to get out of these expensive, overpriced places.”

A Léger Marketing poll from May revealed that Quebec tenants who move this year are faced with an average 19 per cent increase rent increase.

“I’d say the increase in rent is very difficult for us, especially immigrants, because we are in budget and we have to send some money back home too,” said Raina.

Nearly 200 households in need of shelter

Quebec’s housing agency says almost 200 households have been forced to find temporary shelter after being unable to find a new place to live on the province’s annual moving day.

The Société d’habitation du Québec says it is aware of 178 households that have been forced to stay with friends or family, or who are being housed in hotels.

Véronique Laflamme, a spokeswoman for a Quebec tenants group, says as of Friday it was aware of 680 tenant households that had asked for help after being unable to sign a new lease.

She says that number likely underestimates the real situation as many households haven’t asked for help.

Quebec Premier François Legault and Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante encouraged residents to contact authorities if they were unable to find a place to live.

The vast majority of residential leases in Quebec end on June 30, a vestige of a colonial-period law indented to protect tenant farmers from evictions during the winter.

For at least one moving company, the current housing crisis in Montreal has also had an impact on its business.

“We didn’t receive a lot of phone calls for the 1st of July,” said Mano Kastiliano, the owner of MovinGo. “It’s relatively less jobs this year maybe because of the interest rate, it’s high for the houses, and people don’t buy so much houses and people don’t move a lot. We see it entire season. It’s really slow. We just get the 1st of July, we get still the jobs but it’s not that busy.”

The Laferrière family was among those who opted to put in the work themselves.

“Got some help… I got my dad,” said Mathieu Laferrière. “And then yesterday, we did most of it with my dad and my uncle. So the family thing.”

Added Daniel Laferrière: “It’s something that you have to do for your kid. You always find the strength to have to do stuff. Love talks, eh. You have your children, you want the best for them. So, I’m always there for them.”

—With files from The Canadian Press