Quebec moves ahead with three-year moratorium on evictions

While the housing crisis persists, Quebec just passed a bill that will impose a three-year moratorium on evictions and protect more seniors.

The new law introduced by Housing Minister France-Élaine Duranceau will improve protection against eviction for seniors who have been living in their homes for at least 10 years. It raises the age for eviction protection from 70 to 65 and increases the income limit for eligibility by 25 per cent.

During the study of the bill, Québec Solidaire (QS) and the Parti Québécois (PQ) attempted to extend protection for seniors 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 for the purpose of “subdividing the dwelling, substantially enlarging it or changing its use.”

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

Duranceau’s new law represents a major change of direction for the government.

During the study of another housing bill, Bil 31 a few months ago, she was not receptive to the opposition’s proposals.

The minister rejected QS and PQ amendments aimed at protecting more seniors from eviction. At the time, Duranceau said that her bill already contained a number of measures to protect everyone, regardless of age. She says she has “evolved” on the issue since then.

Bill 31 provoked a great deal of resistance, particularly because it restricted the use of lease transfers.

–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews