François Legault closes the door on a law
(Quebec) Even if housing is "essential," it is not a fundamental right, Premier François Legault said Thursday.
In the midst of the housing crisis, Québec solidaire (QS) tried to find out if the CAQ government was ready to recognize housing as an individual right, as recommended by a federal agency.
Le premier ministre François Legault
Last week, The Canadian Press sent a request to the housing minister's office, but a press secretary inadvertently sent an internal email in response asking how not to answer the question.
The parliamentary leader of Québec solidaire (QS), Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, returned to the attack on Thursday to get a clear answer.
"We have the right to know what the Prime Minister thinks on this fundamental issue," he said. According to the Prime Minister, in Quebec, is housing a right, yes or no? »
"Obviously, it's essential for someone to have a home," the CAQ leader replied, touting
his government's $6.3 billion investment to build housing.
But he argued that the current flow of newcomers to Quebec, at a rate of 5,000 to 10,000 per month, is unsustainable: it is impossible to erect enough apartment buildings.
Whether we make a law or not, how can we build housing so quickly [...], with 560,000 temporary immigrants?
François Legault, Premier of Quebec
The QS parliamentary leader followed up with Mr. Legault by asking him if he was "open to recognizing" the right to housing, but it was a wasted effort.
"We're not going to start competing with the leader of Québec solidaire and me to see who has the best values," the premier said.
An embarrassing emailThe Minister of Housing France-Elaine Duranceau
Recall that last Friday, the office of Minister France-Élaine Duranceau had sparked controversy
by trying to dodge the issue of the right to housing.
Last February, the Office of the Federal Housing Advocate urged each province to recognize in law "the human right to adequate housing as defined by international law."
The Canadian Press asked each of the provinces, including Quebec, if they agreed with the argument that housing is a human right, and if they intend to pass legislation guaranteeing that right.
The Canadian Press received an email that was presumably addressed to another member of the firm's staff: "Relance. Am I still ghosting her? Otherwise, a general answer that doesn't say that housing is a priority for our government? »
"The response from the minister's office is now famous," Nadeau-Dubois said wryly on Thursday.
"But I'd like to have a specific answer that responds and not a general answer that doesn't respond," he continued.
Ms. Duranceau has already faced her share of controversies, since she was tasked with reforming tenant protection rules and the construction of social housing. An accountant and tax specialist by training who worked for two years in the world of commercial real estate, she has reduced the possibilities of lease assignments and her statements could be interpreted as a lack of sensitivity towards tenants.
Currently, only Prince Edward Island can claim to have enshrined the right to housing.
The first line of its Residential Tenancies Act acknowledges that Canada has signed a United Nations treaty affirming that housing is a human right – although critics point out that there is nothing in provincial law that subsequently supports that right.
Most provinces did not respond directly to the questions and instead listed a long list of initiatives launched to address the housing crisis.
Manitoba responded that the government recognizes "Canada's rights-based approach to housing," and Newfoundland and Labrador indicated that it agrees with federal and international laws recognizing housing as an individual right.
In the midst of the housing crisis, Québec solidaire (QS) tried to find out if the CAQ government was ready to recognize housing as an individual right, as recommended by a federal agency.
Le premier ministre François Legault
Last week, The Canadian Press sent a request to the housing minister's office, but a press secretary inadvertently sent an internal email in response asking how not to answer the question.
The parliamentary leader of Québec solidaire (QS), Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, returned to the attack on Thursday to get a clear answer.
"We have the right to know what the Prime Minister thinks on this fundamental issue," he said. According to the Prime Minister, in Quebec, is housing a right, yes or no? »
"Obviously, it's essential for someone to have a home," the CAQ leader replied, touting
his government's $6.3 billion investment to build housing.
But he argued that the current flow of newcomers to Quebec, at a rate of 5,000 to 10,000 per month, is unsustainable: it is impossible to erect enough apartment buildings.
Whether we make a law or not, how can we build housing so quickly [...], with 560,000 temporary immigrants?
François Legault, Premier of Quebec
The QS parliamentary leader followed up with Mr. Legault by asking him if he was "open to recognizing" the right to housing, but it was a wasted effort.
"We're not going to start competing with the leader of Québec solidaire and me to see who has the best values," the premier said.
An embarrassing emailThe Minister of Housing France-Elaine Duranceau
Recall that last Friday, the office of Minister France-Élaine Duranceau had sparked controversy
by trying to dodge the issue of the right to housing.
Last February, the Office of the Federal Housing Advocate urged each province to recognize in law "the human right to adequate housing as defined by international law."
The Canadian Press asked each of the provinces, including Quebec, if they agreed with the argument that housing is a human right, and if they intend to pass legislation guaranteeing that right.
The Canadian Press received an email that was presumably addressed to another member of the firm's staff: "Relance. Am I still ghosting her? Otherwise, a general answer that doesn't say that housing is a priority for our government? »
"The response from the minister's office is now famous," Nadeau-Dubois said wryly on Thursday.
"But I'd like to have a specific answer that responds and not a general answer that doesn't respond," he continued.
Ms. Duranceau has already faced her share of controversies, since she was tasked with reforming tenant protection rules and the construction of social housing. An accountant and tax specialist by training who worked for two years in the world of commercial real estate, she has reduced the possibilities of lease assignments and her statements could be interpreted as a lack of sensitivity towards tenants.
Currently, only Prince Edward Island can claim to have enshrined the right to housing.
The first line of its Residential Tenancies Act acknowledges that Canada has signed a United Nations treaty affirming that housing is a human right – although critics point out that there is nothing in provincial law that subsequently supports that right.
Most provinces did not respond directly to the questions and instead listed a long list of initiatives launched to address the housing crisis.
Manitoba responded that the government recognizes "Canada's rights-based approach to housing," and Newfoundland and Labrador indicated that it agrees with federal and international laws recognizing housing as an individual right.
