Quebec's Québec solidaire party wrapped up its convention Sunday with housing affordability firmly at the top of its agenda, rolling out a comprehensive platform designed to rein in rental costs and clamp down on exploitative landlord behaviour.
The 11-seat opposition party is proposing to cap annual rent increases at inflation rates — a policy that would take effect if the party ever forms government. The move sparked internal debate, with some small landlords concerned about their ability to raise rents, but party leadership insists the framework protects legitimate property owner interests.
Landlords Still Have Rights, Party Says
Ruba Ghazal, co-spokesperson for Québec solidaire, stressed that the rent cap would not eliminate landlord protections. "The objective is not to target small landlords," Ghazal said, pointing to Quebec's existing rental housing tribunal system.
Property owners would retain the right to petition the tribunal for above-inflation increases when justified — such as when major renovations are undertaken. "They can always assert their rights at the tribunal if they want to increase beyond inflation, as is done in Ontario. We are not touching any landlord rights," Ghazal explained.
Cracking Down on 'Abusive' Landlords
Beyond rent controls, the party adopted tough measures against landlords engaging in predatory practices. Québec solidaire is proposing significantly harsher penalties for property owners who violate housing laws, including strict enforcement against fraudulent evictions, harassment, unsafe conditions, and misleading lease terms.
Andrés Fontecilla, the party's housing spokesperson, argued that existing rules lack teeth. "The laws are there, but they are almost never enforced seriously," he said.
The party proposes raising fines by $10,000 for each repeated offence, with penalties potentially reaching $100,000 for individual landlords and $200,000 for corporations. "A fine has to be a deterrent, not symbolic," Fontecilla stated.
Property Seizure for Serial Offenders
In extreme cases, Québec solidaire would grant governments and municipalities power to expropriate landlords with records of repeated violations, property neglect, or endangering tenants. "When a landlord accumulates abuses... they should ultimately be able to lose their properties," Fontecilla said.
The party also specifically targeted "renovictions" — evictions justified by renovations that are often used to displace tenants and re-rent units at inflated prices — proposing stricter rules and property-flipping restrictions.
Expanded Housing for Vulnerable Populations
Convention members unanimously backed measures to expand housing for vulnerable groups, including women fleeing violence, people experiencing homelessness, and Indigenous communities.
This reporting is based on information from Canadian Mortgage Trends. Read the original article here.