Housing advocates are praising the federal government’s proposed rent reforms as a step in the right direction. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently announced new measures aimed at protecting Canadian renters and helping them achieve home ownership. The changes include allowing tenants to have on-time rent payments count toward their credit score, requiring landlords to disclose property pricing history for fair bargaining on rent, and providing $15 million in new funding to provincial legal aid organizations to protect tenants from unfair rent increases, evictions, and bad landlords. Yutaka Dirks from the Canadian Centre for Housing Rights stated that preventing excessive rent increases not only maintains affordability in neighborhoods but also prevents residents from being displaced due to rising rents.
Each province and territory in Canada has its own rental tenancies act, but Yutaka Dirks hopes that the proposed federal bill will lead to higher standards across the board. He believes that coordination between provinces will be necessary to ensure that the bill raises the bar for tenant protections nationwide. Avrom Charach, a spokesperson for the Professional Property Managers Association of Manitoba, expressed concerns that some of the proposed changes are already covered under Manitoba’s Residential Tenancies Act. He described the bill as “smoke and mirrors” and suggested that it may not have a significant impact. However, Charach acknowledged that if the bill accomplishes its goals, it could be a positive development.
While supportive of the bill’s intentions, Avrom Charach raised concerns about providing funding to legal aid organizations to assist tenants in dealing with “bad landlords.” He emphasized the importance of considering the details of how such funding would be allocated to ensure that it is used appropriately. A spokesperson for the Manitoba NDP government stated that ensuring social and affordable housing options for Manitobans is a top priority. The government also expressed support for making life more affordable for renters and helping to make home ownership a reality. The Manitoba NDP government is set to introduce new measures to lower costs for residents in their upcoming budget, and they anticipate partnering with Canada on housing initiatives.
The Manitoba NDP government is preparing to unveil its first provincial budget, which will be released on Tuesday. Additionally, the federal budget is scheduled to be unveiled in the House of Commons on April 16. Both governments are expected to outline their plans for addressing housing affordability and supporting renters and potential homeowners. The collaboration between federal and provincial governments in Canada is seen as crucial in addressing the housing crisis and ensuring that renters are protected from unfair practices. The proposed rent reforms are being closely watched by housing advocates, tenants, landlords, and policymakers for their potential impact on the rental market and the housing sector in Manitoba and across the country.
