Picking in the Landlord’s Pocket Book has to Stop

Jean Charest, Quebec’s Prime Minister and his government promised us a new habitation policy this fall. We can understand that this is an important project and the government should not make any hasty decisions. We also understand that in order to obtain our demands we have to wait for the global project.

With all these good intentions what does Yvon Marcoux, Justice Minister think he is accomplishing with his new bill 133 that permits the cancellation of a lease in the case of conjugal violence or sexual agression. He wants to modify article 1974 in Quebec’s Civil Code which already permits elderly persons who obtain low income housing to leave their current apartment with a three month notice.

The government is simply not being rational. Why not include this bill in the global policy with all its good intentions instead of reacting to pressure tactics from certain groups. The Justice Minister should wait before making changes to existing laws because we believe that the landlords should not have to pay for this.

We can certainly sympathize with people that are less fortunate and that have to face hardships in our society and of course we should help them. Although should we go so far as making the landlord of privately owned apartments responsible for these problems when the government should be the one subsiding these problems with the money of the contributors. Everyone is picking from the landlord’s pocket book and we do not have to wonder why, it seems that it is the simplist solution to the problem.

We met with the representatives from the Justice Minister, Yvon Marcoux’s, cabinet to inform them that respecting the lease (contract) between the two parties was a matter of principle. If it is a question of economics or whatever the nature of the problem is the tenant can use the lease transfer to liberate themselves from their lease obligations.

In conclusion we ask the Quebec’s Prime Minister, Jean Charest, Minister of Municipal Affairs, Nathalie Normandeau, and Justice Minister, Yvon Marcoux to be rational in their promises. We still believe that everything has to be looked over in the habitation sector as a whole and not legislate it piece by piece.

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