Legault opens the door to an expansion of the “Françoise David law”

Photo: Ryan Remiorz The Canadian Press Prime Minister François Legault says he is “open” to discussing with Quebec in solidarity a possible expansion of Law 198.

Isabelle Porter Le Devoir

11:38 a.m.

• Quebec

After opposing it, the Prime Minister said he was “open” to discussing with Québec solidaire (QS) a possible expansion of Law 198 which slows down the evictions of elderly tenants.

“We are open to watching this,” François Legault wrote Tuesday in a tweet addressed to Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois. “Let's look at this together, in good faith, and see if we can find reasonable solutions.”

Québec solidaire asks the government to recall Bill 198, which aims to prohibit evictions among more senior tenants.

The law already prohibits the eviction of low-income tenants aged 70 and over who have occupied a home for ten years or more.

Bill 198 would extend this protection to seniors aged 65 and over who have been tenants in the same place for at least five years. The income eligible to benefit from it would also be adjusted.

Two weeks ago, the government allowed a parliamentary debate to take place on this bill without opening the door to possible adoption.

In recent days, Québec solidaire has reached out to the government by suggesting that we adopt only one or two of the proposed changes (on age, duration or eligible income).

Further details will follow.