The Françoise David law protecting seniors from evictions could soon be expanded

Photo: Jacques Boissinot The Canadian Press “This is good news,” exclaimed the parliamentary leader of QS, Alexandre Leduc (photographed above in November 2022). In the context of the evictions and renovictions that we are experiencing at the moment, that is not too much to ask.”

Caroline Plante – The Canadian Press

8:40 p.m.

• Quebec

The Legault government intends to soon call for Bill 198 of Québec solidaire (QS) which broadens the scope of the Françoise David law in order to better protect seniors from evictions.< /p>

This was made known on Friday by the parliamentary leader of QS, Alexandre Leduc. In an interview with The Canadian Press, he was delighted with this outcome which came after months of pressure.

“This is good news,” he exclaimed. In the context of the evictions and renovictions we are experiencing at the moment, that is not too much to ask. »

The law commonly known as the “Françoise David law”, which was adopted in 2016, stipulates that a senior over 70 with a very low income who has lived in their home for more than 10 years cannot be ousted.

Last year, QS MP Christine Labrie concluded, however, that more needed to be done to protect a greater number of senior tenants “from the increasing number of wild evictions”.

She presented bill 198, “An Act to amend the Civil Code in order to ensure greater protection for senior tenants against repossessions or evictions”.

The objective was to broaden the criteria to include people aged 65 and over who have lived in their home for at least five years.

More recently, QS also tried to move the government during the study of Bill 31 by presenting several amendments aimed at broadening the protection offered to seniors.

The Minister of Housing, France-Élaine Duranceau, however rejected these proposed amendments.

Ms. Duranceau justified her refusal by asserting that her Bill 31 already contained several measures to protect people from evictions, regardless of their age.

However, according to Mr. Leduc, the government is on the verge of changing its tune: in a planning document sent to QS, it indicates that it wants to call Bill 198 as early as next week .

“Is it the recent polls ? […] Is it the housing crisis which is not going away any time soon […] that pushes them to evaluate other options ?” asked Mr. Leduc.

He adds that according to him, the minister might want to change “the public image she has built in recent months”.

It is exceedingly rare for the government to call an opposition bill. The QS parliamentary leader believes that Bill 198 can be adopted quickly.