Housing Bill still a Possibility

Further to the last post Bill C-304 was not voted on last week.

It received one hour of debate. Another hour will come later. The Bloc has moved an amendment which, if approved, will return the bill to Committee to consider an amendment on the question of provincial jurisdiction. As Libby Davies, the champion of the bill notes:

"Getting a Private Members Bill through Parliament is no easy task and there are many procedural and potential roadblocks to overcome."

Indeed.

But it will be worth the wait to have legislation so that Canada will finally have an affordable housing strategy in place like most other developed countries.

It is not known when the second hour of debate will occur. Keep in touch by following Ms. Davies webste at libbydavies.ca

An Opportunity for a National Housing Strategy

Bill C – 304 will receive third reading in the House of Commons tonight.

The Bill championed by Vancouver East New Democrat Libby Davies intends to create a national housing strategy in consultation with all levels of government, aboriginal communities, non-profit and private sector housing providers and others.

Our country is unique among developed nations in not having a strategy. The Bill includes:

*a strong commitment to the right to adequate housing as guaranteed under international human rights law.
*targets and timelines for the elimination of homelessness.
*a process for independent review and a way to address and report complaints about possible violations of the right to adequate housing
*a key role for civil society organizations in designing the delivery, monitoring and evaluation of programs required to implement the right to adequate housing

Status of Bill 304

This is a private members bill and such bills seldom succeed. There has, however, been a fair amount of support through the long process of first and second reading and across the country. Liberals and New Democrats support it. I understand the Bloc Quebecois support it in principle but are troubled by an amendment they would not allow the province of Quebec some flexibility if the legislation is successful.

Significant support from Bloc members would be needed for Ms. Davies' bill to pass.

Advocates recommend contacting Gilles Duceppe (DucepG@parl.gc.ca) leader of the Bloc Quebecois to ask for his support.

Let’s face it the country really needs a national strategy on housing and homelessness.

Housing and the Municipal Election

You are being bombarded with candidates knocking at the door; campaign "literature" overflows your mailbox and blows down the street; and that nice view that you are familiar with is obscured by election signs. And I won't even mention the stadium.

With all this going on it is easy to lose sight of the fact that there are important issues at stake in the October 25th municipal election; rental housing policies and practices for example.

Tenant advocates working on the Solutions for Housing Action Committee (SHAC) have put together a questionnaire for candidates.

SHAC, a grassroots community group with a 25 year history, believes that housing is a right. In fact, it is guaranteed under the United Nations Covenant on Social and Economic Rights which Canada signed on to 1948.

Here are five commitments SHAC would like from candidates:

1. A regulatory regime for all landlords in Hamilton should be implemented. It should include compulsory annual inspections that will ensure compliance with property standard by-laws.

2. A moratorium on condo conversions is required. Rental housing stock in the city has been depleted. One reason this is happening is that Council usually approves requests for conversion of rental properties to condominium ownership.

3. A full review is needed of the Access to Housing wait list and the various citizen and advisory committees that are associated with it. The waiting list is growing faster in Hamilton than almost anywhere else in the province. It is imperative that effectiveness and transparency of the City's housing responsibilities be achieved.

4. A city wide inventory of existing housing must be compiled to inform future planning for adequate and accessible housing. While this is a long standing request, there is still no public listing of the number of universally accessible and modified units or units suitable for low income singles or units appropriate for larger families.

5. The eviction prevention policy negotiated between housing advocates and City Housing Hamilton (CHH) should be fully enforced. The recent review of Toronto Housing Corporation's eviction policies following the death of 82 year old tenant Al Gosling show how important such policies are.

It is hoped that you'll engage the candidates on these issues. There are other important issues, to be sure, but it is fair to say that housing policies affect all of us. Housing is, to quote the City's Official Plan, "fundamental to the economic, social and physical well-being of Hamilton's residents and communities."

One opportunity to engage the candidates for Mayor on housing issues will be on Monday October 4th at the Jamesville Community Centre 209 MacNab Street North.  The meeting starts at 1:30.

                        (This story originally appeared in North End Breezes)