Liberals vote against the right to housing

OTTAWA — Today, the Liberals defeated Bill C-325 on the right to housing. The Bill, tabled by NDP MP Rachel Blaney, aimed to incorporate the internationally recognized right to housing into Canadian law.

“Canadians are experiencing an unprecedented housing crisis and it’s time to take a different approach. Taking a human rights lens to housing allows a more cohesive outlook by addressing the systemic causes of housing insecurity,” said Blaney. “Liberals like to talk about housing as a human right, but the fact that they don’t want to legislate it shows a lack of responsibility and vision in light of an upcoming national housing strategy.”

The right to housing was a recurring theme during the government’s housing consultations. Stakeholders clearly laid out the need for a legally recognized right to housing. They insisted that a national housing strategy should examine whether laws, policies and practices are sufficient to prevent homelessness, forced evictions, and discrimination in accessing adequate housing.

"In the coming weeks, the Liberals must announce the details of their housing strategy. This bill gave them the opportunity to demonstrate that they take housing seriously by formally recognizing everyone’s right to have a roof over their head,” said the NDP Housing Critic, Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet. “Unfortunately, they did not seize the opportunity. It’s time this government stops talking and starts acting."