The future of affordable housing in Quebec is under scrutiny as consultations begin today on Bill 20, legislation intended to improve access to housing. Yet, key players in the province’s community housing sector are voicing strong opposition, arguing the bill falls far short of addressing the systemic issues driving the housing crisis. The Front d’action populaire en réaménagement urbain (FRAPRU) is calling for the complete withdrawal of the bill, fearing it will create more problems than it solves.
The proposed legislation, spearheaded by Quebec’s Minister of Housing, Caroline Proulx, stems in part from findings by the province’s Auditor General in 2024. The audit revealed that over 2,722 tenants in affordable housing units had incomes exceeding the eligibility criteria. While the government frames Bill 20 as a response to this issue, critics contend it focuses on a relatively minor problem while ignoring the core driver of the affordability crisis: a chronic underinvestment in non-profit housing.
“This isn’t about a few people slightly over the income threshold,” explains Véronique Laflamme, spokesperson for FRAPRU. “It’s about a fundamental lack of supply and the need for a significant increase in truly affordable, non-profit housing options.” The concerns aren’t isolated. The Réseau québécois des OSBL d’habitation (RQOH), representing over 1,200 non-profit housing organizations in Quebec, echoes this sentiment, characterizing the proposed changes as “patchwork fixes” rather than structural solutions.
A Bill Focused on Compensation, Not Creation
A central concern revolves around the bill’s proposed mechanism for compensating landlords when tenants exceed income limits. While the details are still to be determined through regulations – a point of contention for many – the fear is that this compensation system will create administrative burdens and potentially penalize both landlords and tenants. The Alliance des corporations d’habitations abordables du territoire (ACHAT), representing around 30 non-profit housing developers, argues that the priority should be increasing the supply of non-profit housing, a critical element absent from the current draft.
“The priority remains the collective capacity to increase and protect the supply of non-profit housing,” ACHAT stated in a recent submission, “an essential aspect that is unfortunately missing from the bill.” The Alliance also criticized the government’s budget for 2026-2027, which allocates funding for the construction of just 1,000 new affordable housing units. They deem this insufficient given the scale of the crisis, calling for “more ambitious, coherent, and structural government action.”
FRAPRU’s call for complete withdrawal of Bill 20 is rooted in the belief that it will ultimately be detrimental, particularly to cooperative housing networks. Laflamme argues the bill risks creating more problems than it solves, and points to the significant power it grants to the Société d’habitation du Québec (SHQ) to define key aspects of the legislation through regulations. “It looks like a blank check to the SHQ,” she says, questioning how income thresholds for compensation will be determined and expressing concern about a potential erosion of trust between the government and tenant advocacy groups.
Photo : Radio-Canada / Karine Mateu
The RQOH shares these concerns, arguing in its submission that the compensation mechanism will “exacerbate tensions” between landlords and tenants and won’t create a single new housing unit. They also criticize the potential for “dehumanization” stemming from the proposed centralized intake system for social housing, which would standardize waitlists and assign housing through a government-designated agency. While acknowledging the potential benefits of a streamlined system, the RQOH stresses the importance of regionalization and collaboration with existing community organizations.
Concerns Over Regulatory Power and Transparency
A key point of contention is the extent to which the bill delegates authority to the SHQ through regulations. Critics argue this lack of specificity in the legislation itself creates uncertainty and reduces transparency. Laflamme asks, “How will this threshold be set?” highlighting the potential for arbitrary decisions and a breakdown in accountability. This concern extends to the compensation amounts, raising fears that even slightly higher-income households could be negatively impacted.
The consultations on Bill 20 are scheduled to continue through Tuesday, with fourteen groups, including the Auditor General of Quebec, scheduled to present their perspectives. These hearings represent a critical opportunity for stakeholders to voice their concerns and potentially influence the direction of the legislation. The outcome of these consultations will be closely watched by housing advocates, developers, and tenants across the province.
The current housing crisis in Quebec, like many places, is a complex issue with no easy solutions. While Bill 20 aims to address specific concerns raised by the Auditor General, its effectiveness hinges on a broader commitment to increasing the supply of affordable, non-profit housing and ensuring equitable access for all Quebecers. The debate unfolding this week underscores the urgent need for a comprehensive and collaborative approach to tackling this critical challenge.
The next step in the legislative process will be the consideration of the feedback received during these consultations. The government is expected to release a revised version of the bill in the coming weeks, followed by further debate and voting in the National Assembly. For updates on Bill 20 and Quebec’s housing policies, you can visit the Quebec Ministry of Housing website.
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