It wouldn't surprise anyone in Canada that rental housing is a minefield of problems. Whether it's the landlord that renovicts their tenant, the investor group that focuses on short-term rentals or simply the lack of suitable rental stock for all stages of life, the rental situation in Canada is in bad shape. Now a new report from the review panel on the Financialization of Purpose-Built Rental Housing has made its report public and is urging a call to action to protect the housing rights of tenants in Canada.
"The housing market, left to its own devices, is not delivering what is needed," Sam Watts, chair of the review panel said.
"Canadians expect universal access to health care; they should expect access to adequate housing. There is an urgent need to respond to this challenge. The right to housing is a shared responsibility, but one where the Government of Canada must lead the way."
The panel consisted of three members of the National Housing Council: Sam Watts chair and CEO of the Welcome Hall Mission; Dr. Ann McAfee from Vancouver who has over 50 years of experience in housing and city planning; and Maya Roy from Toronto who has experience in gender-based analysis, racial equity and human rights.