Human Resources committee  If I may, I'd like to clarify that I didn't intend to give a rhetorical answer to your question. I simply wanted to say that it's obvious to me. That's why I gave the answer I did. I didn't mean to offend you.

Human Resources committee  Yes, as long as I know how to provide my response. If I can give a direct answer to that question, it's—

Human Resources committee  Thank you for your question. Indeed, the study you quoted is interesting. I'm inclined to say it's a rhetorical question, because quite simply, if we say that housing is a commodity, it's no longer a human right. Having a roof over one's head is the foundation for a decent life, one where you can start a family and thrive.

Human Resources committee  The vast majority, if not all, are investment funds or real estate investment companies. It's the property speculators who are doing the renovictions.

Human Resources committee  I'll give you a very specific example, one that might not mean much to people from outside Montreal. There was a case involving a renoviction on Saint-Zotique Street, in the heart of Rosemont, and we were helping those renters fight for their rights. Initially, everyone agreed to fight to stay in their units, but the new owner had more than one trick up their sleeve.

Human Resources committee  In the housing sector, bans or restrictions on foreign investors is a useful measure that I believe should be extended beyond the two-year period. Another possible measure would be to stop renovictions. I don't know who has jurisdiction here, but the idea would be to penalize owners who purchase a rental property and sell it after six months, one year or two years.

Human Resources committee  Exactly.

Human Resources committee  In our brief, we provided statistics on renovictions over the past two or three years, but they don't reflect the reality. Indeed, that is only the reality of renters who contacted us, so we don't know about all the renovictions. The federation of apartment owners to which you're referring is correct to some extent: the majority of renters aren't victims of renovictions.

Human Resources committee  Thank you for the question. The CMHC data is good and reliable, but it relates to dwellings that are occupied. It gives us the current picture when it comes to occupied housing. The study by the Regroupement des comités logement et associations de locataires du Québec was based on 45,000 or 60,000 rental units on platforms like Kijiji.

Human Resources committee  I’m not a constitutionalist, but I think there are always challenges when it comes to areas like health, housing or the environment. Notwithstanding the fact that housing normally falls under provincial jurisdiction, the funding and initiative for social housing programs came from the federal government from the 1970s until 1993.

Human Resources committee  Good day. Thank you for inviting me to appear. I must apologize in advance, because as soon as I’ve finished my presentation and answered questions, I’ll have to leave you, as I’m currently attending a convention. I would like to begin by thanking the member for Rosemont—La Petite‑Patrie, Alexandre Boulerice, as we have him to thank for letting us know about this study by your Committee.