Montreal
ACHAT calls for a structural shift in housing.
L’ACHAT welcomes the withdrawal of Bill 20, which demonstrates the openness of the Minister responsible for Housing, Ms. Karine Boivin-Roy.
While recent years have seen a growing number of stakeholders rally around a shared target of 20% non-profit housing in the rental market by 2050, Bill 20 deviated from this trajectory. It remained aloof from the profound, yet necessary, modernization that would alleviate the regulatory and fiscal burdens hindering the activities of non-profit organizations and housing cooperatives.
In this context, any step backward—whether further fragmenting programs or recentralizing public action in housing—risks being counterproductive. The situation calls instead for a clear and comprehensive vision, supported by a coherent and sustainable action plan aligned with local realities.
Scaling up social economy housing enterprises requires a genuine paradigm shift. This implies both an evolution in the government’s approach and a recognition of the on-the-ground expertise of non-profit organizations and housing cooperatives, while maintaining a crucial balance between administrative rigor and operational agility.
Non-profit organizations and housing cooperatives can contribute to reducing housing inequality and do even more if they are given the capacity.
From this perspective, the withdrawal of Bill 20 should be seen as a strategic opportunity to redefine the foundations of the housing sector in Quebec. Three priorities are essential:
- Strengthening a sector capable of developing, protecting, and maintaining a non-profit housing stock that meets current and future needs;
- Accelerating the transformation of the non-profit housing sector, particularly through professionalization, recognition of autonomy, and cost reduction;
- Consolidating the social economy housing sector to maximize its collective benefits.
“It’s time to stop viewing government action on housing in terms of piecemeal programs or measures. By enabling non-profit housing organizations to professionalize and become self-sufficient, with government support, we can develop a supply of non-profit housing that will allow the greatest number of people to find decent housing.” – Marie Depelteau-Paquette, Executive Director.
Halfway to the 20% target, the objective remains ambitious and necessary. The trajectory requires concrete, consistent, and rapid action. It is now time to put in place a legislative framework that meets the challenges and to make housing one of Quebec’s major socio-economic infrastructures.
Reminder: Our brief presented to the Parliamentary Committee – Bill 20. (Only available in French)
About ACHAT
L’Alliance des corporations d’habitations abordables du territoire du Québec is a unique group of collective real estate enterprises (owners, operators and developers, non-profit organizations, cooperatives, and parapublic corporations) within the national social economy network. ACHAT currently has 33 member organizations, located throughout Quebec, representing over 13,500 non-profit housing units with an assessed property value of over $2.7 billion, as well as more than 8,000 units currently under development.
Information
Martin Simoneau
Director, Public and Government Affairs
ACHAT
msimoneau@achat-habitation.gouv.qc.ca