Quebec Housing Co-ops Face Uncertainty as Bill 20 Threatens Income-Based Penalties
Tenants in Quebec’s housing cooperatives are expressing concerns over Bill 20, legislation aimed at tightening access to affordable housing by potentially penalizing residents with incomes exceeding a yet-to-be-defined threshold. Although the government argues the bill will free up spaces for those in greater need, cooperative groups maintain that diversity is integral to their model and fear government interference will undermine their communities.
A Shift in Financial Stability Sparks Anxiety
Daniel Mireault, a long-time resident of the Lézarts cooperative in Montreal’s Centre-Sud district, recently achieved some financial stability after years of living paycheck to paycheck. He worries Bill 20 could force him to choose between overpaying rent or leaving the cooperative system altogether, returning to the speculative housing market. “It doesn’t solve the problem of the housing crisis if we push those who are getting by back into precariousness,” he laments.
Accessibility and Community at Risk
Anne d’Amico, a resident of the Perce-Neige cooperative in Verdun for nearly twenty years, echoes these concerns. She initially sought cooperative housing due to the difficulty of finding accessible and affordable accommodation for her wheelchair. Like many co-op residents, she fears losing her home due to the proposed legislation. “I built a life for myself in a cooperative. All of this is at risk today. The government is just shifting the problem. We are going to put poor people in danger to save others,” says Mme D’Amico.
Bill 20: Penalties and a Centralized System
Bill 20 proposes two key changes to housing cooperatives: the implementation of financial penalties for tenants whose incomes surpass a specific limit, and the creation of a centralized one-stop shop to manage applications for affordable housing province-wide.
Cooperative Groups Strongly Oppose the Bill
The Fédération de l’habitation cooperative du Québec (FHCQ) is actively campaigning for the bill’s abandonment, arguing it stems from a fundamental misunderstanding of the cooperative model. “The government does not fully understand their potential as a tool for prosperity,” maintains its general director, Patrick Préville. Sandra Turgeon, general director of the Quebec Confederation of Housing Cooperatives (CQCH), denounces the bill as a form of “disguised eviction.”
Lack of Clarity Fuels Concerns
A significant point of contention is the lack of specific details within the bill. The maximum income threshold for penalties, the amount of those penalties, and the duration a tenant could remain in their accommodation while subject to compensation remain undefined. “It’s so vague. There are no tags. We are only told that the details will be specified by regulation,” deplores Mme Turgeon.
Prevalence of Moderate Incomes in Affordable Housing
According to the latest report, approximately 10% of Quebec households residing in affordable housing – just under 3,000 households – had an income exceeding the median income in 2024.
Government Rationale
Minister responsible for Housing, Caroline Proulx, stated the objective is to ensure “the right housing for the right person,” and that freeing up accommodations could alleviate approximately 10% of the waiting list for low-income housing (HLM).
Threat to Cooperative Sustainability
Cooperative representatives emphasize that member diversity is a strength, as they function as micro-societies where members actively participate in maintenance, administration, finances, and governance. Dwight Smith, treasurer at Coop Mile End, explains that involvement requires several hours of commitment each month.
Préville argues that Bill 20, by potentially encouraging experienced members to leave, poses “a threat to the survival” of housing cooperatives. “We are going to lose people with experience and skills. For us, it’s dramatic.”
Potential for Erosion of Community
Leyla, a Montreal resident living in a cooperative with her son, fears the bill could lead to the erosion of community within cooperatives, potentially transforming them into housing projects primarily occupied by those struggling to survive. “If there are only people who are struggling, who cannot make time to manage the cooperative because they are in survival mode, it will become HLM,” she argues.
Government Accountability Questioned
Préville suggests the government is “looking for a scapegoat to cover up its failure to build sufficient affordable housing.” Turgeon from the CQCH agrees, stating that freeing up housing for a few households will not resolve the broader housing crisis.
The Minister responsible for Housing declined an interview request from Duty.
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