Housing issues take center stage in Montreal’s municipal election as Projet Montréal and Transition Montréal unveil their plans to tackle the housing crisis.
Projet Montréal’s leader, Luc Rabouin, declared his party as the foremost solution to the housing challenges faced by Montrealers. He outlined a comprehensive housing strategy during an event at a social housing project, proposing that 20% of units in projects with 200 or more units must be affordable housing.
Rabouin also pledged to repurchase rooming houses, provide increased support for evicted tenants, and introduce modular and transitional housing options. Taking a swipe at his rival from Ensemble Montréal, Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Rabouin criticized her stance on Airbnb and affordable housing, emphasizing the need for action over mere words.
Transition Montréal’s leader, Craig Sauvé, presented his housing plan ‘Bâtir Montréal,’ which aims to address both supply and demand issues in the housing market. The party plans to establish a paramunicipal corporation to construct public and community housing in collaboration with non-profit organizations and cooperatives.
Sauvé also proposed the creation of a $10 million rental assistance bank and a public rent registry, aligning with the demands of civil society organizations. The party is also focusing on rooming houses to diversify housing options and aims to streamline permit processes for cooperatives and non-profits.
