The Court of Québec granted an appeal of the housing tribunal decision (TAL) declaring that no-pet clauses in leases violate renters’ charter rights.
Justice Scott Hughes found that the issued raised by the case were serious, novel and of public importance to merit an appeal.
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A landlord had sought the appeal in late May after the administrative court had issued a decision in March ruling that clauses banning renters from owning pets violated Quebec’s Charter of Human of Rights and Freedoms.
In a statement Monday, Montreal SPCA said it had partially consented to the appeal.
“While we remain confident that the first-instance decision was well founded, we welcome the opportunity to present our arguments before the Court of Québec,” said Sophie Gaillard, director of animal advocacy and legal and government affairs at the Montreal SPCA.
“A victory on appeal could uphold the TAL’s ruling and establish a binding precedent that its judges would be required to follow in future cases.”
The animal shelter said that it is expecting to take in up to twice as many animals in the coming das ahead of the July 1 moving date, adding that being unable to find pet-friendly housing was of the main reasons why tenants surrender their pets.
