The Green Party of Quebec strongly denounces Bill 20, that threatens directly the fragile balance and the viability of housing coops. “Cooperatives are not simply subsidized housing: they are democratic living environments, managed by their residents, that rely on commitment, participation and solidarity. They must remain sovereign organizations and never be placed under the government supervision.”
The Green Party is particularly worried about the new income thresholds that might exclude homes that are far from wealthy, especially during the current high inflation rate and housing crisis. “We’re talking about workers that, after many years, can barely upgrade their financial situation. These workers might get penalized or even expelled to a housing market that is speculative and out of their possible price range.”
According to the Green Party, this logic directly weakens housing coops by destroying social diversity that is one of its principal strengths. “A strong housing cooperative relies on a diversity of incomes, of skills and of experiences. By forcing a downward homogenization, the current administration is weakening these spaces, scares aways many experienced community members and jeopardizes their long-term stability.”
The Green Party also criticizes the instauration of a policy that only prioritizes income, which would remove the ability for coops to select their own members. “To reduce the issue of access to a simple question of income, is to ignore cooperative values. A capacity to contribute, to get involved and to live within a community is essential – and no centralized reform can encompass these values.”
COOPS THEMSELVES ARE CLEAR ON THEIR CRITICISM. “PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY ARE CATEGORICAL ON THIS ISSUE : THIS REFORM DOESN’T HOLD UP. IT GIVES THE IMPRESSION THAT IT WAS CONCEIVED BY PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEVER SET FOOT IN A COOP”, MENTIONS ALEX TYRRELL.
To fight back against the housing crisis, the Green Party of Quebec calls for structural solutions that reinforce existing models instead of weakening them. The party reiterates their support for the removal of the first chapter of Bill 20 and proposes to instead facilitate the expansion of coops, specifically by letting renters acquire collectively buildings.
“IN THE MIDST OF A CRISIS, WE CANNOT DISMANTLE SOMETHING THAT ALREADY WORKS WELL. WE SHOULD PROTECT, DEVELOPP AND PRIORITIZE IT IN A SOLUTION.”
