Trudeau Announces New ‘Bill of Rights’ for Renters

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks during a news conference in Vancouver on Feb. 20, 2024. (The Canadian Press/Ethan Cairns)

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced his government will introduce a new “bill of rights” for renters in the upcoming budget, with an emphasis on helping younger Canadians.

“We know that one of the biggest issues people are facing is being able to afford a place to live, whether you’re making mortgage payments or rent,” Mr. Trudeau said during a press conference in Vancouver on March 27.

Mr. Trudeau said nearly two-thirds of young Canadians are renting their homes and spend a greater share of their income on housing than previous generations. “Renters matter, and young Canadians put a lot of their hard-earned money towards rent. We think that should count for a lot more,” he said.

The prime minister said this new renters’ “bill of rights” would introduce a national standard lease agreement and implement a requirement that landlords disclose an apartment’s pricing history to allow tenants to negotiate their rent.

The government is also proposing a new $15 million legal aid fund to protect tenants against unfairly rising rents and landlord abuse. Additionally, the Liberals would like banks, landlords, and credit bureaus to make sure rental history is taken into account on credit scores, which he said would give first-time homebuyers a better chance at getting a mortgage.

“If you look at someone who pays a $2,000 [per month] mortgage, they’re getting recognition and credit for that from their bank as part of their credit score. But if you’re paying $2,000 a month on rent, you get no kudos,” he said.

A Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation report from 2023 projected that Canada would need 3.5 million new homes built within seven years to make homeownership affordable again.

During the Question and Answer portion of the press conference, Mr. Trudeau was asked if he felt any “responsibility” to young people who felt left behind by the economy. He answered that “international issues” such as inflation, war, climate change, and the COVID-19 pandemic had “knocked young people about.”

“We need to meet them where we are. Yes, we have invested massively in housing over the past years, but there is a need to do more,” Mr. Trudeau said. “That’s why the heart of this announcement is about making sure we’re focused on fairness for renters, fairness for young people, and fairness for the future.”

The federal government is expected to introduce the federal budget on April 16. Mr. Trudeau said before then, the Liberals would be continuing to announce various upcoming measures to bring in “fairness for young people and all Canadians.”