Are we there yet? Canada's progress on the road to housing rights | QHPPC

17 October, 2023 | Canada is required to respect, protect and fulfill the right to adequate housing by law. Homelessness in Canada appears to be on the rise and social and affordable housing is increasingly unavailable to those who need it the most. Canada's obligation to ensure social and economic rights is mainly based on the idea of "progressive realization" which in turn, depends on "appropriate steps"

The report by Pearl Eliadis and Emily Knox examines the standards used to assess progressive realization of the right to housing and reasonableness in international law, including recent decisions from the international UN Committee that oversees the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and discusses the implications for Canada. 

The QHPPC has recommended, as a starting point, that the Quebec government show that it is serious about housing. Adopting legislation immediately would ensure accountability, including through an independent housing advocate and provide transparent and reliable information to set the government on track. 

Read the report in English.

Read the report in French.