[news] Angry tenants Evict Quebec Housing Tribunal

[resist admin]

[edited]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2003 16:35:10 +0100 (CET)
From: Nicolas Febus <nicolasphebus at yahoo.com>
Reply-To: a-infos-en at ainfos.ca
To: a-infos-en at ainfos.ca

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Quebec, march 10th 2003 -- More then 300 angry tenants took part in the
symbolic eviction of the Quebec Housing Tribunal during a demonstration in
Quebec City monday afternoon. The protest, organised by the Regroupement
des comités logement et associations de locataires du Québec (RCLALQ, a
coalition of tenant unions), was aimed at denouncing the constant rent
rise being witnessed across the province. The Regie du logement (the
Housing Tribunal) was targeted as one of the organizations "responsible
for the rent hikes".

Demonstrators came from several tenant unions all over the province. The
crowd was a testimony to the 'unity will' of the right to housing
movement as many groups not usualy linked to the RCLALQ where in
attendance (including several radicals and anarchists).

After a quick march, demonstrators arrived in front of the location of the
Housing Tribunal. It seem autorities expected the group to pick a more
prestigious target (such as the parliament or the PM's office) as there
was no security in place. The door where open making it easy for the
action group to get inside, quickly followed by the rest of the
demonstration who 'occupied' the lobby of the building. As an activist was
reading an 'eviction notice' others where removing furniture from the
office's waiting room.  The workers seem chocked and surprised -- not used
to being seen as the enemy -- perhaps not realising that their eviction of
some 40 000 tenants a year may lead some people to view them as "on the
other side".

"Rent control in Quebec is a shame" explained one of the organiser, adding
"as long as tenants dont complain, landlords are free to do as they
please!"  Indeed, rent control is voluntary, so tenants need to first
refuse their rent hike before it is applied. Unfortunately not many know
that they have a right to do so). Less then 1% of the rent increases are
adjusted by the Housing Tribunal although many more tenants are able to
negotiate deals with their landlords outside the tribunal.

The RCLALQ is fighting for a universal and automatic rent control.