Issues for co-operative housing

Among issues particularly important for the co-operative housing movement are three priorities explained on this page.

A SPECIAL TAX STATUS FOR HOUSING CO-OPERATIVES

A large number of housing co-operatives were developed in working-class neighbourhoods in the 1980s. Over time, these neighbourhoods were transformed with the arrival of a more affluent population. This influx of new residents and the multiplication of condominiums triggered gentrification in these neighbourhoods.

Gentrification leads to strong speculation resulting from a more active real estate market. It causes a marked increase in property values and, consequently, of municipal taxes. The phenomenon hits hard housing co-operatives members whose rents are less and less affordable for low- and modest-income households.

The co-operative housing movement finds it unfair that organizations managing residential projects that cannot be sold and that include social dwellings for low-income households be taxed on the same basis as the private market.

Thus, the Federation states as a priority demand that municipalities in its territory recognize the social role of housing co-operatives by adopting a differentiated tax policy in accordance with the mission of the organizations for the purposes of property assessment and the resulting taxation.

A LAND AND BUILDINGS BANK IN ORDER TO PROMOTE THE DEVELOPMENT OF HOUSING CO-OPERATIVES

In order to address the housing crisis that still plagues the Greater Montreal area, it is imperative to develop new co-operative units. However, the construction of new housing co-operatives is hampered by the difficulty of acquiring land or buildings in a market dominated by private developers who build condos.

That is why the Federation also states as a priority demand that the municipalities in its territory create land and buildings banks dedicated to the development of housing co-operatives. To this end, they must budget a specific amount in their three-year expenditure program or in a regional capital fund.

At the present time, the City of Montréal is spending $ 3 million over three years for such acquisitions. This amount is clearly insufficient. As for Laval, its new housing policy includes a commitment to create land reserves, but it is not clear by what means these goals will be achieved.

A PARTICIPATORY AND DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE

Bill 122 enacted in June by the Quebec National Assembly abolished the right of citizens to vote by referendum on urban planning projects. Despite the introduction of an amendment compelling municipalities to adopt a citizen consultation policy, this is a step backward for democracy according to the Federation. Citizens have lost the power to compel elected officials to take their opinions into account when housing projects or neighbourhood development transform their living environment.

This is why the Federation demands that municipalities maintain the citizens right of approval by way of referendum and that they establish a meaningful upstream consultation process in order to really take into account the opinions of the population impacted by the upcoming projects.

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Electoral leaflet Raise the voice of housing co-operatives