Canada/Trois-Rivières wants to create a rent registry in Quebec

The City of Trois-Rivières supports the proposal to create a public and universal rent register, a measure called for by several organizations in the province to combat the housing crisis.

The municipal council unanimously approved the motion to support the adoption of this registry by the provincial government.

Mayor Jean Lamarche described the motion as a way of restoring the provincial government's power and jurisdiction over the matter, and then working within our own. He urged councillors to support the motion.

Des Estacades district councillor Pierre-Luc Fortin, who has spoken out in favour of such a registry for several years, said earlier in the day that it was important for the city to act.

This is a major social crisis. We had an emergency situation in which we had to act urgently. For me, doing nothing is not an option [...] there are actions we can take," he said.

It won't be solved if we do nothing, it's not a gesture that will solve everything, but it is a gesture that will bring transparency," he says.

Mr. Fortin affirms that the City of Trois-Rivières' support would go to the Vivre en ville organization,which is lobbying the Quebec governmentfor such a register .

The City of Trois-Rivières has in the past encouraged citizens to join a registry launched by this organization, but Mr. Fortin would like the government to go further with a provincially-run registry.

We're able to get an idea of the market, of property values, by looking at city websites. So it's kind of the same principle, it just provides transparency," he adds.

Source: ici.radio-canada.ca/