19.28°C Vancouver

Mar 27, 2024 6:53 PM - The Canadian Press

Protection fund, bill of rights for renters coming; 'renters matter,' Trudeau says

Share On
protection-fund-bill-of-rights-for-renters-coming-renters-matter-trudeau-says
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says there's something fundamentally unfair about paying $2,000 a month for rent, while those paying the same for a mortgage get equity and build their credit score.(Photo: The Canadian Press)

The federal government wants to support those who rent their homes with a protection fund, a bill of rights and a plan to give reliable renters credit when they step up to by a home.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says there's something fundamentally unfair about paying $2,000 a month for rent, while those paying the same for a mortgage get equity and build their credit score.

The measures are part of next month's federal budget and include a $15-million Tenant Protection Fund, which would pay provincial legal aid groups to help tenants against unfairly rising rents, 'renovictions' or bad landlords.

The Canadian Renters' Bill of Rights would also need partnerships with provinces and territories to require landlords to disclose a history of unit pricing and create a national standard for lease agreements.

The government wants landlords, banks and credit bureaus to make sure rental history is taken into account on credit scores, giving young first-time buyers a better chance at getting a mortgage, with a lower interest rate.

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland says a no-holds-barred plan in the upcoming budget will help young Canadians "wrestle down" the cost of owning and renting a home.

"We need to make real the promise of Canada for younger Canadians," Freeland said. "We are going to pull every single lever and push every single button to deliver more housing without delay."

Latest news

b-c-conservatives-promise-1-000-annual-tax-cut-for-low-and-middle-income-families
BCOct 08, 2026

B.C. Conservatives Promise $1,000 Annual Tax Cut for Low- and Middle-Income Families

B.C. Conservative Leader Lorne Doerkson has announced a proposed $1,000 annual provincial income-tax cut for low- and middle-income families. Speaking at a grocery store in Surrey, Doerkson said that if elected premier, his government would raise the provincial basic personal income-tax exemption to $32,000. He said this would mean British Columbians would pay no provincial income tax on their first $32,000 of income. Doerkson said a two-income household could save up to $2,000 a year under the proposal, with the money remaining in families’ pockets rather than going to the government. He al
27-year-old-charged-in-burnaby-crash-that-killed-elderly-couple
BCOct 08, 2026

27-Year-Old Charged in Burnaby Crash That Killed Elderly Couple

A 27-year-old Abbotsford man has been charged in connection with a fatal crash in Burnaby that killed an elderly couple nearly two years ago. According to Burnaby RCMP, the crash occurred on December 21, 2024, at Boundary Road and Forest Street, where two vehicles collided and one vehicle struck the other from the side. A 67-year-old woman and a 71-year-old man, who were travelling in the same vehicle, died at the scene. Following an investigation that lasted nearly two years, the RCMP’s Criminal Collision Investigation Team determined that charges were warranted. The B.C. Prosecution Servic
eby-pledges-to-freeze-icbc-insurance-rates-for-another-three-years
BCOct 08, 2026

Eby Pledges to Freeze ICBC Insurance Rates for Another Three Years

B.C. NDP Leader David Eby has promised to freeze ICBC insurance rates for another three years if his party is re-elected. Speaking during a campaign stop in Richmond, Eby said the move would mean B.C. drivers would go a total of 10 years without facing additional increases in their vehicle insurance rates. Eby credited his government’s no-fault insurance reforms for helping move B.C. from having some of the most expensive auto insurance in Canada to among the most affordable. He also criticized B.C. Conservative Leader Lorne Doerkson, warning that insurance rates could double again if the Co
bill-c-39-faces-vote-in-house-of-commons-amid-strike-powers-controversy
BCOct 08, 2026

Bill C-39 Faces Vote in House of Commons Amid Strike Powers Controversy

Canada’s House of Commons is set to vote today on the federal government’s controversial Bill C-39, which aims to fast-track approvals for major projects. The bill has drawn criticism over a provision that would amend Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code, giving the Labour Minister the power to intervene in an ongoing strike by citing the national interest. NDP parliamentary leader Don Davies has called the bill an attack on workers’ and Indigenous rights, as well as environmental protections. He said he is concerned about a growing trend of power being concentrated in the hands of cabi
BCOct 08, 2026

Vancouver Advance Voting Sets New Daily Record as 25,142 Voters Cast Ballots

Vancouver’s municipal election advance voting has set a new daily record, with 25,142 people casting their ballots on Wednesday, the second day of advance voting. According to preliminary figures released by the City of Vancouver, it was the highest number of advance votes recorded in a single day in the city’s history. The previous record was set just four days earlier, on Oct. 3, when 21,824 voters cast their ballots on the first day of advance voting. In comparison, only 10,502 people voted on the second day of advance voting during Vancouver’s 2022 municipal election. This year’s f

Related News