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Bill 252, Housing is a Human Right Act, 2021

Hassan, Faisal

Singh, Sara

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Status

Debates

Acts affected

Original

Bill 252 Original (PDF)

EXPLANATORY

NOTE

The

Bill enacts the Housing is a Human Right Act, 2021 .

The Act provides that in interpreting all Acts, regulations and policies, the

Government of Ontario shall be guided by the principle that housing is a human

right. The Act also provides that the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing

shall establish a Housing Inequities and Disparity Working Group.

The

Act also amends the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and

Housing Act by adding a new

section

Section 13 establishes the

Office of the Independent Housing Commissioner.

Bill 252 2021

Act to recognize housing as a human right

Preamble

Housing

in Ontario is in a state of crisis. Racialized, newcomer and refugee

communities are disproportionately affected by this crisis. Various studies have

demonstrated a pattern with respect to key indicators of inequities and

disparities that exist in rental housing, including the lack of affordable

housing, unsuitable or overcrowded housing and housing in need of repair.

There

is a need for further study and research into housing through the lens of housing

as a human right. The Government of Ontario needs to examine and identify the

troubling social, racial and spatial inequities and social exclusion that

exists regarding housing disparities.

The

Government of Ontario must undertake an examination of the existing data and conduct

research into the ways government policy and actions affect the marginalization

and social exclusion associated with racialized and immigrant status in

housing. We need to develop housing strategies that deliver on the human right

to housing.

is only by examining the housing crisis with a view to ensuring that housing

plans and strategies are made in collaboration with meaningful community

engagement that we can ensure housing is a universal human right and social

good.

Therefore,

Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of

the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

Interpretation

interpreting all Acts, regulations and policies, the Government of Ontario

shall be guided by the principle that housing is a human right.

Housing

Inequities and Disparity Working Group

(1) The

Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing shall establish a Housing Inequities

and Disparity Working Group.

Composition

(2) The

Working Group shall be composed of nine members appointed by the Lieutenant

Governor in Council.

Same

(3) Each

member appointed under subsection (2) must have the following:

1. Expertise

and extensive experience in socioeconomic policy and research regarding inequities

and disparities, including poverty, as they relate to housing.

2. General

knowledge regarding the economic and financial challenges with respect to

housing faced by Ontarians in relation to the following markers of identity:

i. Indigenous

identity.

ii. Race.

iii. Immigration

status.

iv. Gender.

v. Sexual

orientation.

vi. Age.

vii. Disability

status.

viii. Socioeconomic

status.

Same

(4) In

appointing members, the Lieutenant Governor in Council shall have regard for

the importance of the Working Group reflecting the diversity that exists in

Ontario.

Functions

(5) The

Working Group shall study the following:

1. Disproportionate

disparities and inequities that exist in Ontario in relation to housing.

2. The

impact of residential evictions and how they affect racialized Ontarians and

Ontarians of lower socioeconomic status.

3. The

conditions of individuals living in overcrowded housing and the effect of

overcrowded housing on these individuals and their communities.

4. Housing

on the basis of it being a human right for individuals and groups.

5. Housing

policies and programs that address spatial exclusion and segregation and that provide

suitable rental and housing access in Ontario.

6. Barriers

that exist to affordable home ownership for both younger and older Ontarians.

7. Potential

interventions that would help mitigate income inequality and wealth inequality

and that would help to ensure an effective and just economic recovery following

the COVID-19 pandemic.

8. Disparities

and inequities in housing in Ontario associated with,

i. Indigenous

identity,

ii. race,

iii. immigration

status,

iv. gender,

v. sexual

orientation,

vi. age,

vii. disability

status, and

viii. income.

9. The

effectiveness of existing policy in addressing the disparities and inequities referred

to in paragraph 1.

Ministry

of Municipal Affairs and Housing Act

The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing Act

is amended by adding the following section:

Independent

Housing Commissioner

(1) The

Office of the Independent Housing Commissioner is established.

Same

(2) The

Minister may appoint the Commissioner and fix their terms of reference.

Duties

of Commissioner

(3) The

Commissioner shall,

(

a) collect

data relating to the inequities and disparities that exist in Ontario with

respect to housing and,

(

i) race,

(ii) immigration

status, and

(iii) socioeconomic

status; and

(

b) conduct

research into strategies to prevent evictions.

Findings

reported to Minister

(4) The

Commissioner shall report their findings with respect to the duties set out in

subsection (3) to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

Remuneration

and expenses

(5) The

Lieutenant Governor in Council may determine the remuneration and expenses of

any person appointed under subsection (2).

Appropriation

required

(6) Subsection

(5) does not apply unless money has been appropriated by the Legislature for the

purpose of that subsection.

Commencement

This Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.

Short

title

The

short title of this Act is the Housing is a Human

Right Act, 2021 .

Date Bill stage Event Outcome Committee

February 25, 2021

Second Reading

Vote

Lost on division

February 24, 2021

Second Reading

Deferred vote

February 24, 2021

Second Reading

Debated

February 22, 2021

First Reading

Vote

Carried

Debates and Progress

First Reading

February 22, 2021

Committee

Second Reading

February 24, 2021

Mr. Faisal Hassan, Mr. Jim McDonell, Ms. Sara Singh, Ms. Rima Berns-McGown, Mr. Mike Schreiner, Mr. Tom Rakocevic, Mr. Stephen Blais, Ms. Marit Stiles, Mrs. Lisa Gretzky, Mme France Gélinas

Vote deferred.

February 25, 2021

Lost on recorded division.

Committee

Third Reading

Acts affected - Bill 252

Most Ontario public acts are available electronically; to view copies of the Acts to be amended by this bill visit e-laws

Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing Act

Legislative Assembly of Ontario

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