Petition:
Implementation of measures to reduce commercial real estate speculation

Petition text

WHEREAS citizens benefit from access to a diverse ecosystem of independent local retailers who participate in the social fabric of their neighbourhood;

WHEREAS the health of Montreal's shopping streets and stores has an important impact on Montrealers' quality of life and on the city's economic development;

WHEREAS the overheated real estate market encourages landlords to seek abusive rent increases from small businesses, and that these rent increases result in the closure of these establishments and to a gradual deterioration of the social fabric;

We, the undersigned, ask the Government of Québec to :

• create a standardized commercial lease and to make the registration of these leases compulsory;
• institute commercial rent control to prohibit abusive rent increases;
• modify the Cities and Towns Act to require that a contribution be paid by the property-owners when a commercial premises sits empty; property-owners could reduce the cost of this payment by making these premises available to community and cultural groups under  medium-term, low-cost ("pop-up"-style) leases;
• assist cities to put in place a legacy business program that protects long-standing independent retail businesses from real estate speculation and gives them tools to help purchase their building; and
• provide municipalities with the tools they need to better integrate commercial urban planning into their land use plan.

The signing period for this petition is over.

Signing deadline : September 7, 2021

Number of signatures : 1505

Need help?

Telephone: 418 643-7239 or, toll free, 1 866 337-8837
Email: renseignements@assnat.qc.ca