Stetski calls for Federal Leadership on Housing Issues on World Homeless Day

Stetski calls for Federal Leadership on Housing Issues on World Homeless Day

Cranbrook – On World Homeless Day, October 10, Kootenay-Columbia MP Wayne Stetski is calling on the federal government to recognize the right to housing in Canada and to take concrete measures to remove barriers to the full realization of this right. 

“Challenges related to accessing housing are very real in communities across Kootenay-Columbia,” said Stetski. It’s unacceptable in a country as wealthy as ours that an increasing number of Canadians are experiencing a housing crisis. Many First Nations are living in third world conditions and homelessness continues to rise.”

In 1976 Canada ratified the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, recognizing the right to adequate housing, but this right is still not officially recognized in Canadian law.

In March 2016, Canada was reprimanded by the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights for its failure to meet housing needs. The Committee was particularly concerned about the lack of a housing strategy, sufficient funding and social housing.

“Earlier this year, my NDP colleague Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet tabled two bills in the House of Commons to include the right to housing in the Canadian Bill of Rights and implementing a national strategy for secure, adequate, accessible and affordable housing, as well as a motion to maintain federal funding for social housing,” said Stetski.   “The Liberals have since begun consultations to finally establish a housing strategy and I am hopeful they’ll seize this opportunity to recognize the right to housing and put in place the measures necessary for its full realization.  Support for the people and our communities struggling with housing cannot come soon enough.”

For more information, please contact:

Laura Branswell – 250-417-2250