Dear Mr. Selinger:

(E-mail sent this morning to my MLA, who also happens to be the cabinet minister responsible for Manitoba's Residential Tenancies Branch.)

Recent stories in the Winnipeg Free Press make a strong case for a change in legislation regarding residential tenancy agreements.

It has for several years been illegal for landlords to have "no pets" policies in Ontario.

Now is the time for Manitoba to legislate against such landlord policies.

Do it out of compassion for people who have companion animals but not enough money to purchase a house, so that people will no longer be forced to lie to landlords about having a cat or dog, and so that no 75-year-old should be forced to forsake the quiet and peaceful cat that has been her companion for many years.

All that is required is a simple legislative amendment. In Ontario, it was accomplished by adding this to the province's Residential Tenancies Act: "14. A provision in a tenancy agreement prohibiting the presence of animals in or about the residential complex is void."

As my MLA and the Minister of Finance, will you commit to changing the law to help tenants with pets?

I hope the answer is yes.

Sincerely ...