Dear Mr. Gerrard:

(E-mail sent this morning to the Manitoba Liberal Leader.)

I wish to bring your attention to amendments the Doer government is considering for the Residential Tenancies Act, to allow landlords to charge a "pet deposit."

My concern is that landlords will be allowed to impose another charge (albeit a deposit) on tenants but still be allowed to impose inflexible "no pets" policies -- just as Globe General Agencies and other companies do for all of their rental properties. If that's the case, an extra cost would be imposed on pet owners while giving them no more rights than they have under the status quo.

The result could be that pet owners will have just as few choices as presently among rental units but an additional cost. Rather than an advance in tenants' rights, this would be a setback.

Ontario has had a ban on landlord "no pets" policies for several years, and I can tell you as a former Ontario resident of many years that it has been successful. Renters live happily and healthily in their suites, and landlords continue to reap profits. There is no reason why inflexible "no pets" policies can't be banned here too, contrary to whatever alarmist objections landlords may raise.

Now is the time for the Manitoba government to act 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 octogenarian 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, which I hope you and your party would support.

Sincerely ...