From The Canadian Press: "WINNIPEG — The fur is set to fly in Manitoba over whether landlords should be forced to accept tenants with pets.
"Animal owners are lining up behind an opposition bill that, if passed into law, would outlaw no-pet rules at rental properties across the province.
"'There is much greater support for this than I ever anticipated,' said Liberal Leader Jon Gerrard. 'There's a lot of passion when I talk about it with individual people who have to give up their pets when they move into apartments.'
"Since the end of January, more than 2,500 people have signed up on a Facebook page to support Gerrard's bill, which was tabled at the end of the legislature's fall sitting. Groups such as the Winnipeg Humane Society have joined the battle and are calling on the NDP government to pass the bill."
For me, this is great news. I live with a cat, and I can tell you that Ontario has had a ban on "no pets" policies for many years, and it hasn't pushed landlords out of business. I lived in Ontario for several years, and I can tell you the system isn't collapsing due to a ban on no-pets policies.
I would expect the governing NDP, a nominally social democratic party, to be on the side of the property-less over the property owners in a case like this. Here's a chance for social democrats to show their superior capacity for compassion, right?
Sadly, no.
"'It is hoped that the damage deposit provision ... will encourage more landlords to welcome tenants with pets,' Rachel Morgan, press secretary to Family Services Minister Gord Mackintosh, wrote in an email."
Oh, yes. That idea. Pet damage deposits. An idea lifted from British Columbia's right-wing government, without any evidence that it has succeeded in producing more pet-friendly accommodations for renters.
Brilliant play, that.
"Gerrard is hopeful, however, that the government may change its mind, especially in the face of public pressure."
Good luck with that. The current premier is the guy who pushed the damage-deposit policy through (when he was finance minister) despite the extra burden it will mean to pet owners, and despite the utter lack of evidence that it's an effective policy in any way. He considered the landlords' viewpoints, paid no attention to any arguments against the policy, and gave the landlords a gift like any good friend of the powerful would.
It's not too late for the NDP to show that it cares, but I won't hold my breath waiting for that to happen.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
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4 comments:
Leave it to the Right to side with landlords. But it's got me thinking.
I could move north for the health care and the two ungrateful spoiled wretched cats would have to move out and get jobs.Finally.
Of course Chico the good cat would have to leave too, that wouldn't be fair to him.
It's cold up there too, and you guys don't allow chile peppers or spicy food right? The National Lampoon wrote years ago that Canadians burn their tongues on ketchup?
Of course they're known to exaggerate. For Chico's sake I better think on this a bit more.
I had a hound dog once that would chew door frames to splinters on occasion. I could totally understand a landlord wanting a big fat deposit from me. Cats though? They don't chew the place to pieces. Although Mr. Bee, when I met him (don't tell him I told ya'll this) was living in a bachelor pad with a couple of other 30-something bachelors, and they had a tomcat. That thing peed all over the house. When Mr. Bee moved in with me, I took all his shit to the dump because it was stinking up the garage. However, that is not the norm - neither is the crazy lady with 100 cats living in a 800 square foot apartment with her - those are probably rare occurrences, so I can see your point, Stimpson.
:)
Oso, it's too damn cold up here for a California boy or cat. You're better off in Cali.
Bee, the idea isn't to force anyone to keep bad tenants. Landlords could still evict tenants, just as they do in Ontario where no-pets rules aren't allowed.
Thanks for sharing your post and it was superb .I would like to hear more from you in future too.
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