CANADA’S PROGRESS ON THE ROAD TO HOUSING RIGHTS
Pearl Eliadis and Emily Knox
Quebec Homelessness Prevention Policy Collaborative
Abstract: Canada is legally required to respect, protect and fulfil the right to adequate housing by law. Some of these international obligations are immediate in nature, while others are longer-term and are subject to a reasonableness standard. While certain of these obligations are being met progressively, others are not. Homelessness in Canada appears to be on the rise, and social and affordable housing are increasingly unavailable to those who need it most. Despite the important role that the federal government plays, provinces and territories have not adopted their own strategic framework legislation, which would allow for more seamless integration of housing initiatives at a national level. Greater accountability is needed on the road to housing rights. The article examines the standards used to assess progressive realization of the right to housing, and of reasonableness in international law, including recent decisions from the international committee that overseas the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural rights.
Categories: Discrimination, Housing
Rights Blog 
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