E/C.12/CAN/CO/6
territorial housing strategies are aligned with the national strategy. In the light of its
general comments No. 4 (1991) on the right to adequate housing and No. 7 (1997) on
forced evictions, the Committee recommends that the State party:
(a)
Progressively increase federal and provincial resources allocated to
housing and reinforce the housing subsidy within the social assistance benefit so as to
be commensurate with living costs;
(b)
Take effective measures to substantially increase the availability of social
and affordable housing units;
(c)
Regulate rental arrangements with a view to ensuring that tenants enjoy
the right to affordable and decent housing and are not vulnerable to forced evictions
or homelessness;
(d)
Ensure that its legislation on forced evictions is compatible with
international norms, particularly with respect to its obligation to ensure that no
persons find themselves homeless or victims of other human rights violations due to
evictions, and that compensation or alternative accommodation is provided to victims.
Homelessness
41.
The Committee is concerned at the increasing number of homeless persons in the
State party, the lack of adequate measures to prevent homelessness, the shortage of
adequate emergency shelters and the existence of anti-camping and other by-laws that
penalize homeless persons in some jurisdictions (art. 11).
42.
The Committee recommends that the State party adopt a national strategy on
homelessness to examine the root causes of the increase in the number of homeless
persons and collect data on the extent of homelessness, disaggregated by geographic
location, ethnicity, sex and social condition, and to combat homelessness. The
Committee also recommends that the State party take effective measures to ensure the
availability of adequate emergency shelters throughout the country and repeal
provincial by-laws that penalize homeless persons for finding solutions necessary for
their survival and well-being.
Adequate standard of living
43.
The Committee is concerned that indigenous peoples, notably the Inuit and First
Nations, encounter poor housing conditions, including overcrowding, which generate,
among other issues, health challenges for the communities concerned. The Committee is
also concerned at the restricted access to safe drinking water and to sanitation by the First
Nations, as well as the lack of water regulations for the First Nations living on reserves
(art. 11).
44.
The Committee urges the State party to intensify its efforts to address the
indigenous peoples’ housing crisis, in consultation with indigenous governments and
organizations. The Committee also urges the State party to live up to its commitment
to ensure access to safe drinking water and to sanitation for the First Nations while
ensuring their active participation in water planning and management. In doing so,
the State party should bear in mind not only indigenous peoples’ economic right to
water but also the cultural significance of water to indigenous peoples.
Housing for persons with disabilities
45.
The Committee is concerned that persons with psychosocial and intellectual
disabilities continue to be placed in care institutions due to a lack of adequate housing for
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