Petition calls for federal ban on no-pet clauses in rental agreements

The P.E.I. Humane Society wants people to sign a petition calling on Ottawa to create a national renters'bill of rights that would void any no-pet clauses in tenancy agreements.

Ashley Travis, communications co-ordinator with the P.E.I. Humane Society, says more than a third of all animals being dropped off at the shelter are being surrenderedbecause their owners can't findpet-friendly housing. She said it's one of the main reasons why the society has a waiting list of pets to accept.

"Owners have to make the decision between finding a stable, safe place to live and keeping their pet. And it's an unfortunate situation. It's happening nationally and it's most definitely happening here," said Travis.

"It's a lot of very emotional conversations," she said.

"We see folks come in who've been searching for months, who've gotten the notice that they need to be out of their apartment by say Sept. 1, and they've been looking all summer and they haven't been able to find anything, and they come in on the last possible day and have to bring their pet to us."

'We do care about our pets'

The national petition, calling for "a legally binding, nationwide Canadian Renters' Bill of Rights," is being promoted by Toronto-area MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith.

Erskine-Smithsaid he wants other provinces to follow the lead of Ontario,which has provincial legislation in place to prevent landlords from excluding pet owners.

The LiberalMP said he believes the Trudeau government will move to change the law in response to his measure, classified as Petition e-5046 to the House of Commons. If a bill of rights isn't possible, given thatjurisdiction for residential tenancy is a provincialresponsibility, he suggested that Ottawa could make pet-friendly policies a condition of handing over housing money to the provinces and territories.

We do care about our pets as our family members and we should find ways to bring that idea into the law in every possible way that we can.MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith

"This is really about taking that idea that has been here in Ontario for a long time and making it a national idea," Erskine-Smith said in an interview from his home in the Toronto riding of BeachesEast York.

"The more people sign this petition, the more it's clear to the government that this is an issue that people care about all across this country We do care about our pets as our family members and we should find ways to bring that idea into the law in every possible way that we can."

P.E.I. residents urged to sign national petition for pet-friendly rental policies

26 days ago

Duration 3:01

A Toronto-area MP is promoting a petition that asks the federal government to prevent landlords from excluding pet owners from renting their units. CBC's Wayne Thibodeau spoke with Nate Erskine-Smith about why he brought the petition forward, and the P.E.I. Humane Society's Ashley Travis tells us how big a problem pet surrenders are on the Island.

'Worst that we've seen'

Karla Shalley started a group called P.E.I. Cares, a non-profit advocacy for animal welfare on the Island.

She has been working with people who are facing the possibility of having to surrender their pets because they can't find places to live where they are allowed.

"This is the worst that we've seen, of animals being surrendered to local shelters and human societies," said Shalley, who has met with provincial officials about the issue of pet-friendly housing.

P.E.I.'s low apartment vacancy rate means it's very difficult for anyone to find affordable accommodations, she pointed out. "You can imagine having a pet, never mind a larger dog."

Landlords should be allowed to choose whether they will accept or deny pets in the units they own, the Residential Rental Association of P.E.I. said in a statement to CBC News.

The association said letting landlords charge a pet deposit or additional security deposit for people with animals, to cover potential damage,might open up more spaces. However, that kind of measure "is outlawed by the provincial government," the statement said.

A spokesperson for the province told CBC News in an email that officials have met with groups representing landlords and tenants recently to see if they have suggested for improving the Residential Tenancy Act.She acknowledged that theResidential Rental Association of P.E.I. had suggested changing it to allow for pet deposits.

"Any substantial change to the [act] would only be brought forward by the department after consultation with the public," the spokesperson said.

'Only support system'

Travis hopes the petition leads to legislative changes that will open up more homes for people and their pets. She hopes to get 50,000 signatures from all across Canada.

"These animals provide a lot of support for folks who don't otherwise have support systems in place folks who are disproportionately at risk who may be suffering from addiction, mental health issues, that kind of thing," she said.

"Animals sometimes are their only support system, so by removing an animal from their life, you are taking away their only support system."