(SeaPRwire) –   LONGUEUIL, QC, April 24, 2026 – A large crowd of tenants, community advocates, and supporters from across the province gathered in Longueuil for the 14th annual Tenants’ Day. Hosted by the Regroupement des comités logement et associations de locataires du Québec (RCLALQ), the event was held under the banner Tenants and proud of it.

As the housing crisis intensifies, the demonstration served to highlight a severely skewed rental market that is driving widespread financial hardship for tenants throughout Quebec.

Finding affordable housing has become a struggle that extends far beyond downtown Montreal, affecting every corner of the province. In areas like Longueuil, simply increasing the number of housing units is insufficient if those homes remain unaffordable. Without policies that prioritize quality and affordability, new construction fails to address the actual needs of the public. It was against this backdrop that tenants from various regions united to voice their concerns.

Despite the gravity of the situation, the event maintained a celebratory tone. This was a deliberate choice, reflecting the conviction that renting is not merely a transitional phase before homeownership. For a significant portion of the population, it is a permanent way of life—a legitimate status that should be embraced and celebrated with pride.

The RCLALQ is currently collaborating with FRAPRU to lead the Coalition contre le logement cher (COLOC). This alliance, comprising nearly 30 local and national organizations, supported Tenants’ Day to send a clear message to both the public and government officials. Many of these groups joined the protest to demand that the government finally prioritize the living conditions of tenants.

With the CAQ government nearing the conclusion of its second term, the RCLALQ criticized the failure of its housing policies. As elections approach, the organization and its partners are warning all political parties to stop using tenants for campaign promises while failing to implement meaningful change.

The RCLALQ also took the opportunity to address the new Minister of Housing, Karine Boivin Roy, by reiterating the core demands of the COLOC:

• The establishment of effective rent control in Quebec;
• A significant expansion of social housing;
• The formal inclusion of the right to housing within the Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms.

About the RCLALQ
The Regroupement des comités logement et associations de locataires du Québec (RCLALQ) represents over sixty organizations dedicated to tenant rights across Quebec. For more than 45 years, it has championed the right to housing, pushing for better market oversight and improved legal access for renters.

About the COLOC
The Coalition contre le logement cher (COLOC) is a network of national, regional, and local community groups united in the fight for housing rights. Founded by FRAPRU and the RCLALQ, the coalition advocates for structural reforms, such as rent control and the mass development of social housing. It aims to combat the impoverishment of tenants and drive long-term solutions by building the collective influence necessary to compel government action.

SOURCE Regroupement des comités logement et associations de locataires du Québec (RCLALQ)