Forced eviction cases of tenants increased by 132% in Quebec in 2023 compared to the data of 2022, according to the annual report issued by the Regroupement des Comités logement et Associations de Tenants du Québec (RCLALQ). The organization warns that these data represent "only a small part of the total number" of evictions that occurred this year.

In its report published on Tuesday, the Regroupement des Comités logement et Associations de Tenants du Québec RCLALQ listed 3531 cases reported to housing committees for forced eviction of tenants over the past twelve months, compared to 1525 cases in 2022.

This jump of 132% represents the largest increase in cases ever compiled by the member groups of the Regroupement des Comités logement et Associations de Tenants du Québec RCLALQ.

The authors of the report also warn that the real picture of evictions in Quebec will actually be much worse.

"The vast majority of cases are not reported to the housing committees. Since these practices are not subject to systematic oversight in Quebec, it is impossible to accurately determine the real number of forced evictions," the document found.

However, many social and economic indicators, including the 2021 Canadian Housing Survey issued by Statistics Canada, allow us to estimate the number of forced evictions in Quebec in the tens of thousands annually.

From 2020 to 2023, the number of forced evictions collected by RCLALQ member groups increased nearly sixfold.

During forced eviction, the landlord forces tenants to leave their homes even though they are unwilling or unable to move elsewhere.

Everywhere in Quebec ..

The first observation made by the Regroupement des Comités logement et Associations de Tenants du Québec RCLALQ is that this increase in evictions can be observed in all regions of Quebec.

On the Island of Montreal, the increase in forced evictions was more apparent in 2023, recording a jump of 143% compared to the data of 2022. In Quebec City, forced evictions increased by 69%.

Also, cities and areas outside these two urban regions witnessed a 121% increase in reports in 2023, from 487 to 1076 since last year.

According to Cédric Dussault from the Regroupement des Comités logement et Associations de Tenants du Québec RCLALQ, one of the main methods used to illegally evict tenants is the landlord resuming the residence to live there themselves or to accommodate one of their immediate family members.