Quebec City, August 30, 2026 – Faced with the significant increase in the cost of living in private seniors’ residences (RPA) and given that the average cost of housing in a private seniors’ residence (RPA) has risen by 18% in four years, the leader of the Quebec Liberal Party, Mr. Charles Milliard, is committed to better protecting seniors from significant and unpredictable rate hikes, while preserving the residences that care for them.
A Liberal government will implement a cap on rent increases and fees for services already provided in senior housing facilities. Most importantly, it will reverse the burden of proof: when a residence wishes to exceed this limit, It will be up to the residence to demonstrate before the Administrative Housing Tribunal (TAL) that the increase is justified, rather than requiring the senior to challenge it.
The Quebec Liberal Party proposes:
- An annual cap on rent increases and the cost of services provided in retirement homes;
- Reversal of the burden of proof: Once the cap is exceeded, the RPA must justify the increase before the TAL before it can impose it;
- A safeguard to ensure that any increase in costs never comes at the expense of the care provided to the elderly;
- Special support for senior living communities that maintain affordable housing options, particularly small facilities and those in rural areas.
An older adult who chooses a retirement home does so based on their needs, but also on their financial means. However, as they age and lose independence, the cost of services can take up an increasingly large portion of their expenses, while their income often remains relatively fixed.
The current system allows a resident to refuse a rent increase, but it does not impose an automatic cap. The PLQ wants to reverse this logic : Up to the cap, the increase may be applied; beyond that, it will be up to the residence to demonstrate its justification before the TAL.
However, this new protection may not never come at the expense of care. A nursing home may not reduce the frequency or intensity of essential care provided to a resident simply to stay within the cap.
“At 80 years old, you have better things to do than fight a rent increase. A senior who chooses a retirement home is choosing a place to call home, and should never have to leave it because of exorbitant increases. So we’re going to turn the tables: once a clear cap is reached, it will be up to the retirement home to justify the increase, not up to the senior to challenge it. And I want to be very clear: we’re going to cap rent increases, never the quality of care. We’re going to protect our seniors’ finances while preserving the small retirement homes that care for them throughout Quebec.”
- Charles Milliard, Leader of the Quebec Liberal Party
More details:
1. Set a cap on RPA increases
Annual increases in rent and fees for services already received will be capped. The specific formula will be established in consultation with the TAL and stakeholders, including representatives of seniors and owners of retirement living communities.
If a residence wishes to exceed the cap, it must demonstrate that the increase is justified and obtain authorization from the TAL.
2. Shift the burden to protect the elderly
Today, when an elder considers a raise to be too large, it is up to them to refuse it in order to initiate the appeal process.
A liberal government will reverse this approach: once the cap is exceeded, it will be up to the RPA to demonstrate before the TAL that the increase is justified before it can be imposed.
It will no longer be up to the eldest child to fight to challenge an excessive increase, but up to the nursing home to justify it.
3. Protecting Health Care
An RPA may not reduce the frequency or intensity of daily assistance, medication-related services, or nursing and medical care provided to a resident simply to comply with the cap.
4. Preserving small retirement homes and ensuring affordable housing options
Special support will be provided for senior living facilities that continue to offer affordable housing, particularly small facilities and those located in rural areas.
A Liberal government will also work to reduce regulatory duplication and multiple reporting requirements, in particular by harmonizing inspections, preventing the same information from being requested multiple times, and consolidating certain reporting requirements across ministries and agencies.
This simplification will have one red line: Never compromise the quality of care or the safety of residents.
