The cofounder of a West End renters group has said Vancouverites will continue to be evicted in the lead-up to the 2010 Olympics if the provincial government doesn’t amend its rental-housing laws.

“The Residential Tenancy Act is the only thing that governs landlord-tenant relationships for evictions,” Sharon Isaak, spokesperson for Renters at Risk, said on June 29. “And the Residential Tenancy Act is what needs to be amended or changed to stop evictions for the Olympics.”

Isaak spoke to the Straight the same day that Housing and Social Development Minister Rich Coleman and Mayor Gregor Robertson held a press conference at City Hall. They announced that four of the five shelters set up by the Homeless Emergency Action Team in December will remain open until April 2010.

Robertson was the only one who mentioned the Residential Tenancy Act.

“We’re working closely with the housing minister on issues around evictions,” Robertson said. “We’ve taken steps to enable people to rent their homes and suites in their homes [during the Olympics]—to get a permit to do that—so we’re taking a number of steps proactively in the city, and we’re working with the province to focus on whether there are problems with the Residential Tenancy Act that will manifest during the Olympics.”

Coleman, who did not return calls from the Straight , sent a letter to Robertson dated June 10, stating: “I understand and share your concern about tenants facing eviction during the time leading up to and during the Games.” However, the minister stated he would not change the act, as it already provides for dispute-resolution mechanisms.

Isaak said these favour landlords.

“ ‘The act is fine; the Olympics may cause some problems, but we’ll watch out’ is the gist of that letter,” Isaak said. “But the act is not fine, because tenants lose at the residential tenancy office when they challenge their evictions.…It is not working for the tenants.”