SASKATOON — Expect another lengthy debate between the government and the Saskatchewan NDP, this time on the issue of rent control, when the Legislature returns for the Fall session in October.
The NDP is looking to introduce legislation to get the rising cost of rent under control in the province, something the Saskatchewan Party-led majority is not considering, according to Social Services Minister Terry Jenson.
The Warman MLA said instituting rent controls would restrict additional construction and renovation of rental units based on market forces, and a rent control legislation would not be acceptable to landlords.
“When you have more units available in the marketplace, the more units you have, the more control you have over prices because there's now competition for tenants. By putting rent control in, it stifles additional construction, renovation or repair,” said Jenson.
“When it comes to housing, whether it's affordable housing, social housing, market housing, the government has a role to play in terms of the social housing and public housing space, but the housing market, that's driven by the market forces at play.”
He added that the government encourages developers and municipalities to work together, to allow further construction of new rentable housing units, and that's what will keep the rent prices in check.
Housing Shadow Minister April ChiefCalf, who will introduce the rent control legislation, is saying that even without rent control, there are not enough housing and apartment units that are for rent, again citing the over 2,000 Saskatchewan Housing Corporation units that remain vacant.
“We're not keeping pace with the number of people moving into the city of Saskatoon with construction. Even without rent control, we're in a situation where we're not meeting the demand,” said ChiefCalf, the MLA for Saskatoon Westview.
“I would like to see him [Jenson] come and talk to the folks that have come and spoken with you this morning and learn from their perspective, because that's who we need to be talking to, is the people who are impacted by these dramatic rent increases.”
She added that, despite knowing that the government would not be in favour of the legislation, the important thing is to have a conversation and meet the needs of the hardworking people who are faced with the rising rental costs that do not match their earnings.
ChiefCalf said it is time for Saskatchewan to follow the likes of British Columbia, Manitoba, Prince Edward Island, and Ontario, which have already implemented rent control measures to protect tenants and maintain housing affordability.
“Research in rent control shows that it can stabilize the market, and there are ways to build rent control that consider that and can still encourage developers and builders to come into the province and build the residences that we need. We just need to make it our own Saskatchewan rent control policy,” she added.
