Burrill: No one should lose their home during the COVID-19 pandemic

HALIFAX -- NDP Leader Gary Burrill made the following statement in response to Premier McNeil's comments on evictions yesterday:

“We have been asking for weeks that the Liberal government place a ban on all evictions in our province - not just those caused by pandemic-related income loss - during the COVID-19 state of emergency. What we heard from the Premier yesterday is that he will not do this.

As everyone in our province grapples with the difficulties of the current outbreak and the restrictions on our ability to work and leave our homes, no one should have to face the added burden of losing the roof over their head. No eviction for any reason should be carried out while the state of emergency is in place.

You can’t stay home if you don’t have a home to stay in.

A growing number of people are also facing massive rent increases at the same time as they are facing layoffs or major cuts to their hours.

Long before the COVID-19 pandemic, the NDP tabled legislation to limit dramatic rent increases, but during this unprecedented period, it is more important than ever that all rent increases must be frozen.”

A majority of Canadians live in provinces that have stronger restrictions on evictions than Nova Scotia during the COVID-19 outbreak. Governments in Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, New Brunswick, PEI, and Quebec have limited most evictions until at least April 30th. The Investment Property Owners Association of Nova Scotia sent a letter this week calling on its members to “... defer any planned rent increases for tenants for 90 days.”

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