NDP proposal offers protections for renters and more homes for Nova Scotians

HALIFAX — On Tuesday, the Leader of the Official Opposition, Claudia Chender, presented New Democrats’ plans to protect renters and increase housing supply.

The NDP’s legislation would deliver real rent control that ties allowable increases to the unit—not the tenant— and establishes a residential tenancies enforcement unit, so renters have somewhere to turn when they’re being abused. To address the lack of affordable homes in Nova Scotia, New Democrats are proposing an annual target of 12,500 units and an independent housing officer with binding reporting requirements, so Nova Scotians know if their government is delivering.

“If all of your money goes to paying your rent or mortgage, you don’t have anything left over to take care of your family or save for the future,” said Chender. “Since the Houston government got elected, it is more expensive to live in Nova Scotia than it is to live in Toronto. And the average Nova Scotian’s rent has gone up by $4,400 per year. People won’t be able to stay here if they can’t afford their monthly expenses.

“Everyone knows affordability is a huge problem right now—it’s not a secret. But instead of taking urgent action to help renters and prospective homeowners, the government didn’t spend a single moment debating solutions for renters or folks trying to buy a home and then they shut down the legislature after just two weeks.”

On October 2nd, The Parliamentary Budget Officer put out a housing price assessment report which confirmed that while borrowing costs, better wages and lower home prices are making it easier for Canadians to afford a home– Halifax remains among the most expensive Canadian cities. The price of homes in Halifax is 74 per cent higher than what families can afford.

The Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation estimates that Nova Scotia needs to build 12,500 housing units per year to restore housing affordability – and projects that this government is only on track to build 5,400 per year.

“Instead of engaging with communities and acting in renters or prospective homeowners’ best interests, the government is doubling down on their heavy-handed approach with the same failed outcome,” said Chender. “This government listens to what developers want and ignores Nova Scotians’ concerns about housing that meets their needs, not just more one-bedroom apartments.”

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