Official Opposition to Create Real Housing Solutions, Fight Cruel Income Assistance Decision

HALIFAX – Today, Official Opposition Leader Claudia Chender outlined three key pieces of legislation that would help Nova Scotians with one of the most pressing affordability issues they face – the cost and stability of housing. Later this afternoon, Bradley’s Law, The Renters’ Rights Act, and the Affordable Homeownership for Nova Scotians Act will be debated in the Legislature.

Under Premier Houston’s watch, average rents across Nova Scotia have grown by $5,700 per year, the cost of buying a home relative to average income has doubled, and homelessness has more than tripled in Halifax. Yet, while this government’s existing rent cap ends next year, last week the Minister of Service Nova Scotia, Jill Balser, said her government does not support permanent rent control.

“The measures we’ve introduced will reduce the need for homeless encampments by ensuring more people can move from tents into permanent housing, provide real stability for renters, and bring down the cost of entry into homeownership,” said Chender. “This government has made choices that make it harder for Nova Scotians to secure and keep suitable and affordable housing.”

Instead of protecting renters or helping Nova Scotians move out of encampments and into homes they can afford, the Houston government has also chosen to sidestep a recent court decision that would have ensured unhoused Nova Scotians receive the full income assistance rate they’re entitled to. Bradley’s Law, an NDP bill that honours Bradley Lowe and his fight for support and dignity for unhoused Nova Scotians, would reverse the Houston government’s cruel decision and ensure more Nova Scotians get the support that they need.

The Renters’ Rights Act would protect renters by tying rent increases to inflation, closing the fixed-term lease loophole that the former Liberal government left in place, and actually enforcing renters’ rights through a compliance and enforcement unit. The Affordable Homeownership for Nova Scotians Act would help reduce the cost of becoming a homeowner by up to 25 per cent through a combined land trust and shared equity program.

“Nova Scotians have been patient: they’ve given the Houston government five years to move the needle on housing, and too many people are still rightfully worried about how they’re going to keep a roof over their head or afford to stay in our province,” said Chender. “Meaningful changes are desperately needed, and it's our hope that we can bring some solutions forward for debate that the government will sincerely consider.”

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