Today in the House of Assembly, members will debate a motion to confront the worsening housing crisis highlighted in the recent Auditor General’s report.
NL NDP Leader Jim Dinn (St. John’s Centre) emphasized that this moment presents an opportunity to collaborate with the new government to deliver, long-overdue action – that moves beyond the former Liberal government’s approach and focusing on real solutions that meet the urgency of this crisis.
“New Democrats have been raising the alarm on the housing crisis for years, and the recent Auditor General’s report has now confirmed what we’ve long warned: a troubling lack of action from the former Liberal government to address the issue,” said Dinn. “This report underscores just how urgently real solutions are needed and why sustained inaction has only deepened the crisis facing people across the province.”
“This is a crisis of the Liberals’ own making,” said Dinn. “For years, they misled the public by saying changes were being made within NL Housing Corporation (NLHC), while the reality on the ground told a very different story – people left with no choice but to sleep in tents outside the Colonial Building in the middle of winter, only to be forced out by that same government. That is a failure of leadership, and people deserve far better.”
“During the recent election campaign, we put forward a comprehensive housing plan – one that included a range of targeted measures to ease the pressure people are facing across the province,” said Dinn.
“Implementing rent controls, to doubling the First Time Homebuyers Program incentive, to creating the NL Homes Plan – a new Crown corporation that would raise funds to enable NLHC to build and oversee housing. These are practical, achievable solutions. Together, they would make a real difference.”
“Both MHA O’Leary and I are eager to take part in this debate, and we are ready to work with any government that’s committed to delivering results. Housing must be a top priority.”