For Immediate Release
5 October, 2023
NL NDP Leader Jim Dinn (St. John’s Centre) is calling on government to acknowledge what the NDP has been telling them for over a year – the housing crisis is getting worse. The NL NDP is calling on government to present a viable housing plan that clearly demonstrates how and when people will be given access to safe affordable housing in the short, medium, and long term. The renewed call comes as economic statistics released by the province indicate that rents in August of this year showed an increase of 8.4% in the past year. Newfoundland and Labrador saw the highest increase in rents of any province, aside from Nova Scotia.
“What’s frustrating, aside from reading that rent costs in this province have increased well above the national average, is that we warned government that seniors and others were being hit with exorbitant rent increases – it was dismissed by Ministers who have the power to do something,” said Dinn. “This government has the power to protect renters in this province who are struggling to make ends meet, but they refuse. Now they are playing catchup. It didn’t have to be like this.”
The NL NDP has presented multiple solutions to the provincial government, which continue to go unacknowledged. These solutions included ensuring all vacant NLHC units be made livable, vacant buildings owned by the provincial government can be retrofitted, and housing supplements be expanded.
“We have presented multiple solutions to this government that would protect renters, take pressure off of the housing market, and bring people relief – there doesn’t seem to be an appetite to address the issue,” said Dinn. “The NL NDP caucus remains committed to work with this government to address the housing crisis.”
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For further information, contact Eddy St. Coeur, Director of Communications, NDP Caucus at 729-2137 (o), or eddystcoeur@gov.nl.ca