For Immediate Release
November 4, 2024
Today in the House of Assembly, NDP Leader Jim Dinn (St. John’s Centre) and MHA Jordan Brown (Labrador West) challenged government with questions on housing.
Dinn first discussed how the Premier has stated that his government has “made bold, courageous, transformational decisions and actions that will change Newfoundland and Labrador for the better.” Dinn said, “This government evicted vulnerable people forced to live in tents from the grounds of the Colonial Building without real housing alternatives. This government also spent a significant amount of money on security personnel, RNC, and a drone to surveil the thirty protestors gathered at the Colonial Building to call for an end to no fault evictions this weekend. I ask the Premier, Is this what he meant by courageous decisions and actions?”
Brown challenged government to cut through the red tape for municipalities to access key funding for housing. “With rental vacancy continuing to be at 0%, something must be done. I ask the Minister, what is being offered to municipalities like this to help make affordable development possible?”
Brown highlighted the lack of NL Housing units being constructed in the region, which shows the demand for non-market housing. “Four NLHC units are being refurbished and two new units are being added in Labrador West, but we still have close to 30 applicants awaiting housing. This, compounded with a 0% vacancy rate in Labrador West, is impacting residents. I ask the Minister: When will more units will be added to Labrador West’s stock?”
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For further information, contact Stephanie Curran, Media and Communications Officer, NDP Caucus at 330-0328 (o), or stephaniecurran@gov.nl.ca
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