Saskatchewan NDP promises rental protections ahead of looming fall election
The Saskatchewan NDP are promising to limit rent increases if elected government in this fall’s provincial election.
The move is in response to Saskatchewan registering some of the highest rent increases in the country over the past twelve months.
Matt Thomson saw his rent go up by $200 over the past year. For him, that was a 25 per cent increase.
“Twenty five per cent increase out of nowhere seemingly for no reason is quite a lot,” Thomson explained.
The average rent for a two-bedroom suite in Regina is now $1,536, a 16 per cent increase.
In Saskatoon, a similar apartment rents for $1,469, an 18 per cent increase.
Saskatchewan rents are still below the national average of $2,310 but the increase in the province far outpaces most other cities. The NDP say they would impose legal guidelines on rent increases if elected government this fall.
“We think there needs to be some balance restored to the picture here,” NDP MLA Meara Conway said.
“There’s many models that we can look to in how to do this. I know Ontario has adopted more of a rent increase guideline. If you go beyond the guideline, the landlord has to make the case.”
Saskatchewan landlords have issues with the NDP’s plan. Cam Choquette, CEO of the Saskatchewan Landlord Association and
“Our association is certainly concerned about any potential rental increase regulations or guidelines that would prevent the free market from operating on a supply and demand framework,” Choquette said. “While the details are pretty scant in the NDP’s announcement, we’re quite hesitant to see, if they form government, what they would look like.”
The provincial government says it has always opposed rent controls. It believes it would discourage landlords from making improvements or constructing additional units.
It believes the NDP plan could negatively impact housing availability.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Bloc beats Trudeau Liberals in Montreal byelection, NDP holds on to Manitoba seat
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been handed his second byelection upset in recent months, as the Bloc Quebecois won LaSalle-Emard-Verdun, Que., a longtime Liberal seat in Montreal.
NEW Toxic chemicals used in food preparation leach into human bodies, study finds
More than 3,600 chemicals that leach into food during the manufacturing, processing, packaging and storage of the world's food supply end up in the human body — and some are connected to serious health harms, a new study found.
Sean 'Diddy' Combs is expected in court after New York indictment
Sean 'Diddy' Combs, the hip-hop mogul who has faced a stream of allegations by women accusing him of sexual assault, was arrested late Monday in New York after he was indicted by a federal grand jury.
Watch out for texts offering free gifts — it's likely a scam
An Ontario man thought he got some good news when he received a text message offering a $30 gift for being a loyal Giant Tiger customer. 'I do go to that store so I clicked on the link and it said it was a customer appreciation award they were going to give people,' Mark Martin, of Simcoe, Ont., told CTV News Toronto.
A key employee who called the Titan unsafe will testify before the Coast Guard
A key employee who labelled an experimental submersible unsafe prior to its last, fatal voyage was set to testify Tuesday before U.S. Coast Guard investigators.
GoFundMe cancels fundraiser for Ontario woman charged with spraying neighbour with a water gun
A Simcoe, Ont., woman charged with assault with a weapon after accidentally spraying her neighbour with a water gun says GoFundMe has now pulled the plug on her online fundraiser.
'Not that simple': Trump drags Canadian river into California's water problems
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump promised "more water than you ever saw" to Californians, partly by tapping resources from a Canadian river.
Body recovered from B.C. lake after unclothed man leads investigators to crash site
Mounties are investigating a fatal crash north of Whistler, B.C., after an unclothed man who was found along the side of the road led police to a pickup truck submerged in a lake with one occupant still inside.
'Phantom finance minister': Freeland says she's 'not going anywhere' after Conservative critique
Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland declared she is 'not going anywhere' when pushed by the Conservatives on Monday about her future as finance minister.