A public consultation on rental housing has just been launched by the New Brunswick government. Tenants, in particular, are invited to complete an online survey (New window).
Matthew Hayes, spokesperson for the Coalition for Tenant Rights in New Brunswick, sees this data collection as a good initiative, but insists that the current situation requires immediate action from the government.
The coalition, which is calling for a moratorium on tenant evictions during the pandemic, among other things, fears that these consultations will only be one method to save a little time
instead of acting.
Still less affordable housing
The spokesperson for the citizen collective maintains that the public interest must pass with that of the private sector in the housing issue.
Matthew Hayes observes that real estate companies are renovating housing to drastically increase the rent, and rent them out to customers easier
.
Even if the government sets targets for affordable housing to build, these gains are eclipsed by the greater number of housing units that are becoming unaffordable, so widespread is this practice among companies that manage thousands of housing units, he argues.
Matthew Hayes, spokesperson for the New Brunswick Tenant Rights Coalition, March 20, 2021.
Photo: Radio-Canada
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The way the housing market and real estate operate today is not in the public interest
, says Mr. Hayes, and is becoming unaffordable for middle class people
.
An investment that would not be enough
According to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, Greater Moncton saw rent prices rise 4.7% between October 2019 and October 2020.
It is at Bathurst where there is the largest increase in rental prices. They increased by 5.5%.
The government of New Brunswick does not intend to imitate that of Nova Scotia for the moment, which limits rent increases to 2% during the pandemic.
Photo: Radio-Canada
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According to economist Pierre-Marcel Desjardins, director of the École des Hautes Etudes Publiques at the Université de Moncton, the sum of $ 10.8 million that must be devoted to affordable housing in New Brunswick is not marginal
, but insufficient.
Social housing should in his opinion be treated as a priority, with an injection of additional funds
.
Neglecting it has a big impact on the province’s economy, he says, as new residents arriving from other provinces or outside of Canada depend on affordable housing.
When we know the labor shortages, when we know the needs to attract immigrants here, if we do not have affordable housing to offer them, that will create a problem, on the one hand for their reception. , and on the other hand for the companies which badly need this additional manpower
, underlines Professor Desjardins.
Economist Pierre-Marcel Desjardins in 2019.
Photo : Radio-Canada / Patrick Lacelle
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Moreover, such an investment during the pandemic would have two benefits
, he argues. We would increase the supply of housing for people who need it, and on the other hand, that would stimulate the economy. The economy needs a boost right now.
Matthew Hayes, the spokesperson for the Coalition for the rights of tenants, recalls that the laws governing housing in New Brunswick are in dire need of modernization. In his opinion, they no longer represent the current situation in the province
, and tenants have almost no rights in New Brunswick
.
It is hoped that these consultations will lead to a comprehensive review of the legislative framework for residential rentals.
, dit M. Hayes.
It is not by having strict price regulations that we will improve the situation
, warns Pierre-Marcel Desjardins.
The economist fears that a rent freeze will only provide a very short-term respite for tenants, and then exacerbate the shortage.
A global approach
is therefore necessary, he believes.
We must increase the number of apartments. By increasing the number of apartments, it will increase the supply, which will put downward pressure on prices.
As part of the consultations led by the Government of New Brunswick, tenants, landlords and developers have until April 7 to share their residential rental experience.
According to the report by Marie-Ève Brassard
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