For immediate release: April 9, 2025
Government's Horrible Budget Ignores Thousands of Vacant Government Housing Units
REGINA — As Scott Moe and Sask. Party continue to fail to make life more affordable and address the rampant housing crisis in the province, new data indicates the cost of rent in Saskatchewan is rising faster than in any other major Canadian province.
The latest National Rent Report from Rentals.ca and Urbanation found that, on an annual basis, average rent in Saskatchewan rose three per cent from March 2024 to March 2025 to $1,336, bucking a national trend that saw rates drop in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec.
Rents in Saskatchewan have risen by nearly 34 per cent over the last five years.
Recent polls from Angus Reid have seen Saskatchewan people report a higher rate of financial anxiety than those living anywhere else in Canada.
“Clearly, life is getting more and more expensive and Saskatchewan people are falling farther and farther behind — and the Sask. Party government is failing to help on every front,” said April ChiefCalf, Saskatchewan NDP Housing Shadow Minister.
“We see people out on the streets in communities across the province and a drug overdose crisis that is being driven, in part, by people not having a roof over their head and proper supports to get their life back.”
Regina has also just recently declared a housing crisis and Saskatoon has reported as many as 1,500 people currently unhoused. Saskatoon has also seen nearly as many people die of drug overdose in the first four months of this year as it did over the entire course of 2024.
ChiefCalf pointed out that, despite this, the Sask. Party budget currently being debated only provides funding to renovate 285 of the 2,500 vacant government housing units in the province.
“These are places that could be used to help people — to save lives,” ChiefCalf said. “This is a total failure of leadership and says a lot about where the Sask. Party puts it priorities.
“The Saskatchewan NDP is focused on the future and we know taking real action to end the housing crisis is a critical part of how we move forward.”
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REGINA — The Saskatchewan NDP and the ALS Society of Saskatchewan are calling on the Sask. Party Minister of Health to immediately launch a full investigation into the Dr. Goodenowe Restorative Health Centre in Moose Jaw.
REGINA – The Saskatchewan NDP is calling on the Provincial Auditor to launch a special investigation into the Ministry of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety and the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA), following the government’s failure to properly maintain and deploy key firefighting aircraft during this year’s wildfire crisis.