SENIORS, SASK. NDP CALL FOR ACTION ON SKYROCKETING RENT PRICES

Rent Has Increased For Eight Straight Months, Outpacing Rest Of Country

REGINA – A delegation of concerned seniors joined the Saskatchewan NDP today to call for action on the province’s skyrocketing cost of rent.

“Too many Saskatchewan people are being priced out of their communities as rental costs far outpace wages and pensions,” said April ChiefCalf, Saskatchewan NDP Shadow Minister for Housing.

“People are doing everything right — working hard, paying their bills — yet, after 18 years of Sask. Party failures, they’re still finding themselves one rent hike away from homelessness.

“This government’s refusal to act has left our parents and our children vulnerable.”

One of those seniors calling for action is Roger Derby, who has collected more than 60 signatures from neighbours in support of rent control. When Derby moved into his east-end Regina apartment in 2021, his rent was $2,495 a month. By February, it will rise to $3,288 — an increase of 31.8 per cent.

“I’m on a fixed income and so are most of the people in my building. We didn’t earn enough back then to put into our pension to afford the rent increases of today,” said Derby.

As his rent has gone up, Derby says services have actually gone down, including food, bus services and building activities. He says when he first moved into his building, landlords were willing to negotiate, but no longer.

“They tell you if you don’t like it you can move, but moving is costly and stressful, especially for seniors. That’s why we look to governments to help.”

“Our parents’ generation can’t afford 30 per cent rent hikes on fixed incomes,” said ChiefCalf. “Saskatchewan families deserve stability. This is about fairness, accountability and giving renters peace of mind, now and into the future.”

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