Extending the rent cap is nothing but a stop-gap measure

While we are pleased to see that the rental cap has been extended for the next two years, it is clear that the Houston government is prioritizing the interests of landlords over fixing the housing crisis. “The new amendments spent more time introducing ways to kick renters out of their homes than addressing the current housing crisis,” said CUPE Nova Scotia President Nan McFadgen. “Tell me why we’re making it easier to evict tenants rather than addressing the soaring costs of rent in this province?” The new changes introduced today by the Nova Scotia Government shorten the period landlords must wait to begin the process of evicting renters for non-payment to just 3 days—down from the previous 15. It also made it easier to evict tenants the landlord has deemed problematic, a definition that now includes repeated late payments. “Nova Scotians are struggling to make ends meet, and that means … Read more…

Fun Fact Friday: 61% of the CBRM thinks it’s time for real change in City Hall!

When asked, 61% of CBRM residents called for real change in city hall, highlighting the fact that most residents are sick of struggling while their elected officials do little to make things better. The housing vacancy rate is a startling 0.8%, among the lowest in Nova Scotia, meaning the municipality has a shortage of 1000 housing units as of Fall 2023. The lack of housing units has put a strain on the housing and rental markets, causing skyrocketing prices. In response, the CBRM has added transit lines so that residents can live further away from downtown, but all that does is put added pressure on the already strained transit system rather than addressing the root cause of the problem: lack of affordable housing. Accessing health care isn’t much easier, with the Cape Breton Regional Hospital having the longest average wait times in the province—a whopping 5.2 hours. This wait time … Read more…