Tenants have little to celebrate on New Brunswick Day

New Brunswick Day is celebrated the first Monday of August every year. It is a celebration of the history, culture and achievements of the province. Many people look forward to the activities planned for this day so they can mix and mingle with their friends.

While it is a great chance to plan activities or meet-ups over this holiday weekend, we should ask ourselves what exactly do tenants, those on low-moderate incomes in particular, have to celebrate?

We are currently living in the worst cost of living crisis many of us have known in our lifetime. Many people are struggling to put food on their tables. People are cutting costs wherever they can in order to survive. A  recent Statistics Canada report noted one third of people surveyed in the Atlantic region would not be able to cover $500 of an unexpected expense. This is a global crisis, we get that, but people in our province are struggling more than they have ever been.

Rents are skyrocketing as the provincial government ignores the voice of tenants on an issue that affects them the most. Recently, the government’s housing strategy was announced with very little to help New Brunswick tenants. The biggest factor that would help tenants out is a rent cap, preferably one that is tied to the unit. But, yet again, tenants’ voices have gone unheard.

A rent cap is the only way to make housing affordable and it is the only way to preserve the existing stock of affordable housing, albeit a dwindling stock.

Housing Minister Jill Green said she has “heard all of the different voices”; what she really means is that she has listened to the developers with the big cash, and the landlords with the big cash.

The majority of provinces in Canada have implemented a rent cap, but the New Brunswick government flat-out refuses to listen to tenants.

Only little snippets of “help” have been announced for tenants and with confusion. For example, the government has not been clear on whether the rent bank will be interest-free loans or low-interest loans. The Housing Minister has stated the rent bank will issue low-interest loans in a recent CBC interview, whereas government spokesperson told the NB Media Co-op they will be interest-free loans. It is rediculous that they cannot convey the correct information to tenants struggling to pay rent. It is almost as if the tenant doesn’t matter.

Without a limit on rent hikes, the message is loud and clear from those in power: let’s stamp on the working class until all they care about is where their next meal is coming from, rather than fight for their rights.

We certainly don’t wish to put a dampener on New Brunswick day for people in our beautiful province. On the contrary, it may be a day for many people to forget about the issues they face with the deepening housing crisis, the deepening health care crisis, low minimum wage, and the lowest social assistance rates in Canada. The Progressive Conservatives certainly wish we would forget about them. However, we can’t stand there and celebrate the so-called achievements of this province either because what are they? Ask a working person what achievements we should be celebrating on this day, and I am sure they are going to struggle to find one.

So sure, go ahead and have fun, join in with the activities of this day with your family and friends, forget all the worries for one day, but we shouldn’t pretend we have things worth celebrating in New Brunswick, because for thousands of low-moderate income tenants, there is absolutely nothing to celebrate.

Nichola Taylor is the Chair of NB ACORN. ACORN is a nation-wide network of tenants and low to moderate-income people.