Group rallies in front of N.S. legislature to support continued rent control
An all-day rally was held Thursday outside the Nova Scotia legislature to draw attention to rent control.
Justin Lundrigan delivers furniture. His partner, Natasha Moore, is a human relations advisor. They, along with their son Jaylen, were couch-surfing for more than a year as they looked for an apartment.
"He shouldn't have to hear his parents at night, stressed and having conversations about this," says Lundrigan ... "About whether we're going to have roof to sleep under," adds Moore.
They were among a group of approximately 100 people who rallied outside the legislature to encourage the province to keep their two per cent cap on rent increases.
"Since this new government has come in we have not had any meetings either private or in public but really we didn't have much luck with the last government," says organizer and ACORN chair Hannah Wood.
Premier Tim Houston is on the record saying rent control is not the answer to the housing crunch, but Wood disagrees.
"Over 200 cities in the states have rent control, several provinces in Canada have rent control, development has not ceased, the housing market has not ceased, landlords have not thrown up their leases and walked away from the market," Wood says.
Aidan Thompkins does have an apartment, but he says his rent has increased 33 per cent in the last two years, from $1,350 to $1,750 a month.
He and his roommates can pay rent but he says they have nothing left after they do.
"I'm in a three-bedroom apartment," Thompkins said. "I have two roommates, we have very few assets, we can't really take on any assets or anything else at the moment because all of our money is being poured into paying rent."
For Lundrigan, Moore and their son, their year-long search for an apartment has paid off. They found a place on Wednesday and they consider themselves among the lucky ones to finally have that roof over their heads.
"There's a playground right next to our house," says Jaylen. "That's something I'm really excited about."
ACORN played a role in getting the province to implement the temporary rent control measures that are in place. Those measures are set to end when the state of emergency is lifted.
CTV News reached out to the premier's office for comment on rent control, but was told he was unavailable.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.