CHENDER: Fall legislative session a missed opportunity

Nova Scotia is an incredible province, one that inspires fierce loyalty and lifetime affiliation. And now that secret is out. As we work to accommodate the thousands of people arriving here and the years of government inaction on housing and health care, we have a historic opportunity to address the current challenges in ways that make life not just liveable, but better for all Nova Scotians.

Unfortunately, this opportunity was missed in the 10 days that the Houston government chose to convene the legislature in Nova Scotia this fall.

The biggest missed opportunity of all – failing to meaningfully address the housing crisis – means that homeownership will continue to be out of reach for most Nova Scotians looking to purchase a home, and renters will continue to face unaffordable increases, increased housing insecurity and risk of eviction.

Time and time again during the short fall session, we pushed the Houston government to, at the very least, tie the rent cap to the unit rather than the tenant to disincentivize evictions. The Houston government refused to budge, missing an opportunity to prevent so many of the 300,000 Nova Scotians who rent from being pushed out of their homes and into an unaffordable housing market.

Instead, the Houston government rushed to legislate the extension of its rent cap, despite the many flaws that render it useless to those on fixed-term leases. Their legislation ignored the obvious fact that the rent cap does not apply to new tenants, meaning that landlords are financially incentivized to evict renters so they can raise prices well above the cap – which is the highest in the country, and well above the rate of inflation.

We also pushed, as we have many times before, for a sensible system of rent control, with increases tied to CPI and avenues for landlords and tenants to address their concerns. This system exists in many parts of our country already, as does a tenancy enforcement unit – something both renters and landlords have called for in Nova Scotia. Sadly, the Houston government closed the door on creating an enforcement unit, after they spent more than a year hiding a report they commissioned that recommended one. Yet another missed opportunity.

As we face unprecedented vacancy rates and skyrocketing housing prices, the Houston government would have you believe that their only job is to create more housing supply. Housing supply is a key part of addressing this crisis, but the emphasis must be on homes that people can actually afford.

The Houston government is using their legislative and financial tools to expedite the construction of units at the “market rate” (currently more than $2,500 for a two-bedroom apartment in HRM), which many Nova Scotians can’t afford, especially if they ever want to save up to own a home.

To put that goal within reach for Nova Scotians, we tabled bills to increase the Down Payment Assistance Program and implement a renters’ tax credit. We also introduced legislation to define “affordability” for the organizations and corporations who get funding to build “affordable” units as 30 per cent of income, the same measure for mortgage stress tests and public housing. This would bring consistency to the system and clarify what “affordable” truly means.

There were also a number of missed opportunities for the more than 160,000 Nova Scotians waiting for a family doctor or primary health-care provider. While the Houston government had a housekeeping bill for health care, they continue to deflect questions about the tens of millions of dollars they’ve spent on untendered contracts for the Hogan Court debacle that will maybe one day be a health-care facility. While the government is spending lots of money on private health-care provision and access to one-off appointments, they are doing little to address the gaping hole in attachment to primary care and actually provide health homes for every Nova Scotian. This remains our focus.

In any session there are some bright spots, and this was no exception. We were pleased to finally see the Houston government introduce some much-needed updates to labour legislation, including several amendments we fought for. And in a surprising but important victory, our bill heeding the call of the Mass Casualty Commission to declare intimate partner violence an epidemic passed through the legislature with all-party support. This is an important first step on a path forward which includes epidemic-level funding to address this issue, and legislation to combat the silencing of survivors, including the NDA bill we have fought to pass for the past three years.

There were many opportunities during the fall session to address the real housing, health care, and affordability needs of Nova Scotians. Most of those opportunities were missed.

Nova Scotians deserve better. This is a government awash in revenues, with money to spend. And they are spending it, but the outcomes of that spending and who is benefitting remain in question.

Claudia Chender is the Leader of Nova Scotia’s New Democrats.