the action this Friday<\/a>\u00a0is calling for a ban on evictions, a cap of 2% on rent increases, and a review of the Residential Tenancies Act. Wolfe says the idea is, \u201cjust to essentially help give us as renters rights. And to to feel like we\u2019re safe.\u201d<\/p>\n\u201cWe\u2019re trying to get their attention. That is the move this Friday. It\u2019s like, \u2018Look, hey, listen to us, we need to be heard,\u2019\u201d says Wolfe.<\/p>\n
In his state of the province address on February 10, 2021, Premier Blaine Higgs announced the province would be taking three months to conduct a review of the rental situation in the province.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will be evaluating the market, vacancy rates, rental fees and trends, and the impact COVID-19 may be having on all of the above,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He also told reporters that based on the information he has received, \u201cno, we don\u2019t have a crisis.\u201d<\/p>\n
This concerns Wolfe. His message for the Premier is, \u201clisten to the people in the province. There are a lot of people stepping up, speaking out, and so many more who are afraid to step up and speak out,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf this is happening to you,\u201d says Wolfe, \u201cyou might not be alone and there might be something that we could do. We can help each other\u2026 There\u2019s power in numbers. And right now there\u2019s so many people experiencing so many different levels of unjust treatment.\u201d<\/p>\n
After Higgs announced the 90-day review, Green leader David Coon called for a 90-day rent freeze to match, so as not to signal to landlords to give the required three months notice now, before changes to rent regulation could come in.<\/p>\n
Wolfe says he is hoping that the government will act sooner than 90 days. \u201cA lot can happen in that timeframe, in regards to people waiting for them to do something, and hopefully not be pushed out onto the streets or out of their homes.\u201d<\/p>\n
NB COALITION FOR TENANTS RIGHTS SPEAKS UP ON CHMA TALKS<\/strong><\/p>\nACORN Canada is not the only organization to take on the fight for tenant protections in New Brunswick. Tonight\u2019s episode of CHMA Talks (6pm on chmafm.com or 106.9FM in Sackville<\/em>) features Tobin Haley of the newly formed New Brunswick Tenants Rights Coalition. Haley talks about what\u2019s known about the current state of renting in the province, and outlines demands by the coalition including a temporary 2% rent cap in the province.<\/p>\n\u201cWe\u2019re not asking for anything radical here,\u201d says Haley. \u201cThis isn\u2019t 2% forever. This is 2% until New Brunswick has moved back into the green phase.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tune in to CHMA Talks to hear more from Tobin Haley of the New Brunswick Coalition for Tenants Rights.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n