Moncton is currently in the grips of a massive housing crisis.  Currently, there is a years long wait for subsidized housing, an influx of new citizens and a global pandemic affecting all New Brunswickers.  Families are facing loss of employment, corrupt property management and food/ home insecurity. 

In the past 2 years Moncton rental rates have seen massive increases, in some cases as much as doubling seemingly overnight. New Brunswick renters are not protected by rental caps nor any other kind of safety against corporations buying up properties and increasing prices for profit. Companies like K2 Properties, OnTask Properties and Seville are known in the community for managing lower quality units and allegedly raising rents to force out lower income families. While the motivation behind the increases may be related to double taxation on rental properties, the companies fail to maintain the buildings and appear to discriminate against lower income families. 

New Brunswick residents are making on average $59,347 according to NB Health Counsel and minimum wage workers are averaging $1600 net monthly.  Moncton has a population of 71 886 and currently 26.6% of children are in active poverty meaning they are in homes that bring in less than $36 778 (for a lone parent with 2 children). On average, a single parent home brings in $28 800 per year - https://campaign2000.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/NB-Child-Poverty-Report-Card-Jan.2020-English.pdf

Using a real life example: 

a mother who is university educated but has a student loan with monthly payments of $650/ month has a child with her husband of 4 years.  They divorce after their second child is born and her families income goes from $59500/year to the minimum income amount of $28 800/year. 

The average apartment complex charges $1300 per month plus utilities.  Heat and lights costs on average $200/ month.  Car payments are $350/month.  Insurance for car and home are $200/month.  Groceries for two children aged 5 and 8 and a grown woman are $300 bi weekly. After school activities are $20/ month. Phone/ Internet is $150/ month. clothing and gifts are eliminated due to lack of finances.

This mother is receiving a total of $2400/ month to care for her family. Every single month this family is $450 short. Even if they took the bus and walked instead of owning a car they are still in the red. 

This is only one example.  Parents who have special needs children, parents who have disabilities and the elderly are also victims of the current housing crisis. 

In short, a rental cap must be instituted to protect renters in New Brunswick from poverty and home insecurity.  In 2020 it is clear that throughout all of the adversities we face and overcome, the people of New Brunswick deserve secure homes, safe and healthy food and warmth to get through what will be the most trying season in our history.

We can and will create a functional society where ALL New Brunswickers are treated with respect and integrity.