This year, Canada Pension payments went up 1.5% to offset inflation.  Other pensions are being adjusted by similar amounts as the year progresses.  Meanwhile, the BC government is allowing a 4.5% increase for rental housing for 2019, triple the pension increase!  This is fourth year in a row that rents are going up three times or nearly three times as much as pensions.

If this continues, rent will eventually consume double the share of income that it does now.  If rent takes a third of a pensioner's income now, it will take two thirds then.  Every year, more people on fixed incomes will have to choose between renting and eating.

Please protect people on fixed incomes from excessive rent increases.  Before the September 30 deadline, please change the 4.5% rent increase to 1.5%, the same rate as this year's pension increase.