Len Taylor

Province failing renters seeking affordable housing in The Battlefords

A recent apartment rent increase in North Battleford has highlighted the failure of the provincial government to ensure that vulnerable people are protected from the negative effects of Saskatchewan’s booming economy, says Battlefords MLA, Len Taylor.

Residents of Kildeer Apartments last week were served notice that their rents were about to increase by almost 40 percent. Many of these residents are seniors on fixed income, or wage earners with low to moderate incomes.

“A booming economy should benefit, not penalize people,” Taylor said, adding that the provincial Saskatchewan Party government has known about the possibility of massive rent increases for more than a year and have done nothing to prevent it from happening.

“In June of 2008 a Task Force on Housing Affordability reported to the government that affordability is becoming an increasing challenge for many individuals and families across the province. It clearly stated that seniors and low to moderate income earners are the most vulnerable, and that any solution requires early intervention,” Taylor said.

“In fact, in November when the government introduced Legislation that would require landlords to give six months, instead of three months, notice of a rent increase, Justice Minister Don Morgan acknowledged that renters would now face less frequent, but larger increases.

“Since nothing has been done, this can only mean that seniors, moderate income earners, young first time entrants into the job market, and immigrants, are not the priority for this government at a time when the province is enjoying higher revenues than ever before,” Taylor said.

The problem is made even worse in The Battlefords where there are no alternatives for people facing costly and unjustified rent increases.

“There has been little new apartment construction in The Battlefords for years. Kildeer Apartments are quality accommodations. For people who can’t afford the rent increase and who want to continue to live in a quality building, there is virtually no alternative today. Vacancy rates in The Battlefords are extraordinarily low, and despite promises to do something, the provincial government is now two years behind in fulfilling its promise to financially support the development of affordable housing in our community, Taylor said.

Wall Government Needs to Get Priorities Straight: NDP

Posted: July 30, 2009

Interim Leader of the Opposition Len Taylor is questioning the Wall government’s spending priorities in light of information that it is shelling out more than $49-thousand a month to a Washington, D.C. law firm to handle the Premier’s media and political relations in the United States.

“At a time when Saskatchewan families are suffering with a rapidly rising cost of living, how is this kind of expenditure justified?” Taylor asked. “The Wall government needs to re-think its priorities.”

The Wall government has confirmed that, effective August 1 it will be paying David Wilkens, the former U.S. Ambassador to Canada, $144-thousand U.S. a year to provide media relations services in the United States. Wilkins is a partner in the Nelson Mullins law firm, which received a $400-thousand U.S. annual contract in April to ‘tell the Saskatchewan story’ in the United States. This means Saskatchewan taxpayers are now shelling out more than $588-thousand Canadian a year to this American law firm or more than $49-thousand a month.

Taylor noted that David Wilkins is a life-long Republican who was appointed Ambassador to Canada by former President George Bush. “How is a Republican going to tell Saskatchewan’s story effectively to a Democratic administration and Democratic-controlled Congress? It doesn’t seem like a cost-effective expenditure of Saskatchewan tax dollars.”

“At a time when the Wall government’s provincial budget is unraveling and its run-away spending is becoming an issue, it needs to rein in this kind of excessive expenditure on high-priced political cheerleaders and spend this money dealing with the real issues facing real families,” Taylor concluded.