Question Period (9 April 2025)

From Hansard (9 April 2025)

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Cost of Rental Accommodation and Affordability

April ChiefCalf: — Mr. Speaker, the Sask Party government is focused on themselves instead of being focused on the future. We see that in the Health minister’s failures in health care, and we see that when it comes to ensuring people have safe, affordable housing in Saskatchewan.

A new report shows that Saskatchewan is seeing some of the highest increases in rent in the country. Rents in Saskatchewan have risen by nearly 34 per cent over the last five years. What does the Sask Party government say to renters who can’t keep up with the rising cost of living?

Hon. Terry Jenson: — Well thank you, Mr. Speaker. And you know, when it comes to affordability, Saskatchewan is leading the nation in affordability. We are the most affordable place in the country in which to live, work, and raise a family, Mr. Speaker.

We have $2 billion worth of affordability initiatives each and every year in the budget. And we’ve added to it again this year in this year’s budget, reducing personal income taxes by $3,400 for a couple over the next four years. For seniors that’s $3,100 over the next four years. This is all going to help with affordability. We’ve doubled the active families benefit to $300 per child. The graduate retention program for students increased to $24,000.

Mr. Speaker, we have a great story to tell in this province about affordability, and we’re going to keep going down this path. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

April ChiefCalf: — Mr. Speaker, life is getting more and more expensive, and Saskatchewan people are falling farther and farther behind. The Sask Party government’s failures on housing are pushing rents higher, all at a time when Saskatchewan people are struggling the most to pay their bills. In fact one in three Saskatchewan people are struggling to pay their bills — the highest anywhere in Canada.

Why is the Sask Party government doing nothing to help renters while Saskatchewan people are struggling so badly?

Hon. Terry Jenson: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ll say it again: Saskatchewan, when compared to all other provinces in Canada, is the most affordable province in which to live. That includes, that includes for accommodations. You know, I talked earlier about personal income taxes. I talked earlier about the active families benefit. Mr. Speaker, we are doing more than that.

We have the Saskatchewan employment incentive for low-income earners. We’re maintaining that funding in this year’s budget, Mr. Speaker. And one of the best things when it comes to affordability in this province, when it comes to getting more accommodations built — whether that be private housing, whether that be apartments, Mr. Speaker — the removal of the carbon tax on everything for everyone. That is what is going to spur development in this province and we’re proud to have been part of that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

April ChiefCalf: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will be sure to convey the minister’s answer to the many residents of Saskatchewan who have been contacting me to say they can’t afford their rent. Mr. Speaker, the Sask Party government is ignoring renters. Rents are rising faster in Saskatchewan than anywhere else in Canada. In fact in many other provinces, they’ve actually gone down.

Regina has a housing crisis, and Saskatoon has reported as many as 1,500 people currently unhoused. These unaffordable increases in rent are pushing people out into the streets. Does the minister even realize it that letting rents rise unchecked is making houselessness worse?

Hon. Terry Jenson: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and the member opposite maybe needs to take this into a little bigger context. When it comes to homelessness and houselessness, homelessness, Mr. Speaker, it’s not a rental issue. What the issue is, Mr. Speaker, we have a drug problem in this province. The point-in-time . . .

[Interjections]

Speaker Goudy: — Someone’s teacher is in the balcony, and let’s have a continued response from the minister.

Hon. Terry Jenson: — So, Mr. Speaker, when we’re talking about homelessness in this province, we know that through the last point-in-time count in Saskatoon, 82 per cent of those individuals indicated an addiction issue or a substance abuse issue, Mr. Speaker. We also have mental health issue problems, Mr. Speaker.

The issue is not rooted in rent, Mr. Speaker. We have affordability initiatives. We also have, when it comes to working to get people into safe and secure shelter, Mr. Speaker, we have individuals that are out on the street, working with those doing outreach and working with those individuals to determine exactly what kind of wraparound supports those people need so they can get into safe and secure shelter.

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