The sale of publicly-owned property has been in the news lately, including the sale of the former Hoyles-Escasoni buildings and land in St. John's, for just $650,000. Today in the House of Assembly, NDP MHAs tried to get answers on government's stewardship of real estate assets.
The provincial government may spend millions of dollars a year to rent inferior housing, but doesn't keep records that can confirm exactly how much.
How much does substandard housing increase province's health care costs?
NDP House Leader Lorraine Michael (MHA, St. John's East-Quidi Vidi) says unregulated boarding and rooming houses are notorious for the substandard living conditions they provide for some of the province's most vulnerable people. In addition to the exorbitant rates landlords charge government, she says, this type of housing also leads to increased costs for health care.
NDP Housing Critic Gerry Rogers (MHA, St. John's Centre) says it's long past time for the Minister of Service Newfoundland and Labrador to introduce a Residential Tenancies Act that actually deals with the housing realities of the people of the province.
NDP Housing Critic Gerry Rogers (MHA, St. John's Centre) says government money pays for some of the most sub-standard living conditions in the province.
NDP Housing Critic Gerry Rogers (MHA, St. John's Centre) says government housing policy is increasing the desperation of many of the province's most vulnerable citizens.
NL NDP Housing Critic Gerry Rogers (MHA St. John's Centre) said she doesn't know whether to celebrate or denounce the government for rolling out their Down Payment Assistance Program this afternoon.
In 2013, NDP MHA Gerry Rogers (St. John's Centre) called the $10 million budget cut to NL Housing "a shameful display of government's complete lack of understanding of the housing crisis facing thousands of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians ." The effects of these cuts can now be seen in NL Housing's tender to sell off 223.8 acres in Southlands – an area larger than Bowring Park.