Thank you. Rental caps. Mr. Speaker, today I want to speak about housing and the ever-increasing cost of rent for NWT residents. Mr. Speaker, it is becoming more apparent with every passing year that the price for people to rent any housing accommodation in the NWT, especially here in the capital, is getting out of control. With the cost of living crisis that we all are already in, some families have to choose between paying rent or putting food on the table to feed their families.
Mr. Speaker, how are we going to attract more people to move here if all rental options are sky high or expensive? Right now, Yellowknife is home to many transient people who come here temporary for a short period of time, use up our resources, then leave, and never come back. Mr. Speaker, it's getting to a point where people need to be wealthy just to rent a room let alone rent a one or two-bedroom apartment or condo. A one-bedroom apartment in Yellowknife is $1,900, a two-bedroom apartment is $2,500, and a three-bedroom townhouse is about $3,000 and up in rental costs, and plus utilities. It's happening all over the city. Who are these landlords? Are they northern-based owners?
So what's happening here is that the GNWT is paying rent to major southern landlords through income assistance. People are working just to have a roof over their head. There is no way no one in this day and age is going to save money for a downpayment on a house unless their family has deep pockets.
Mr. Speaker, last year, during the 19th Assembly, a Member brought forward a motion urging the government to introduce a mechanism that would provide for a maximum allowable rent increase for private rental units in the NWT. In other words, rent control which would create a cap on rent increases. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
Mr. Speaker, right now no such mechanism exists in the NWT, but I believe that it should. As a government, we need to be proactive in providing practical solutions to the everyday problems that people deal with. Something must be done to help curb the disgraceful never-ending increases to rental costs in the NWT. Thank you.
Thank you, Member from Monfwi. Members' statements. Member from Frame Lake.
