Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Justice. I've inquired with our legal team, and I'm looking around the Rental Tenancy Act and I'm finding it very confusing. So the Act allows for public housing clients to be charged a maximum security deposit, which is equal to the maximum amount of one month's rent. Given that public housing clients are subsidized and some of them are paying like $80 in rent, most of them cannot afford a $1,600 security deposit.
So my question is, since the Minister spoke in March of this past year and agreed that there was a lot of work to be done on the act, has any work been actually done on the act and if not, is there a plan to do so? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Great Slave. Minister responsible for Justice.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The last major amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act were in 2015. There have been amendments in 2017, 2018, and 2019. But since March, the department has been focusing on getting its current initiatives over the finish line. This is really the busiest time of the year, and we're trying to get everything wrapped up so there has not been work on the Residential Tenancies Act; however, the rental officer, in the annual reports, has been putting forward recommendations and so, you know, this is a live issue that the Member is talking about. So it will be considered early in the next Assembly when the department undertakes a review of the Residential Tenancies Act. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I've seen on social media that a petition has been started to instill a maximum rent or rent cap for the NWT. Is this something that the Department of Justice could work on proactively ahead of receiving this petition? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And, again, all of the resources of the department are tied up right now, and so there won't be any work on this. But it will inform the work that will be done in the next government. In 2014, prior to those 2015 amendments I mentioned, there was a significant amount of work done looking into capping rent; however, it was ultimately decided not to proceed down that road.
We really do need to take a look at the housing market in the territory and ensure that whatever we do does not hinder any future development because although a rent cap would, I'm sure, help a number of people, more houses would help more people. So it is a balance that needs to be struck. But we don't want to see people being evicted because of, you know, increases of 50 percent on their rent. So it is a live issue, and I'm sure the department will consider it in the next government. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yeah, it's actually a really live problem given that some people's rent just recently went up $1,000 a month here in Yellowknife, in the Premier's riding actually. So I'm not sure if she's done anything about it, but I'm highly doubtful, so does the Minister my apologies, Mr. Speaker.
Does the Minister have any plans to deal with the Birchwood Apartment situation that is ongoing right now? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would need a bit more description about what the Member is referring to by "the Birchwood Apartment situation." Thank you.
Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Great Slave.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, clearly the Minister does not have his ear to the ground. It's the only thing that I've been seeing all over social media right now is this increase in rent which can only really be called a forced eviction. It's shocking to me to hear a Minister say that he is not live to the situation of what is going on here in the capital.
I'm going to move on, though, because I think my opinions of this Cabinet are pretty clear.
News articles have pointed out that there is a new tenants’ association being formed. Are any plans being made to collaborate with this new tenants’ association or to commit to creating a working committee or a working group with the tenants? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have my ear to the ground and my nose to the grindstone. I was not familiar with the name of the apartment building. I am familiar with the situation that the Member is speaking about. As I stated, any work on this is going to have to happen after we complete the initiatives that are currently underway. So either later in this government or early in the next government. Thank you.
Oral questions. Member for Nunakput.
