NDP and Opposition Leader Claudia Chender announced Tuesday that she will take on the role of housing critic. Photo by Ryan Taplin /The Chronicle HeraldArticle contentClaudia Chender is ready to challenge the Tim Houston government over the housing crisis in Nova Scotia.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentThe NDP and Opposition leader announced at a news conference Tuesday that she will take on the role of housing critic “to demand accountability and action from the Houston government.”Article contentArticle content“We have seen the premier make himself energy minister and decided that the most important priority for our province is some far away goal of becoming an energy exporter,” said Chender, pointing to Houston naming himself energy minister, taking over the portfolio from Trevor Boudreau in a cabinet shuffle last month.Article contentArticle contentIn the last year, the premier has put a particular push on the development of offshore wind, critical minerals and natural gas.Article content“That is not what we are hearing from Nova Scotians,” Chender said. “What they are looking for from their government is a place that they can afford to live.”Article contentShe added that since Houston became premier in 2021, apartment rentals in the province have become unaffordable.Article content“Halifax is now more expensive than Toronto according to (Statistics Canada) data,” Chender said. “And it’s not just Halifax. In Annapolis, people are living in tents as the weather gets colder. On the South Shore and across the Valley, prices continue to rise. We’re hearing about bidding wars in Yarmouth for apartments.Article content“Landlords are advertising their spaces without a price, and prospective renters have to compete with higher and higher offers to even get a chance at an apartment. Five years ago, this was unheard of in our province, and this government is doing nothing to stop it.”Article contentArticle contentFixed-term leases have been blamed for causing rental costs to skyrocket. A fixed-term lease is intended as an attractive option for students, temporary workers and others but landlords can use the so-called fixed-term-lease loophole to circumnavigate the five per cent rent cap by simply evicting tenants at the end of a fixed-term lease and renting to new tenants.Article contentArticle contentAs part of the cabinet shuffle, Glace Bay-Dominion MLA John White was named housing minister. But following Thursday’s cabinet meeting, White didn’t discuss fixed-term leases directly. He said a low vacancy rate has given landlords the upper hand over renters.Article content“He had no opinion on the fixed-term lease policy, one of the biggest issues facing renters,” Chender said of White.Article content“Instead of speaking up or even having an opinion about a policy that costs tens of thousands of people their hard-earned money, he passed the buck and said it wasn’t his role. How are policies that impact renters not part of the housing minister’s job?
NDP leader becomes housing critic, demands accountability, action from Houston government
