FREDERICTON – Statistics just released by Statistics Canada reveal that the average cost of rent in New Brunswick has increased by 7.2% over the past year, compared with the national average of 1.6%. This, says NB Green Party leader and MLA for Fredericton South David Coon, is further proof that the province must adopt strong rent controls, including an annual cap on rent increases.

“Over the past year we have heard story after story from New Brunswickers about large, unaffordable rent increases. I even heard from a grandson advocating for his elderly grandparents, who have been hit with an unaffordable rent increase in my constituency,” said Coon. “This data shows that these are not isolated incidents but are indicative of a larger trend where rental prices have ballooned far beyond what is affordable for so many people.”

In 2018, Coon tabled a bill that would have capped rents at a maximum of 3% per year. Last June he re-introduced a similar bill to cap rents. The bill was defeated at Second Reading with every government MLA voting against it.

“The policies the Premier has adopted so far to keep rents affordable clearly are not working,” said Coon. “He needs a new plan that will proactively protect New Brunswickers from unaffordable rent increases. This plan is needed now.”