Newfoundland Labrador Housing (Housing) tenants throughout the province now have it in writing that they are entitled to discuss or bring to Housing’s attention any issues concerning their tenancy. Housing and the Office of the Citizens’ Representative have jointly developed and issued a Tenants’ Bill of Rights, for Newfoundland Labrador Housing tenants. The announcement was made today by the Hounourable Shawn Skinner, Minister Responsible for Housing and Human Resources, Labour and Employment, and Barry Fleming, Citizens’ Representative.
“As the largest landlord in the province, we feel it is vital that our tenants are fully aware of their rights and are completely comfortable bringing to our attention any issues they may need to discuss,” said Minister Skinner. “Though it has been publicly stated many times over the years, some tenants remain unaware of the options open to them to ensure their Housing concerns are addressed. By releasing this Tenants’ Bill of Rights, we hope to make a permanent and visible statement of our commitment to tenants.”
“Any time the Office of the Citizens’ Representative has investigated cases on behalf of tenants, Newfoundland Labrador Housing has provided a timely, co-operative and flexible response,” said Mr. Fleming. “Housing has made strong public statements affirming its commitment to ensure tenants are treated with fairness and respect in response to their inquiries.”
Effectively immediately, the Tenants’ Bill of Rights will be mailed to all 5,700 current tenants province-wide, a copy of the bill will be verbally reviewed and provided to new tenants upon signing their lease with Housing, and posted on the organization’s website ( www.nlhc.nl.ca ).
An internal news flash highlighting the Tenants’ Bill of Rights will also be issued to Housing employees.
Newfoundland Labrador Housing (Housing)
Tenants’ Bill of Rights
Housing is committed to providing safe, affordable housing for individuals and families in need. We believe that listening and treating others the way we would wish to be treated is the key to our success. We believe that fairness, equity and respect guide our interactions with our clients and each other. In this regard, we support the following Tenants’ Bill of Rights.
As a client of Housing:
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Media contacts:
Ed Moriarity
Director of Communications
Department of Human Resources, Labour and Employment
709-720-4062, 728-9623
edmoriarity@gov.nl.ca
Jenny Bowring
Communications Manager
Newfoundland Labrador Housing
709-724-3055
jmbowring@nlhc.nl.ca
www.nlhc.nl.ca
Jocelyn Walsh
Office Administrator
Office of the Citizens’ Representative
709-729-7647, 1-800-559-0079
Provincial and Territorial Ministers Responsible for Housing met last night with the Honourable Monte Solberg, Federal Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation in Gatineau, Québec, to discuss a series of critical housing issues.
The provincial/territorial housing ministers expressed their great disappointment that Minister Solberg is not able to provide a firm response to any of the issues they raised.
“It has been nearly three years since this country has had a formal federal/provincial/territorial discussion about the state of housing in Canada and that’s not acceptable,” said Newfoundland and Labrador’s Minister Responsible for Housing, Shawn Skinner and co-chair of the next Housing Ministers’ conference. “The Federal Government doesn’t appear to see housing as a priority for Canadians. We are very concerned by the lack of commitment by the Federal Government to address the country’s critical housing issues. We will continue to do our utmost to impress upon the Federal Government the urgency of Canada’s housing situation.”
This meeting provided an opportunity for provincial/territorial housing ministers to reiterate the necessity of having formal discussions regarding the major issues facing the future of housing in Canada and more precisely the importance of establishing a federal-provincial-territorial partnership based upon the principles they adopted in White Point, Nova Scotia in 2005. These shared principles defined the roles, responsibilities and funding mechanisms for current and future housing initiatives, including adequate sustainable funding.
As a first step, the provincial/territorial housing ministers urged the Federal Government to immediately extend its financial contribution to housing, especially in the areas of residential rehabilitation, homelessness and affordable housing which are currently slated to expire in March 2009. They unanimously requested that the Federal Government begin to work immediately with them regarding long term, predictable and sustainable funding for housing in Canada.
Ministers pointed out the need for funding to support Canada’s existing social housing stock. Declining federal funding, increasing operating costs and “flat” rents threaten the viability of this $100 billion public asset.
Provincial/territorial housing ministers also raised the issue of Aboriginal and Northern housing concerns with Minister Solberg.
Finally, there has not been a federal/provincial/territorial housing ministers meeting since September 2005. Provincial/territorial ministers impressed upon Minister Solberg the need for the Federal Government to commit and participate in a housing ministers’ conference.
Since the federal minister could not commit his presence at a conference in the next few months, the provincial/territorial ministers will meet in September 2008 in St. John’s, and it is expected that the Federal Government will be there to address the critical needs of 1.5 million Canadian households.
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Media contact:
Jenny Bowring
Communications Manager
Newfoundland Labrador Housing
709-724-3055
jmbowring@nlhc.nl.ca