HALIFAX — NDP Leader Gary Burrill made the following statement about banning evictions during the provincial state of emergency:
“Tuesday next week is March 31. For thousands of families, that means April’s rent is almost due. We commend the government for implementing a ban on evictions for those whose income has been impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. However, in the context of a pandemic, this does not go far enough.
At a time when we need to stay home from all but the most essential activities, evictions become a public health issue. During the provincial state of emergency, no tenants should be evicted. You can’t stay home if you don’t have a home to stay in.
Without a full ban on evictions, there will be those who will face the risk of losing their home at a time when having a safe place to self-isolate is vital for the health of individuals and our communities as a whole.
The NDP is calling for a ban on all evictions in Nova Scotia while we deal with the COVID-19 outbreak together.”
Burrill wrote to Premier McNeil with this request today. The NDP Caucus has been participating in daily calls with the government to address issues arising during the pandemic, and has raised this issue there.
Several jurisdictions have moved to ban evictions during the COVID-19 crisis, including Ontario and the United States federal Department of Housing and Urban Development.
