Tenant advocates call for change in Saint John

By Arun Budhathoki, NB Media Co-op

October 21, 2022

FREDERICTON / UNCEDED WOLASTOQIYIK TERRITORY –

Tenant advocates gathered outside Saint John City Hall on Saturday, Oct. 15, calling for better protections for renters.

Sarah Lunney, a member of ACORN NB, a group that campaigns for tenants’ rights, told the NB Media Co-op: “We demanded for action to be taken on making sure that people have healthy and safe homes.”

The provincial government recently announced about $100 million for public housing, but Lunney believes it isn’t enough.

She said the waiting list is more than 1,000 for public housing in Saint John, but the provincial government’s plans call for just 40 new units in that city.

She said conditions in public housing units in Saint John are deplorable, and tenants who live in government-owned units are not protected by the Residential Tenancies Act.

The NB Media Co-op has reached out to the Department of Social Development for comment.

Arun Budhathoki is a journalist with the NB Media Co-op. This project has been made possible in part by the Government of Canada, administered by the Canadian Association of Community Television Stations and Users (CACTUS).

Tenant advocates gathered outside Saint John City Hall on Saturday, Oct. 15, calling for better protections for renters.

Sarah Lunney, a member of ACORN NB, a group that campaigns for tenants’ rights, told the NB Media Co-op: “We demanded for action to be taken on making sure that people have healthy and safe homes.”

The provincial government recently announced about $100 million for public housing, but Lunney believes it isn’t enough.

She said the waiting list is more than 1,000 for public housing in Saint John, but the provincial government’s plans call for just 40 new units in that city.

She said conditions in public housing units in Saint John are deplorable, and tenants who live in government-owned units are not protected by the Residential Tenancies Act.

The NB Media Co-op has reached out to the Department of Social Development for comment.

Arun Budhathoki is a journalist with the NB Media Co-op. This project has been made possible in part by the Government of Canada, administered by the Canadian Association of Community Television Stations and Users (CACTUS).