Premier Jason Kenney on March 23. (Screenshot courtesy of the Alberta Government)

By Alex McCuaig, with files from Chad Klassen

Rental Protections

Saskatchewan joins B.C., Manitoba in housing security measures leaving Alberta the odd Prairie province out

Mar 26, 2020 | 4:43 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Saskatchewan on Thursday became the latest Prairie province to issue restrictions on evictions for renters due to the COVID-19 pandemic, joining Ontario and Quebec while leaving Alberta as the only Western province without some measures in place.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney responded to questions on Monday about whether the province will put in measures to protect renters from evictions by stating there is some consideration being given regarding a short-term stay of such measures.

He stopped short of indicating a timetable for such relief but added, “we call upon landlords to do the right thing,” highlighting evictions for missing this upcoming month’s rent wouldn’t be rational, “because who else is going to fill those units.”

Kenney also asked landlords to consider passing on savings from mortgage deferrals from banks or tax deferrals from the province to affected tenants.

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Cypress-Medicine Hat MLA Drew Barnes is stressing renters should talk to their landlords regarding their circumstances.

“To tenants and to ranchers and to landlords, I think the best advice is to communicate and show empathy to each other’s needs and concerns,” said Barnes. “Albertans have been incredible so far pulling together to get through this.”

Grazing leases

Regarding payments by ranchers to the province for grazing leases, Barnes says he is not aware of any changes to that program.

British Columbia has taken some of the most comprehensive steps in the country regarding housing security.

The B.C. government announced on Wednesday a $500 per month rebate to landlords for the next four months for individuals whose work has been affected by COVID-19 while suspending both current and future evictions as well as a suspension on rent increases.

“I’m quite concerned, I’m certainly hearing a lot of concern from folks as April 1st bears down on us, the next critical date in a renter’s calendar, a critical date in a landlord’s calendar as well,” B.C. Liberal MLA Todd Stone told Kamloops’ CFJC Today. “We know there are going to be a tremendous number of people, because of the financial strain they’re under, that are going to have some significant challenges with their rent.”

–With files from Chad Klassen, CFCJ Today Kamloops