Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I believe that everyone needs and deserves to have a stable roof over their head, no matter how poor they are, even if, and especially if, they're struggling with addictions. There is a tension, though, between that principle and the reality that housing in Canada is a private commodity, one that we need more of. Lots of people cannot afford to own and maintain their own house so rental options are necessary. If we want more housing to be built and if we want landlords, including Housing NWT to survive, then we cannot afford so much ongoing damage to rental units. The individuals causing damage or serious disturbances need to be held accountable and that includes evictions.
Now, we hear opposing narratives. On the one side, we hear that the problem is big, bad landlords holding all the power, and they're kicking people out unfairly. On the other side, we hear that landlords are helpless to address illegal behaviour, people destroying their units, and evictions are impossible to obtain because the rental office and the RCMP are both hamstrung with too much legal due process. So where's the truth?
First, I think it's fair to say that many tenants and landlords are unaware of their legal rights. Tenants may not know that they can get the rental office to order their landlord to do proper maintenance, pest control, or that they can appeal an eviction that was made without proper cause or notice. Landlords may not know that there is already a process for expedited evictions. They can end a tenancy with only ten days written notice if a tenant is causing serious disturbances or hosting illegal activities.
I should say that eviction orders are happening. There was 102 last year and 169 the year before. But the rental office recommended in its latest annual report that the Act be changed to allow eviction orders to be immediately enforceable. Of course, evictions often create collateral damage, making people homeless who are being taken advantage of by troublemakers, sometimes their own family members, and evictions are never an ultimate solution. People still have to live somewhere, even if it's in a shelter or an encampment. And there we get into even thornier questions of accountability for people's behaviour. Mr. Speaker, I ask for unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and to my colleagues. In terms of accountability, I should also note that an occasional fine does not create real accountability for landlords who may be violating tenants' rights over and over.
So in conclusion, Mr. Speaker, I believe that housing is both a right and a responsibility, that tenants and landlords should both be held accountable, and tomorrow I will be continuing by discussing possible ways forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Yellowknife North. Members' statements. Member from Monfwi.
