Lori Sigurdson, MLA for Edmonton-Riverview, NDP Seniors and Housing critic. (Alberta NDP)

By rdnewsNOW Staff

Public Interest Alberta Backs Call

NDP call on UCP to halt plan to sell off affordable housing

Nov 23, 2021 | 2:58 PM

NDP Seniors and Housing critic, Lori Sigurdson, wrote to Minister Josephine Pon on National Housing Day Monday to urge her to address many concerns Albertans have with the government’s plan to sell off Alberta’s affordable housing stock.

In her letter, Sigurdson called on the UCP to delay their plans to sell affordable housing until after the next provincial election.

“Bring this debate directly to voters. We are closer to the next election than the previous one. I have not met anyone who is not a corporate landlord or developer who supports this bill. But if you believe this is the vision that represents the views of Albertans, then I encourage you to campaign on it,” the letter said.

“At the Public Accounts Committee meeting last week, your department stated they did not prepare for the impact of your UCP government taking away the $307 shelter benefit and reducing other income supports from the most vulnerable Albertans in our province. While you have been developing your plan to get rid of affordable housing, you have not addressed the increasing demand — apartments must not be traded for shelter mats.

“As a result of your UCP government’s policies, more Albertans are now living on the streets.”

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Party officials say Sigurdson intends to table an amendment to delay the proclamation of Bill 78, The Alberta Housing Amendment Act. Sigurdson also outlined other concerns in her letter to not implement arbitrary and burdensome qualification requirements for Housing Management Bodies and to legislate that profits from the sale or transfer of affordable housing must be used for affordable housing.

“In communicating this bill, you have said that any money that is gained from the sale or transfer of a home will remain in affordable housing. However, there are no requirements in the legislation to do this. It is paramount that the legislation, at the bare minimum, does what you have said you will do.”

Meantime, housing rights advocates gathered on the steps of the Legislature building Monday to “evict” the provincial government for their affordable housing strategy and alleged lack of urgency in addressing the housing emergency in Alberta.

Bradley Lafortune, Executive Director of Public Interest Alberta said, “Rather than helping these families and ensuring a recovery where no one is left behind, the Kenney government has given yet another gift to wealthy corporations, big financialized landlords, and developers. The UCP have handed over public housing into profit-motivated private hands – meaning the rich are getting even richer at the expense of struggling families. The UCP government has proven it’s not fit to tackle housing and homelessness or any other pressing crisis during this pandemic. And that’s why, today, we’re evicting them.”

“We can – and need – to do so much better,” said Lafortune. “Housing is a human right.”

Public Interest Alberta has launched a campaign to demand housing for all and a rent and eviction freeze.