Province releases $300K report on tenancy enforcement unit

The government might have a report that outlines how a residential tenancies compliance and enforcement unit could work in Nova Scotia, but the minister responsible says it's still a bad idea.

On Wednesday, Service Nova Scotia Minister Colton LeBlanc's department released a report from Davis Pier that it has had since last year and for which it paid $300,000.

While the report provides a recommendation for how set up the unit, LeBlanc told reporters at Province House that it would amount to more red tape and bureaucracy.

The document projects a start-up cost of up to $1.5 million and annual operating costs of $1.5 million. Ten full-time equivalent positions would be required. It notes that some tenants and landlords feel the current system does not address contentious issues or serious events.

As he did when he announced last week that he would not move away with the plan, LeBlanc cited months-long waits for hearings in other provinces with compliance units, such as Ontario, as a reason for not doing it here.

It's important that governments give a look to the potential of any change that might help, he told reporters, "but not to shy away and accept the fact if it's a bad idea for the province."

"We're making internal changes to the process of the residential tenancy program to make it better and fairer for both tenants and landlords," LeBlanc said. 

'Perplexing' not to move ahead

Opposition leaders noted that nothing in the report indicates that a compliance and enforcement unit would be a bad idea.

Liberal Leader Zach Churchill said LeBlanc's decision not to move ahead after commissioning the report is "quite perplexing."

He said establishing a unit would be a simple way to help with challenges facing the rental system.

"This is something that landlords and tenants are both pushing for and the fact of the matter is, if we don't enforce laws in the province then there are going to be people that don't follow them," he told reporters.

NDP Leader Claudia Chender said LeBlanc's decision runs counter to what he states as his goals for improving the system.

"They have a report that clearly tells them that they can bring the balance that the minister loves to talk about into the residential tenancies process and they're choosing not to do it," she said.

Chender disputed a suggestion by the minister that legislation he has before the House now will help achieve similar aims of a compliance and enforcement unit without having to create a new agency.

Although the bill would extend the province's cap on rental increase of five per cent until 2027, Chender said it does nothing to address the use of fixed-term leases to get around the rent cap and it would make evictions easier.

LeBlanc said his department would continue to focus on public awareness campaigns to ensure tenants and landlords are aware of their rights.