Province suspends most evictions due to pandemic

REGINA The province is temporarily suspending most evictions in Saskatchewan, amid worries that casting destitute renters onto the streets would accelerate the spread of COVID-19.

“We felt it was necessary to provide a clear message to Saskatchewan residents that are currently renting that they will not be evicted if they face economic hardship during the pandemic,” said Don Morgan, Saskatchewan’s minister of justice and attorney general.

Effective Thursday, the Office of Residential Tenancies (ORT) will no longer take applications for evictions related to missed or late rent, but only for urgent claims, according to a news release.

The province defined urgent claims as those relating to health and safety, including violence and damage to property.

Previous eviction orders for non-urgent matters won’t be enforced and scheduled hearings will be cancelled as of Thursday.

Tenants will still have recourse against landlords.

Hearings can go ahead in situations “where a tenant has been locked out by their landlord or where a landlord has been accused of not providing essential services such as power and water.”

Morgan noted that it’s tough to follow public health orders without a home to live in.

“An essential part of flattening the curve is staying home and self-isolating,” he explained in a release. “We want to provide (peace) of mind that those taking the necessary precautions as a result of this unprecedented situation will still have a roof over their head.”

He said the government will be extending the measure “as long as is necessary.”

That reverses a position the province took as recently as Wednesday. It had pointed to the OTC’S policy, announced last week, to take account of “relevant circumstances arising due to hardship” while still hearing eviction claims.

Premier Scott Moe argued in a March 20 news conference that existing measures, including income support, utility deferrals and student debt repayment moratoriums, would be enough to keep tenants safe from eviction.

Both NDP Leader Ryan Meili and Regina Mayor Michael Fougere have called for the province to put a pause on evictions in light of the crisis, which has forced a wide range of businesses to close their doors and lay off staff.

Morgan cited those mounting job losses to explain the reversal.

“We’ve noticed it’s been a sharp increase in the number of people that have lost their employment … If you look at the nationwide figures, the unemployment and the drop in GDP has been huge,” Morgan said.

“So we want to do everything we can to try and cushion that.”

But Cameron Choquette, executive officer of Saskatchewan Landlord Association, warned that could mean a major cash crunch for landlords as renters hold back rent. He believes some will “abuse” the system.

“We are worried that if tenants face no consequences related to evictions related to nonpayment of rent, that essentially landlords in Saskatchewan are providing free housing,” he said.

If tenants face no consequences ... essentially landlords in Saskatchewan are providing free housing.

Choquette worried the quality of housing could suffer as landlords lack the means to keep up health and safety standards.

He said the government should have considered a rent bank instead of the suspension. That would channel money from interest-free loans to landlords on behalf of tenants, who could pay back the money over a long period.

But Morgan was adamant that the government is not giving people carte blanche to hold back rent.

“Your rent doesn’t go away,” Morgan said.