SASKATOON — Saskatchewan NDP Leader Carla Beck described the province as the “Wild West” of the country when it comes to continuous rent increases, accusing Premier Scott Moe of siding with out-of-province corporate landlords instead of the people he is supposed to be serving.
The opposition is hoping the government will support rent control legislation, which NDP introduced in the fall session of the legislature to help ease financial pressures on residents, especially minimum-wage earners, who have one of the lowest wages in the country at $15 an hour.
“We heard Scott Moe again come out against the Saskatchewan NDP's rent control bill, siding again with big out-of-province corporate landlords, instead of the 300,000 renters in this province, who've been hit now by 41 consecutive months of rent increases,” said Beck.
She added new data showed Saskatchewan renters are facing a significant increase — among the highest in Canada — while rent prices elsewhere are falling, aside from Atlantic Canada.
Beck said they expect Regina and Saskatoon rents to increase further in the coming years, after both city councils look at property tax increases: Regina is currently discussing a 15.69 per cent property tax increase, and Saskatoon approved a 6.7 per cent tax hike. She accused the government of having “its head in the sand” for failing to understand the situation.
“I've also heard from municipal governments, both in front of the camera and certainly in a lot of conversations, this is due mainly to provincial downloading increasing costs because of things like out-of-control mental health and addictions crisis, homelessness and a number of ways that the government has downloaded costs on municipalities,” said Beck.
“The impact is having an effect on those who are in this situation, on those who are providing services, and on those who are on the front lines. Again, the fact that the premier today chose to stand and defend and try to whip up support for out-of-province corporate landlords totally disregards the very reasonable concerns of renters in this province. Tells me who he's working for. I know who we're working for.”
She said there are many indicators that the cost of living in the province is becoming unaffordable, with increased food bank use — especially among working people and seniors — and Saskatchewan having the highest financial anxiety in the country due to higher mortgages.
“Right now, they've just got their head in the sand. They refuse to admit it's a problem and suggest, after 18 years, 'don't worry, we're going to come up with the plan for housing increases.’ Will they have it? They've made it worse. This is a government that continues to say, ‘It's the most affordable place in the country to live.’ Well, the facts and the stories we're hearing from people tell otherwise, rent is one piece of this. Rents continue to climb here. Also, we see a government unwilling to listen to those renters,” said Beck.
Beck, who was joined by Housing Shadow Minister and Saskatoon Westview MLA April Chiefcalf at a media event on Tuesday, Dec. 9, cited recent national data showing Saskatchewan’s rent prices increased by 3.9 per cent (to $1,490 average rent), while most of the country saw declines.
According to rentals.ca, prices in Atlantic Canada also rose by 1.5 per cent, to $2,192, with Halifax increasing by 1.3 per cent to $2,278, compared to the national average of $2,074, which fell 3.1 per cent. British Columbia’s rental prices fell 6.8 per cent but remain the highest among provinces at $2,392, followed by Ontario, down 3.8 per cent to $2,296. Quebec sits at $1,929, down 2.6 per cent; Alberta fell 5.7 per cent to $1,775; while Manitoba dropped 1.7 per cent to $1,653.
The government has pointed to the same data, noting Saskatchewan remains the most affordable province in the country to live, work and raise a family. Saskatoon and Regina remain among the least expensive major cities, with average rents of $1,462 and $1,372, respectively.
In a statement sent to SaskToday, the government cited Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. data, arguing rent control has several unintended effects, including limiting options for new renters or those looking to move, accelerating rent increases for new and vacant units, and reducing housing quality, the value of rent-controlled units and incentive for new construction.
“Our government believes the best way to keep rent affordable in Saskatchewan is by increasing the number of rental properties on the market. Having more property on the rental market provides more options for renters. It creates a competitive market and prevents steep rental increases. The most recent housing starts data shows Saskatchewan's housing starts increased by 50.8 per cent in the first 10 months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024,” said the statement.
The government added that the 50.8 per cent figure ranks first among provinces, with multiple-unit construction increasing by 98.3 per cent compared to October 2024. It emphasized that, while Saskatchewan’s average rent prices remain below the national average, they are significantly lower than in BC and Manitoba — both governed by NDP premiers.
