REGINA — As average rent prices fall across much of Canada, Saskatchewan once again saw an increase which has sparked calls from the provincial NDP for rent control.
A new report from Rentals.ca shows national average rents dropped 3.2 per cent and is now lower than it was two years ago. However, Saskatchewan posted the second-highest rent increase in the country.
“Nearly everywhere else, people are getting a break on rent but here in Saskatchewan, they just keep climbing,” said April ChiefCalf, the NDP’s shadow minister for housing. “The Sask. Party is sitting on its hands as big corporate landlords in Alberta jack up rents on seniors and our young people. It’s driving families out of their homes.”
ChiefCalf said the NDP plans to introduce rent control legislation in the upcoming session and is encouraging residents to share their views through RentControlNow.ca.
Six provinces, including British Columbia, Manitoba and Ontario, have some form of rent control in place to limit increases for tenants.
The Saskatchewan government, however, says the province remains the most affordable place in Canada to live, work and raise a family.
The Government says that according to the October Rentals.ca report and the , average rents for apartments and condos in Saskatchewan actually decreased by 0.3 per cent year over year.
Out of 60 cities surveyed, Regina, Saskatoon and Lloydminster ranked among the most affordable in the country, coming in at 55th, 56th and 59th respectively.
The province also notes that 90 per cent of cities with higher rents than Regina and Saskatoon are located in provinces with rent control.
“The lost and reckless NDP continue to mislead the public on rent control and its consequences,” the government said in a statement. “Rent control has caused housing shortages and increased costs wherever it has been implemented and the data proves just that.”
The Government says that their focus remains on increasing the supply of housing through programs such as the Saskatchewan Secondary Suite Incentive, which covers up to 35 per cent of the cost to build a new secondary suite.
The province also points to other affordability measures, including the Saskatchewan Housing Benefit, which provides monthly support to low- and moderate-income renters, and an $88.4-million investment in the 2025-26 budget to ensure rent-ready social housing units are available across Saskatchewan.
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