SUSAN LEBLANC « » : This government paid $300,000 for instructions on how to set up a residential tenancies enforcement unit. The enforcement unit would have improved tenant rights, and the government got pretty deep into the process of making this happen. The responsible department was even exploring different options for hiring enforcement officers. I can table that information. Can the minister tell us why the residential tenancies enforcement unit was abandoned when it was so close to becoming a reality?
HON. JILL BALSER « » : Our focus is to make sure we have a Residential Tenancies Program that works for tenants and landlords. As I said in the previous question asked around residential enforcement, we want to make sure that is a positive relationship. We encourage everyone who has any questions, of course, to reach out. When we did have that report commissioned, as we spoke on the floor of the Legislature in the last session, the outcomes of that wouldn't have made the improvements that some Nova Scotians would have been looking for. We know that in other jurisdictions, they're not meeting the timelines that Nova Scotia is. I stand proudly to say that we have made changes to our Residential Tenancies Program to make sure when there is a dispute between a landlord and a tenant, they have a resolution in a quick timeline.
SUSAN LEBLANC « » : A resolution is not enforcement of the resolution. We're talking about the enforcement of the decisions that are made at the Residential Tenancies Program, which, according to the minister, worked well. The government keeps saying the system is working and no enforcement unit is needed, but this wasn't always the case. In January 2024, department staff defended the creation of an enforcement unit because "There would be a balance in charges laid against a landlord or tenant." What or who changed this government's position on a residential tenancies enforcement unit?
JILL BALSER « » : Again, I want to highlight the fact that we do have a very good Residential Tenancies Program. Having the opportunity to meet with the teams and knowing there are members located at Access Nova Scotia centres across Nova Scotia - they are there to do the good work to support tenants and landlords. It's been said before: If you have a program that has that ability to be able to find a positive resolution in a quick timeline, we make sure that, in the changes that were made, we're meeting and seeing hearings completed within three weeks. We know that in other jurisdictions it's taking months. In jurisdictions that have tenant compliance enforcement units, it's taking months. We have to make sure that when there are disputes, there is a positive resolution in a timely manner.