As changes to Residential Tenancies Act draw near, Yukoners react

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Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-10-30 17:51:39.0
Tags: [National, Housing, Affordability, Governance]

Yukon Party MLAs voted to pass statutory amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act, effectively eliminating territorial rent caps and reintroducing no-cause evictions effective December 1. The legislative changes, spearheaded by Community Services Minister Cory Bellmore and supported by Premier Currie Dixon, aim to transition the territory to a market-based rental system and encourage housing investment. The Yukon Residential Landlord Association estimated that landlords have withdrawn more than 200 rental units from the market since rent controls were implemented in 2021, while opposition parties and housing advocates criticized the measures for lacking supporting data and negatively impacting tenant housing security.

MLAs call on N.W.T. gov't to offer more support for residents facing high fuel costs

This article is new today!

Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-10-30 11:00:00.0
Tags: [National, Affordability, Energy, Governance]

The Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly unanimously passed a motion on Thursday, developed by the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight, urging the territorial government to increase home heating subsidies and expand financial incentives for converting to energy-efficient alternative heating appliances. Driven by a global spike in heating oil prices following the U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran, regular MLAs criticized current programs as insufficient given that roughly half of Northwest Territories households rely on diesel as their primary heat source. Finance Minister Caroline Wawzonek noted the timing aligns with the upcoming territorial budget cycle and acknowledged gaps in existing wood pellet conversion and senior heating subsidy programs, while pointing out that public housing and income assistance clients already receive full heating coverage. The territorial government now has 120 days to formally respond to the motion.

Dawson City, Yukon, leaders urge territory to retract no-cause eviction bill

Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-10-29 19:12:01.0
Tags: [National, Housing, Affordability, Governance]

The Yukon Legislative Assembly passed Bill 8, enacting amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act that reintroduce no-cause evictions and scrap rent control. In response, Dawson City Mayor Stephen Johnson, the Dawson City Council, and former territorial NDP candidate Francis van Kessel sent letters urging Premier Currie Dixon and Minister of Community Services Cory Bellmore to retract the legislation due to severe rental scarcity and potential strains on community social services.

Yukon gov't not swayed by petition to demand investigation into power utilities' billing practices

Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-10-29 01:44:22.0
Tags: [National, Energy, Affordability, Governance]

Yukon Energy Minister Ted Laking has declined an opposition petition urging the government to use Section 18 of the Public Utilities Act to order the Yukon Utilities Board to investigate ATCO Electric Yukon and the Yukon Energy Corporation over billing discrepancies. The petition, signed by 1,101 people and tabled by NDP justice critic Carmen Gustafson, called for an independent probe into billing practices between July 2025 and July 2026 following months of customer complaints related to a 2023 billing system transition. Instead of a regulator-led investigation funded by taxpayers, the territorial government previously directed ATCO Electric Yukon to hire its own independent third-party auditor to investigate the billing issues.

S-253 (45-1) - Making Child Care More Affordable for Canadian Families Act

Source: Parliament of Canada (LEGISinfo)
Date: 2026-10-29 00:00:00.0
Tags: [National, Taxation, Affordability, Social Services, Governance]

Bill S-253, titled the Making Child Care More Affordable for Canadian Families Act, was introduced and read for the first time in the Senate on October 29, 2026. The Senate Public Bill proposes to amend the Income Tax Act specifically regarding the child care expense deduction indexation. The legislation is currently at the second reading stage in the Senate during the 1st session of the 45th Parliament.

Yukon gov't passes amendments to Residential Tenancies Act, scrapping rent control

Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-10-28 21:04:27.0
Tags: [National, Housing, Affordability, Governance]

The Yukon government passed legislative amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act, effectively scrapping the territorial residential rent cap and permitting no-cause evictions. Backed by Yukon Party MLAs and spearheaded by Community Services Minister Cory Bellmore, the changes are scheduled to take effect on December 1, 2026. While the territorial government asserts that removing rent control will incentivize private-sector rental housing investment and increase long-term supply, housing advocates and opposition politicians have criticized the policy for exacerbating cost-of-living pressures for tenants.

P.E.I. got cash to crack down on short-term rentals — but did it help boost the housing supply?

Source: Prince Edward Island - Regional News
Date: 2026-10-24 09:00:00.0
Tags: [Prince Edward Island, Housing, Affordability, Tourism, Governance]

Tourism P.E.I. utilized federal funding from the Short-Term Rental Enforcement Fund to establish an inspection unit targeting unlicenced short-term rentals across Prince Edward Island. During its first year of operations, the enforcement unit identified 242 illegal short-term rental operations, which represented 10 per cent of the province's licensed tourism accommodations. Of those identified operations, the provincial government reported that 164 have subsequently ceased operating or transitioned into long-term housing options. However, housing advocates and municipal officials note that determining whether these regulatory enforcement efforts have measurably boosted the available year-round housing supply remains inconclusive.

Affordability measures, consumer protection legislation coming: Alberta government

Source: Alberta - Provincial Politics
Date: 2026-10-24 00:52:20.0
Tags: [Alberta, Affordability, Technology, Energy, Governance]

Ahead of the Alberta legislative session, Government House Leader Joseph Schow outlined an upcoming suite of bills focused on lowering auto insurance costs, revising utility bill protections, and updating consumer rules for ticket resales and used vehicles. The provincial government under Premier Danielle Smith also plans to introduce new regulatory frameworks for artificial intelligence data centres—addressing grid stability, power bills, and water usage following public backlash over a $13-billion Sturgeon County project involving Meta—alongside merit-based public sector hiring rules, bike lane legislation, and stricter illegal dumping penalties.

As the Yukon moves to lift rent control, we asked how many MLAs are landlords

Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-10-23 11:00:00.0
Tags: [National, Housing, Affordability, Governance]

The Yukon government has tabled legislation to amend the territory's Residential Tenancies Act by lifting the residential rent cap and reintroducing no-cause evictions. CBC News analysis revealed that 6 of the territory's 21 MLAs (or roughly 28.6 per cent)—including four from the governing Yukon Party and two from the NDP—are landlords or have partners who are landlords, prompting conflict of interest concerns from the Official Opposition. However, the territorial conflict of interest commissioner determined that no conflict of interest exists regarding the vote because the legislative amendments apply broadly across the rental market rather than targeting specific properties or individuals.

Q&A | Yukon energy minister says power bills could go up by 53% without federal help

Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-10-22 12:31:09.0
Tags: [National, Energy, Infrastructure, Affordability, Governance]

Yukon Energy Minister Ted Laking announced that Yukon power bills could increase by 53 per cent without federal funding support to address critical power infrastructure upgrades and a projected 60 per cent rise in grid demand over the next decade. Laking is lobbying the federal government in Ottawa for a 75-25 per cent cost-sharing partnership for infrastructure projects, noting that connecting to the British Columbia power grid is estimated to cost over $4 billion, which far exceeds the territorial government's $2 billion annual budget. In response to recent grid capacity strains, the Yukon government has repealed the Clean Energy Act, reallocated electric vehicle rebates toward home energy efficiency and heat pumps, and planned thermal backup generation utilizing Whitehorse Power Centres.

Improved Saskatchewan Assured Income for Disability Program Delivers Increased Support to Clients

Source: Saskatchewan - Government News
Date: 2026-10-21 23:00:00.0
Tags: [Saskatchewan, Social Services, Affordability, Governance]

The Government of Saskatchewan has implemented improvements to the Saskatchewan Assured Income for Disability (SAID) program, which provides benefits to more than 18,000 residents. Approximately 44 per cent of SAID clients (more than 7,700 people) experienced an increase in their monthly benefits, averaging $51 more per month, with certain families and rural residents seeing increases of up to $294 per month. The structural modifications and expansion of the Living Income Benefit delivered nearly $400,000 in additional benefits in September alone and are projected to inject approximately $4.7 million in extra support over the next year.

Health care, affordability and the economy are the priorities in N.B. throne speech

Source: New Brunswick - Regional News
Date: 2026-10-20 16:31:56.0
Tags: [New Brunswick, Healthcare, Affordability, Economy, Housing, Governance]

The New Brunswick government's throne speech, read by Lt.-Gov. Louise Imbeault in Fredericton, outlines priorities centered on health care, affordability, and economic growth for the coming year. Premier Susan Holt's government announced that the opening of 30 new collaborative care clinics is ahead of schedule for completion by the end of 2027, alongside plans to name a mental health advocate and launch a health and long-term care workforce strategy. Additionally, the province is creating a trade diversification plan to target high-potential export markets outside the United States and is committing increased funding toward new housing infrastructure.

Alberta referendum vote to remain is ‘great result for Canada,’ Carney says

Source: Global News Politics
Date: 2026-10-20 14:22:51.0
Tags: [Alberta, National, Governance, Immigration, Affordability]

Approximately 76 percent of voters in Alberta decisively rejected holding a formal referendum on separatism, opting to remain part of Canada in a vote administered by Elections Alberta. Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith discussed the referendum results, emphasizing a commitment to cooperative federalism regarding immigration and provincial priorities, alongside addressing the recent fire at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre also responded, stating that the focus must shift to affordability, safety, strong borders, and immigration.

Government of P.E.I. video breaks province's advertising laws, Liberals argue

Source: Prince Edward Island - Regional News
Date: 2026-10-15 23:00:00.0
Tags: [Prince Edward Island, Governance, Affordability]

The P.E.I. Liberal Party and the provincial Auditor General, Darren Noonan, argue that a government video advertisement for the Island Essentials Benefit featuring Premier Rob Lantz and Finance Minister Jill Burridge violates the province's Government Advertising Standards Act. The statute explicitly prohibits government advertising from including the name, voice, or image of a member of the Executive Council or Legislative Assembly. In response to the non-compliant ad, Opposition Leader Hal Perry announced plans to introduce legislative amendments during the fall sitting requiring a governing party found in breach to refund the entire cost of the advertisement.

Housing advocate fears removing rent control will thwart plan to end homelessness

Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-10-15 19:45:44.0
Tags: [National, Housing, Affordability, Social Services, Governance]

The Yukon territorial government endorsed the Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition's 112-page community action plan to end homelessness, titled A Place to Be, while simultaneously introducing a bill in the Legislative Assembly via Community Services Minister Cory Bellmore to repeal rent caps and reintroduce no-cause evictions. Kristina Craig, executive director of the Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition, expressed concern that the elimination of rent control will jeopardize housing stability for current renters and undermine progress toward the plan's 29 recommendations. Scott Kent, the minister responsible for the Yukon Housing Corporation, stated that the government supports the plan's vision but declined to endorse its target of reducing homelessness by 50 percent in two years, while highlighting forthcoming housing developments such as 34 units at the former Korbo apartment site in Dawson City and 184 units delivered in partnership with the Da Daghay Development Corporation.

No new help for tenants facing end of rent cap, Yukon premier says

Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-10-14 18:30:53.0
Tags: [National, Housing, Affordability, Governance]

Yukon Premier Currie Dixon's government introduced legislative amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act in the Yukon Legislative Assembly to eliminate pandemic-era rent caps tied to inflation and restore no-cause evictions, with the changes scheduled to take effect as early as December 1. Premier Dixon stated that the government has no plans to introduce new tenant subsidies beyond an existing federal-territorial housing subsidy program for low- and middle-income households. Housing advocates, the Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition, and NDP Leader Kate White criticized the repeal, warning it will exacerbate affordability and cost-of-living pressures amidst a tight territory rental vacancy rate of 2.4 per cent and a Whitehorse vacancy rate of 1.5 per cent.

Yukon to eliminate rent control, allow no-cause evictions

Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-10-09 01:34:16.0
Tags: [National, Housing, Affordability, Governance]

Yukon Community Services Minister Cory Bellmore introduced amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act in the Yukon Legislative Assembly to eliminate the territory's residential rent control cap and allow no-cause evictions effective December 1. The previous rent cap, enacted in 2021 by Sandy Silver's government under a deal with the NDP, limited annual rent increases to the average rate of inflation for the previous two years. Under the proposed amendments put forward by the Yukon Party government holding a legislative majority, landlords will be required to provide tenants with at least six months notice prior to implementing a rent increase or eviction, an increase from the previous three-month requirement. Opposition Leader and NDP Leader Kate White criticized the changes as devastating for housing affordability, while questioning whether government members who are landlords could be in a conflict of interest regarding the vote.

BC NDP promises to freeze car insurance rates for 3 years if elected

Source: Global News Politics
Date: 2026-10-08 19:45:05.0
Tags: [British Columbia, Affordability, Transportation, Governance, Taxation]

BC NDP Leader David Eby announced a campaign promise to freeze basic car insurance rates through the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) for three years if re-elected. The policy announcement comes amid political sparring over the future of ICBC's no-fault Enhanced Care model, which was introduced by the BC NDP in 2021. Meanwhile, the BC Conservatives proposed a hybrid insurance model to restore legal rights for accident victims alongside a separate tax cut promising residents no income tax on their first $32,000 in earnings.

PQ leader says referendum not immediate priority as he prepares to lead minority government

Source: Global News Politics
Date: 2026-10-07 09:00:19.0
Tags: [Quebec, Governance, Affordability, Social Services, Trade]

Following the Parti Québécois election victory where the party secured 59 seats, Premier-designate Paul St-Pierre Plamondon announced that a sovereignty referendum is not an immediate priority for his minority government. Instead, the government will focus on pressing issues including organizing a summit on homelessness, freezing salaries for National Assembly members and Crown corporation directors, creating a secretariat to review government spending and bureaucracy, and appointing a trade team to address trade tensions with the United States. St-Pierre Plamondon will require legislative collaboration with opposition parties, including the Liberals with 40 seats, the Conservative Party with 19 seats, and Québec solidaire, to pass policy initiatives.

Ontario Clarifies Longstanding Out-of-Country Drug Funding Process

Source: Ontario - Ministry of Health
Date: 2026-10-06 21:00:00.0
Tags: [Ontario, Healthcare, Affordability, Governance, Finance]

The Government of Ontario has amended Regulation 552 of the Health Insurance Act to align with its longstanding out-of-country drug funding policy, restricting out-of-country funding to treatments where the drug and administration are publicly funded in Ontario, temporarily unavailable locally, and necessary to prevent death or irreversible tissue damage. According to the Ministry of Health led by Minister Sylvia Jones, the regulatory clarification aims to prevent global pharmaceutical companies from bypassing direct price negotiations with the province and avoids potential health-care system cost increases of up to $5.2 billion annually alongside $170 million in out-of-country treatment requests. This follows a recent Ontario Divisional Court decision concerning out-of-country drug funding, which the government is evaluating alongside options such as an appeal or a negotiated resolution with the applicant.