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NNSL photo/graphic

To date, Jenetta Day has collected more than 200 signatures from Inuvik residents who would like to see rent control implemented in the territory. - Jason Unrau/NNSL photo

Skyrocketing rent sparks action

Jason Unrau
Northern News Services

Inuvik (Jan 07/05) - When a company with more than 200 residential units in Inuvik announced it would raise the rent by as much as 40 per cent on some units, Jenetta Day said, "enough is enough."

"As far as I can tell, this is sheer greed and it's time to do something about it," said Day, who started a petition to get the GNWT to implement rent control in the territory.

"We get very complacent living in the North and even though I own a home, I feel this issue affects everybody."

Thus far Day's petition has attracted more than 200 signatures and she hopes her initiative will spark similar action in communities across the NWT.

While landlords are restricted to raising the rent only once a year, currently there is no cap on the amount the rates can be increased.

Town councillor Clarence Wood applauds Day's efforts and says he made rent control part of his platform in an unsuccessful by-election bid to become Twin Lakes MLA in November.

"And I've brought this up many times at council," he said. "I think the last time I used the phrase 'profiteering landlords.'"

Counc. Arlene Hansen, who also made exploring rent control part of her MLA bid platform, agrees that the situation is getting out of hand.

"Rent in this town has become uncontrollable and (rent control) should definitely be examined."

At the Inuvik Housing Authority, which administers public housing on behalf of the NWT Housing Corporation, manager Vicki Boudreau says she did not think the rental increases would impact her clients or the waiting list for public housing.

"Our rents are based on income so I don't think it will affect us," she said.

The authority manages 248 units in town and has approximately 35 people on its waiting list.

Those who qualify pay anywhere from six to 24 per cent of their income for subsidized housing while those who are students or on income support are charged $32 per month. Boudreau says the amount of time one has to wait for housing depends on the situation.

"There's definitely a shortage (of housing) for single people," she said, adding that the longest a person has to wait to get into public housing is typically a year.