Charles Dent, chair of the NWT Human Rights Commission, says landlords shouldn't discriminate against people based on their source of income. - Daniel Campbell/NNSL photo

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
The NWT Human Rights Commission fired a shot over the bow of sorts at Yellowknife's biggest landlord on Wednesday, after the company barred people on income support from renting.

In a news release, the commission urged NWT organizations to make sure their policies don't discriminate against people based on their "social condition."

The release cites an example of such discrimination being, "a landlord refusing to rent to someone based on the assumption that he or she is unable to pay simply because he or she is receiving income support, employment insurance, disability insurance or a pension."

Charles Dent, the chair of the commission, said the release wasn't specifically directed at Northern Property REIT, but was rather addressing concerns brought forward by the public in recent days.

"I guess you could say we're taking advantage of the increased awareness right now to try and help people understand what their rights are," said Dent.

Northern Property, which owns about three-quarters of Yellowknife residential properties, recently stopped accepting tenants who are on income support after it lost about $250,000 in unpaid rent in 2013.

In a Yellowknifer article earlier this month, Lizaine Wheeler, vice-president of residential operations for the company, wasn't able to say exactly how much of the lost rent came from tenants on income support, though she said a "high number" of their arrears came from those tenants.

Wheeler did not return calls for comment on the commission's news release.

Dent said the news release was spurred by questions at Yellowknife's trade show last weekend, where people asked how the NWT Human Rights Act would apply in situations like the one facing Northern Property tenants.

"We thought it would be timely to let people know in the NWT that social condition is a protected area under the NWT Human Rights Act," said Dent.

Examples of social conditions include poverty, source of income, illiteracy and level of education.

In recent weeks, two human rights cases have made headlines in Yellowknife. One involves a woman who alleges the NWT legislative assembly does not provide sufficient access to those with disabilities. Another involves an Inuit woman who is alleging racial discrimination at the Yellowknife Liquor Shop.

Dent said it's important that organizations, service providers and landlords avoid practices and policies that discriminate against specific groups.

"If somebody's got the money, you can't keep them out," he said.

Dent would not comment specifically on Northern Property because he does not know the whole story yet, he said. He added it's the job of the committee to educate people on human rights issues. The director hears complaints and the adjudication panel rules on them, if it gets to that point.

Income assistance to landlords

• For the most part, income assistance (IA) payments for rent go directly to landlords from the GNWT
• As long as someone is eligible for IA, the landlord will get paid, the GNWT says.
• Single clients who qualify can get a rent allowance of up to $900 per month.
• Clients with dependents can get a maximum of their actual rent costs, as long as they are not living in a residence bigger than they need.
• Previous debt to landlords or utility companies are not covered.
• To qualify for rent allowance, clients must prove they're on the public housing wait list.

Source: The Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Income Assistance Policy Manual

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