(February 13, 2023, St. John’s) – Joedy Wall, PC Official Opposition Shadow Minister Responsible for Housing and MHA for Cape St. Francis, says he’s concerned to see the Liberal Government playing catch up after an explosion in the number of people without housing in the last number of years.

Wall, responding to media reports about a surging housing crisis, says again we see evidence of a crisis that did not emerge overnight with the Liberal Government scrambling to respond.

“The rising cost of living, especially for housing, is having a dramatic impact in the capital city and in all corners of our province. The need for more emergency shelters is only one part of the response needed to this growing crisis. Reducing the cost of living and making affordable housing options more accessible must be key to the response,” said Wall.

“The Liberal Government has not taken meaningful action to reduce poverty in Newfoundland and Labrador. The previous PC Administration led a poverty reduction strategy praised across the country, yet the Liberal Government has not taken further action to improve the lives of the most vulnerable in our society.”

Wall says pointing to consultations for a plan in development does not help those in dire need of supports today.

“There has been a lack of action and a lack of attention on this issue, which has been brewing for years. The Minister himself admitted ‘we should have been more prepared.’ Again, we see a government scrambling to respond rather than working to get ahead of growing issues facing people throughout our province,” said Wall.

“The Poverty Reduction Strategy was last updated in 2014. In August, the Liberal Government only began consultations on an updated plan. It’s too little, too late from this government to help those in vulnerable situations as the cost of living crisis continues.”

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Contacts:

David Maher

Director of Strategic Communications

(cell) 709-725-0984

DavidMaher@gov.nl.ca