Investing in Public Housing Workers Is an Investment in Our Province

ST. JOHN’S, Newfoundland and Labrador--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Canadian Union of Public Employees Newfoundland and Labrador is calling for the provincial government to invest in public housing workers, instead of spending public funds on private contracts that fall short of housing demand.

“Our members are the folks on the ground that ensure public housing in our province is a quality service that provides safe and secure housing to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador,” said Jerry Butler, President of CUPE Local 1860.

CUPE 1860 represents maintenance workers, housing inspectors, electricians, plumbers, and many others employed by the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation. “We’re here, we’re already on the books, so why does the Province continue to contract out our work at a higher cost?”

Studies show that public-private partnerships cost more and lack the quality and accessibility of in-house spending on public services, in every sector. As long as the Province continues to pour public money into private contracts, the housing crisis is going to get worse. If this government chose to hire enough workers for regular maintenance and repair, costly large-scale renovations would not be needed.

In October, the Province announced a private contract in Labrador West that would see $1.3M in public funds going to produce four one-bedroom housing units and $470,000 for repairs to two three-bedroom units. A few days later, a request for proposals was issued for the construction of 50 new provincially owned homes in Corner Brook.

“It’s clear that the government intends to continue using private contractors in the housing sector, to the detriment of communities across the province,” said Sherry Hillier, President of Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Newfoundland and Labrador. “Those funds could be used to provide jobs to public housing workers and address the lack of housing at a lower cost to the Province.”

CUPE Newfoundland and Labrador denounces recent comments from the Minister for Housing John Abbott stating that demand for housing is not increasing. The Minister must recognise that we are in a housing crisis and not ignore the needs of his constituents.

“The people of Newfoundland and Labrador are desperate for affordable housing,” continued Hillier. “But our Minister of Housing claims that demand for housing is not going up. Any person anywhere in Newfoundland and Labrador could tell you that isn’t the case.”

Keeping taxpayer dollars in the public sector is a choice the Province can make. Spending public money on public need is a viable, effective pathway out of the housing crisis, if our elected representatives choose to invest in the people of Newfoundland & Labrador, instead of paying private contractors. Investment in public housing workers is an investment in addressing the housing crisis.