He's been raising his voice a lot during the last two days. I got to have a chat with that boy because some area in his riding are wrost than Saint John Harbour. Go read the end of this story? Is Trevor Holder saying that he will defeat the bill???? If this is true? Mr.Holder will definetly hear from this guy!!!
NB Telegraph-Journal | Provincial News
As published on page A4 on December 8, 2005
New Liberal MLA has big first day in legislature
Ed Doherty introduces bill to crack down on slum landlords
By Kathy Kaufield
Telegraph-Journal
Newly-elected Saint John Harbour Liberal MLA Ed Doherty has introduced a bill to crack down on slum landlords.
The rookie MLA used his first day in the legislature Wednesday to introduce a bill, question Environment and Local Government Minister Trevor Holder on harbour cleanup and chastise Premier Bernard Lord for ignoring the plight of the poor.
And he got a standing ovation from his Grit colleagues.
"I promised the electorate that I would be a man of action for them," Dr. Doherty said.
It's unusual for a rookie MLA to introduce a bill and get the chance to speak so often in the legislature on his first day but Dr. Doherty said he and Liberal Leader Shawn Graham wanted him to get off on to a good start after his big byelection win.
"He (Mr. Graham) was very anxious that I should be able to represent my constituents well. They gave me an overwhelming mandate," he said.
He introduced "An Act Respecting the Protection of Low-Income Occupiers," which he said will help crack down on slum landlords.
The proposed bill would change the Municipalities Act by allowing officers appointed by a municipal council to enter premises 48 hours after notice is given to occupiers and owners. It would also create a fine for owners not respecting their obligations and increase current fines to owners from a minimum of $240 to $500, decrease current fines to occupiers from a minimum of $240 to $140. Under the bill, municipalities would be able to apply to court to get up to 50 per cent of rent in order to pay for necessary repairs where owners have failed.
The bill would also change the Residential Tenancies Act to extend protection similar to what renters in apartments have to individuals living in boarding houses or lodging houses where three or more rooms are provided as living accommodations.
"People have the right to safe and affordable housing. This legislation is about protecting people and holding landlords accountable," said Dr. Doherty.
During the Saint John Harbour byelection and in this week's Throne Speech, the Progressive Conservatives promised to get tough on slum landlords. Premier Lord said municipalities will be given the authority to issue tickets to landlords whose buildings don't meet minimum property standards and he promised to introduce changes to increase compliance by landlords and also raise the standards.
Mr. Doherty stole some thunder from the Tories Wednesday by introducing his bill first, which according to House rules will force the government to deal with the Liberal bill before the Tory one can be tabled.
Mr. Holder was quick to dismiss the Liberal bill.
"Quite frankly I don't care what they are doing. This is the first time that I can ever remember the Liberal Party of New Brunswick raising this issue on the floor of the legislature."
He said previous Opposition bills have often been flawed.
"I don't suspect that they have had the same kind of consultation with officials at the building inspectors office in Saint John like we have. And we are going to do that and we are going to have to continue to do that," he said. "I want legislation that makes sense. I want legislation that's done by consulting with the municipality in terms of what they need and that's what I intend to do."
11 comments:
Hey Trever Holder, Who the bloody heck cares who introduces the bill, it is not about a competition here it is about making sure that all those who rent in rooms or apartments or even houses have same protection as everyone else does. If you are wining and sniffling because the liberals got introduced it first then you are in the wrong business. Smartin the heck up and learn to work together on behalf of all New Brunswickers. After all that is what you were elected to do.
I think Holder was saying obviously the government agrees with this idea, it was in the Throne Speech BEFORE the Opposition bill was in the Leg. But, maybe it can be improved on, since obviously the bill was put together in a short time frame.
What Holder is saying is that Government will think about more. If you ask Bernard Lord what day it is, he will say, "Let me think about it. Ask me tomorrow." This government just cannot make any decision. Procrastination is its main characterictic.
Morning Charles, heard you on the talk show...
I agree, if T. Holder votes
against that bill, he will be run out of town during the next
election....
Also, very surprised I saw no mention on your blog about the
"NEW" chairs purchased in the Legislature by the PC govenment!!
I was boiling mad when I heard that on CFBC this morning., as here we have people burned out in the city, and now homeless.
Also, 2 people dead, and
their families probably can not afford to bury them.
We have people who can not afford to pay their winter hydro bills, or pay for their oil , or even put a meal on the table 7 days a week, and the Premier thinks they all need
$1400.00 chairs to plunk their butts in...
I am waiting to hear from S.
Graham or Able LeBlanc, or S. Jamieson, or R. McIntyre, speak out
against this!!....
If they sit their "butts" in theses chairs I will have no faith in
them to form the government.
When these idiots got elected they raise the pay scale, they new the conditions in the legislature, if they are not comfortable chairs for them to sleep in, let them bring a chair from their homes.....
I am just raging over this........I think you should get a post going on this matter today....
$75000 for chairs in the legislature. The butts of MLAs and Bernie are getting too big. About time to kick them out of there.
Vive I love that. Give poor Bernard Lord publicity. He is so desperate for it. He will do anything for publicity. Rest of the country must know what "a great" leader he is - a lengend in his own mind.
The bill as presented is NOT going to be of much use to those residing in rooming houses. How many rooming houses have more than one room that are rent out to one person? The best of my knowledge there is none.Where I live I live in one room so this bill will not make any difference.After reading the article it seems the liberals and conservates are only concern about who introduces the bill than the contents and the large number of people this bill will affect. To put a bill as important as this together in a rush is inexcaseable.It indicates a lack of any real concern for the low income people of Fredericton and the province as a whole.For God's sake if all it is going to take is to change one line in the current policy then why not just change it? Or can the small minds of the so call voice of the people graped that? Normally I do not get upset about what politicans do but this did! I had to read that section a number of times plus got someone else to read it to make sure I had not misread or understood what it mean. Basically if this bill passes as it stands,the roomers will still be no further ahead than where they are now. Unless they live in a rooming house and renting 2 or 3 rooms to live in. Personally I consider the bill a BS bill. I have said it before and will say it again..Polictians will say anything to get elected but once it they forget their promises and or devise a bill in a way that it has no choice but to fail.
I did not see the bill but does it not say that buildings which rent 2-3 and more rooms. Should it say buildings which rent 1 or more rooms.
YOu misunderstand, the Bill is for roomers and boarders in houses or buildings which have more than two rooms TO LET. It doesn't mean that the boarder lives in more than one room. If the house only has one room for rent the assumption is that the owner lives there with them, and those are not covered, much like most provinces in Canada.
This isn't as good as Nova Scotia or PEI, but it does mean roomers and boarders (yes, of just one room) will be covered under the act. It would be better if it made no difference how many rooms the building had, as ones with two exist as well and they should have rights, however, this is a HUGE step.
Don't worry folk's, out great leader Bernard will fix up verything that has to be done for the betterement of the New Brunswick people.
It's only right and correct that out elected officials, have nice new furniture to sit, and conduct our provincial chairs on.
Besides, don't be mean to out Premiere.
Yes Bernard Lord's big butts need to rest on a fancy chair worth $1400. Where did they get them. Tory dealer.
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