N.B. premier wrong to blame immigrants for housing crisis, advocates say
Profiteering, weak rental protections actually to blame, says Aditya Rao of Madhu Verma Migrant Justice Centre
Housing and immigration advocates are angry New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs is blaming the housing crisis on immigrants and say his comments are dangerous.
"OK, what is the root cause of our housing crisis? You know, record — record immigration," Higgs said to reporters Tuesday evening while commenting on the federal budget.
"So what is this sustainable immigration level? How do we get to the point where we say, OK, this is what we can manage in our province, because everyone is feeling it," he went on to say.
Aditya Rao is a board member of the Madhu Verma Migrant Justice Centre, which provides services to migrant workers in New Brunswick facing poor working and housing conditions.
"This is a really dangerous road to go down," Rao said of HIggs's analysis. Racists and xenophobes would be waiting for words like this, he said.
Aditya Rao, a board member of the Madhu Verma Migrant Justice Centre, says Higgs is wrong about the cause of the housing crisis. (Ed Hunter)
CBC News requested an interview with Higgs to better understand his comments but was instead sent an email statement attributed to the premier.
The statement suggested Higgs has his own definition of the word "immigrants."
He was referring to "the dramatic increase in New Brunswick's population," the statement said, and by immigrants, he meant all people coming to the province, including those from elsewhere in Canada.
"And to be clear: we are glad to see so many new people choosing to make New Brunswick their home," Higgs wrote, adding that the province has grown by 50,000 people in the last year.
There was no elaboration in the statement about what the premier meant when he suggested examining immigration levels.
Even with the effort to clarify, Higgs's comments appear to be in contrast with previous statements made by him and others in government.
In March, when the province's population hit 850,000, Higgs shared an image bearing his signature celebrating this milestone on a social media account.
"Our province is experiencing growth like never before. This is a key to our prosperity — more New Brunswickers contributing to our innovation, art, culture, and economy," Higgs wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
When
New Brunswick's population hit 850,000 in March, Higgs shared this
celebratory illustration bearing his signature on his X account. (Blaine Higgs/X)
"Let's give our new neighbours, families, and friends the warm New Brunswick welcome we are known for."
In a state of the province address in 2020, Higgs called for bringing 10,000 new immigrants to New Brunswick by 2027.
The Higgs government has touted recruiting international nurses and has spoken against a federal cap on international students.
Rao blames weak rental protections, profiteering
Rao said the housing crisis is caused by weak provincial regulations on the rental market, "where landlords can increase rents as much as they want, profit as much as they want."
In addition, he said, for-profit corporations have too much ability to buy and resell homes and rental units for profit, while families are left unable to compete for a place to live.
Rao said immigrants are also victims of the housing crisis.
His organization hears of landlords refusing to rent to immigrants because of a lack of credit history in Canada and of migrant workers packed together in housing units while paying extremely high prices, he said.
"We're hearing stories that as soon as the landlord hears an accent on the phone, they're not interested in renting," Rao said.
"Landlords are profiting off the most vulnerable folks in our communities, and here we have a government that is turning around and blaming the folks that are victims of the housing crisis."
Rao said that immigrants also face challenges in the tight housing market. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)
The New Brunswick Coalition for Tenants' Rights also spoke out about the premier's comments.
Spokesperson Nomaan X said he see this as "a very far-right talking point."
"Anything that happens is always just put on the immigrants."
He said past discussions of bringing more immigrants to New Brunswick has always taken place with labour and financial benefits in mind. More foreign workers would help the economy, and more international students would bring more tuition to New Brunswick schools, he said.
"But when it comes to issues like housing, it's very easy to just throw the buck onto immigrants."
X said this can lead to "fear-mongering and spreading this bias against immigrants, and I think this a big problem."
He wants to see rent control brought to New Brunswick, adding that it is a change that could be made tomorrow if the government wanted to.
On that call with reporters, Higgs also mentioned that the province has a rent bank and a rental tribunal as examples of the help his government has given to renters.
The rent bank, launched in December, makes grants available to people facing eviction or financial crisis.
Tenants
New Brunswick have access to a rent bank and rental tribunal for
complaints, but there is no cap on the amount that landlords can
increase rent each year. (Graham Thompson/CBC)
But New Brunswick is one of only four provinces without a cap limiting how much landlords can raise rents each year.
The rental tribunal touted as an alternative has been plagued by delays.
Additionally, Higgs's comments about immigrants come as the New Brunswick Apartment Owners Association is predicting massive rent increases next year.
Appalling, opposition leaders say
Liberal Leader Susan Holt said the premier's comments are dangerous. She said that immigrants have benefited the province.
"I think that part of the housing crisis has come from the Higgs government's inability to get housing built," Holt said.
"So it doesn't show any leadership to demonize immigrants and blame the housing crisis on them."
Liberal
Leader Susan Holt and Green Leader David Coon say the blame rests with
Higgs's leadership, not newcomers to the province. (CBC)
Green Party Leader David Coon said that it seemed like rhetoric from the federal Conservative Party.
"It's extraordinary, because he's been slapping himself on the back every chance he gets to publicly congratulate himself for growing the New Brunswick population," Coon said.
"And now he turns around and blows a dog whistle in the direction of immigrants causing our problems. It's really appalling."
While Coon did acknowledge that population growth has come with challenges for the province, he said that is the fault of poor government planning, not newcomers themselves.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kyle Woodman
So did the Higgs government pay for this campaign to lure interprovincial migrants here or not?
Reply to Kyle Woodman
Perhaps you should review what I posted earlier?
Eyde May
Interesting read posted October 28 2014:-
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/award-for-eric-weissman-comes-after-long-road-to-success-1.2816361
David Amos
Reply to Eyde May
Why not tune in too?
https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/audio/1.2533669
David Amos
Reply to David Amos
MP Fundy- Royal Talks Federal Budget News For NB
10 years ago Radio Duration 8:46
Rob Moore is MP for Fundy Royal, the Minister of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. He's also the senior minister at the cabinet table for New Brunswick and Newfoundland/Labrador.
Marc LeBlanc
The train's coming off the tracks
Joe Zilch
Reply to Marc LeBlanc
October of 2025 cannot come soon enough.
David Amos
Reply to Joe Zilch
Do you recall October, 2015? Trust that Higgy and I do
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/fundy-royal-riding-profile-1.3274276
David Webb
Reply to Joe Zilch
Does Jag qualify for his lifetime pension yet?
Joe Zilch
Higgs should just stop talking, because he sure doesn’t think of what he’s saying.
Le Wier
Reply to Marcel Belanger
Things will improve now that Outhouse is on the civil servant payroll.
David Amos
Reply to Le Wier
Surely you jest
Daniel McIntyre
It all boils down to federal mismanagement of the immigration portfolio. This (Higgs/Migrant Immigrant Justice) conflict would have never occurred without the federal failures.
MR Cain
Reply to Daniel McIntyre
The feds were responding to the provinces demands; Higgs boasts of population growth. Has done nothing on housing despite agreements with feds. Get the facts.
Fred Dee
Reply to MR Cain
Controlled growth is required, not Ottawas almost open boarders!!!
Ed Franks
Reply to MR Cain
My kids always asked for more ice cream. Since I was in control of the ice cream and knew that too much was not good for them I would say no.
Kristian Kirk (Henry Hill)
Reply to Ed Franks
So now you’re ok with the Premiers being treated as kids?? Pardon?
Ed Franks
Reply to Kristian Kirk (Henry Hill)
Do you also want more ice cream. It has alot of sugar.
Pete Mitchell (Paul Greggory)
Reply to Reply to Kristian Kirk (Henry Hill)
You can’t make this stuff up. These guys don’t want the Feds making decisions for the provinces but also want the Premier’s to be ignored in this case
Sam Wilson
Reply to Pete Mitchell (Paul Greggory)
Trying to dump the huge increase in numbers to the Canadian population in recent years onto the provinces' laps is silly. The feds were warned these large numbers would affect housing affordability, and they did it anyway.
Eileen Kinley
Reply to Ed Franks
In this case, the 'kids' are also responsible (along with municipalities) for building housing.
Eileen Kinley
Reply to Sam Wilson
Tell that to Higgs who is thrilled with the huge numbers of newcomers
Daniel McIntyre
Reply to MR Cain
The federal government apologists will always try to deflect blame, you're not fooling anyone.
Sam Wilson
Reply to Eileen Kinley
It may as well be the responsibility of fairies and wizards because they are they only people who can keep up with building houses that fast to accommodate.
David Amos
Reply to Eileen Kinley
Ditto
MR Cain
Reply to Daniel McIntyre
You are not saying anything.
MR Cain
Reply to Ed Franks
Good for you.
Ed Franks
Reply to MR Cain
Well no actually it was good for my children the people I’m entrusted to care for.
Sam Wilson
Reply to Eileen Kinley
Didn't bring up Higgs in my comment, and why would I? He doesn't make the decisions on immigration numbers.
Ed Franks
Reply to Eileen Kinley
No ice cream (people) till you eat your meat (build homes). To do otherwise is irrisponsible to Canadian and immigrants. The provinces knew they needed people but did nothing to build more homes. It was only when there was a housing crisis that the feds started to increase funding. I see this as a failure of all levels of government but since the feds have the money and contol over immigration, well…
Eileen Kinley
Reply to Sam Wilson
Actually we need more immigrants :) and more efficient methods of building houses. And more density etc etc
MR Cain
Reply to Ed Franks
Well, yes, it is good for you; ice cream can be expensive. A win win
Eileen Kinley
Reply to Sam Wilson
Because Higgs does set some of those numbers and per the article bragged about and is thrilled with the large number of newcomers. He also has significant responsibility for housing.
Daniel McIntyre
Reply to MR Cain
pot kettle
Sam Wilson
Reply to Eileen Kinley
The buck stops somewhere on what the levels are, as you saw with caps on international students. Clearly, this is not up to the provinces.
Sam Wilson
Reply to Eileen Kinley
What does that have to do with my original comment that the feds knew that these levels would affect housing affordability, and they could have said, well, hey, we just don't want to do that, but they didn't. Are you honestly trying to say the federal government's main concern was what Higgs had to say?
Julia LeBeau
Reply to Ed Franks
Ice Cream is probably one of the worst foods to consume if you're worried about your general health. I don't buy it for my kids due to how dangerous it is.
Reply to Kristian Kirk (Henry Hill)
That pretty much sums up as to how they act.
Ed Franks
Reply to Julia LeBeau
The same goes for pop. Birthdays had ice cream and pop. Left overs where given to guest. Have you noticed how much sugar is in milk now. Another thing mostly not needed.
Eileen Kinley
Reply to Sam Wilson
Education is also the purview of the provinces. And Higgs complained about the cap on international students.
Sam Wilson
Reply to Eileen Kinley
What does that have to do with who makes the ultimate decisions?
Sam Wilson
Reply to Eileen Kinley
I suppose Higgs is also the reason this is a Canada-wide issue.
stephen magee
Higgs did axle the rent cap that's a big part of the housing costs and rent costs, but Liberals let more people in than they had housing for for years so Daa slow down the flow i would think. Also the owners of renter complexes have had a field day making lots of increases and if they paid too much for the building during covid era than that's too bad don't blame increase rents on bad decisions.
David Webb
Reply to stephen magee
Have you been to the building supply store in the last 2 years? Received a property tax bill?
David Amos
Reply to David Webb
I have
Frank Smith
It's not the immigrants that are to blame, it's the government that lets them in.
Fred Dee
Reply to Frank Smith
immigration is needed, Controlled!! Ottawa blew that up! Refugees as another mess that Ottawa did not deal with quickly or well!!
We need to clear refugees quickly and REMOVE those who should not be here quickly!!! Make room!!!
David Amos
Reply to Frank Smith
True
Pete Mitchell (Paul Greggory)
Always been easy to blame those that look different than the majority. Unreal that it’s still happening
Fred Dee
Reply to Pete Mitchell (Paul Greggory)
its not about looks!!! It's about numbers! We needed some immigration, not mass population growth!
David Amos
Reply to Pete Mitchell (Paul Greggory)
Who should we blame?
Ed Franks
Reply to David Amos
We should blame no one as there are too many that dropped the ball. What we should do is first figure out what the problem is and then fix the problem.
David Amos
Reply to Ed Franks
I blame Trudeau The Younger
Lorelei Stott
I think cbc trying to stir on nothing burger, Higgs was drawing the line that the federal govt's policy on immigration was too narrow in focus and did not heed the consequenses to Canadians
MR Cain
Reply to Lorelei Stott
Higgs has done nothing to improve the housing situation for New Brunswickers despite agreements with the feds.
David Amos
Reply to Lorelei Stott
IMHO This is a know nothing burger,
Ed Franks
Reply to MR Cain
And has help create a housing shortage in his province. I cant help but think this was the plan to get more funding from the feds.
Frank Brace
Right wing Governments everywhere blame immigrants for their failures , lack of planning and lack of management
David Webb
Reply to Frank Brace
Oh, please!!!
David Amos
Reply to David Webb
You mean they don't???
Douglas James
Am I missing something here? Higgs encouraged immigrants to come to New Brunswick...bragged about the population increase....did nothing to properly prepare for the influx....and is now blaming these people for the housing crisis? Sick.
Fred Dee
Reply to Douglas James
no one expected OTTAWA to let so many people in so many ways!!!
David Webb
Reply to Douglas James
The migration into Atlantic Canada was brought on by Covid 19. The influx from Upper Canada has been monumental. Going from an outflow of 5,000 ppl per year for a decade to an influx of 50,000 in just one year is unheard of. If Sue's party had a crystal ball perhaps they should have been building homes, social housing, schools, LTC facilities, hospitals and hiring staff while in power.
David Amos
Reply to Douglas James
It appears that you are missing a lot
Max Ruby
Axe the Property Tax!
Robert Tangence
Content Deactivated
Reply to Max Ruby
Yeah have home owners plow their own streets if they ever want to go somewhere in winter. Potholes might get so large, they might swallow vehicles whole however after a decade or more of no maintenance.
Max Ruby
Reply to Robert Tangence
Property taxes have skyrocketed and we still got huge pot holes and late or never snow plowing. At least lower the property taxes to what they were before all the newcomers arrived jacking up the prices = higher property tax.
SarahRose Werner
Reply to Max Ruby
Okay, but let's also force landlords to drop rents back to what they were.
Fred Dee
Reply to SarahRose Werner
how drop rent when cost of EVERYTHING has gone up, not just property tax! That is just a part of the mess
Ed Franks
Reply to Max Ruby
This is one of the few taxes I dont mind paying as it improves my community. I wish I felt this way about my federal taxes.
David Amos
Reply to Max Ruby
Why stop there?
Le Wier
Another news story about an advocacy group having to point out misinformation presented to voters by the current government. Or another news story about Higgs and the current government having to clarify the misinterpretation of their communications to voters. Either way it just looks bad.
David Amos
Reply to Le Wier
Who must have noticed a glitch in the system and why I call this Round One Correct?
Karl Childers
Time to tighten up our immigration system. Not necessarily how many we let in but who we let in.
Robert Tangence
Content Deactivated
Reply to Karl Childers
That won't help New Brunswick very much when housing costs have largely been affected by interprovincial migration, like Canadians in the GTA cashing out of their $2 million dollar homes to buy one just as nice way above asking price in NB for only $800,000.
I suppose we could always amend the Charter to prevent interprovincial movement of Canadians, but such a restriction of basic freedoms may result in sanctions from countries that value human rights.
MR Cain
Reply to Karl Childers
They are vetted. I am more concerned about the nutbars we already have.
SarahRose Werner
Reply to Karl Childers
I agree with this to some degree. We need to be doubling down on attracting immigrants with skills and experience in the building trades, in health care and in other fields in which we have labour shortages. We also need to streamline the recognition of their credentials once they get here.
Fred Dee
Reply to MR Cain
immigrants yes, refugees... let free for years with our support before decision if they are valid!!! This is the bigger problem.
Vetted, another issue. Just because they may be "qualified" where they are from not mean they are able to meet Canadian standards!! This is a big issue, too many professionals are brought in that will NEVER be able to become qualified to work in Canada with the training they have!! Sadly, most are not trained enough to get accepted to the programs here!!
Ed Franks
Reply to Karl Childers
Immigration should be tied to the previous years completed homes number with the governments 3:1 ratio of 3 people to 1 home. Consideration of services should also be a factor.
Ed Franks.
Reply to SarahRose Werner
I kinda feel sorry for the countries when we poach their trained people.
David Amos
Reply to Karl Childers
Who are you to judge?
MR Cain
Reply to Fred Dee
1,088,015 refugees since 1980 is not a problem. Canadians cannot meet provincial standards; we need national standards.
Frank Brace
New Brunswick is now of the vacation list
John Branan
Reply to Frank Brace
i saw this early last summer, driving towards Ontario (from NB) on the 401. The traffic heading the other way, toward the maritimes, was madness.
Bill Hanley
Reply to Frank Brace
Bye, they won't miss you.
David Amos
Reply to John Branan
Go Figure
Dallas Trufyn
Higgs is correct. We all know this.
This isn’t Rocket Science.
Frank Brace
Reply to Dallas Trufyn
It's Trump science , factless
Kyle Woodman
Reply to Frank Brace
This would be based on your countless hours of research on the subject that go against those who actually do research on the subject and have said the exact same thing as Higgs. Perhaps you should spend more time learning simple arithmetic instead of allowing it to confuse you. But as Liberal supporters we all know our mantra is to blame Higgs first, and understand what is happening 2nd, if ever. Another failure of the Higgs gov't.
David Amos
Reply to Kyle Woodman
Higgy and Outhouse should check my work before the election
Kyle Woodman
Reply by David Amos
That's Ronald, not the Real Kyle Woodman
David Amos
Reply to Kyle Woodman
Too Too Funny
Frank Brace
Perhaps he may wish to build a wall ?
Max Ruby
Reply to Frank Brace
lol
Benny Swim
Reply to Frank Brace
Four thumbs up. That's a great one.
Frank Brace
Reply to Benny Swim
Ty, just tired of the same old deceptive tune
David Amos
Reply to Frank Brace
You are not alone
Albalita Rose
No it's not the immigrants fault....it's the governments fault that lets (Even invites) the millions a year in....
Benny Swim
Reply to Albalita Rose
Note the word promo in the address.
Reply to Benny Swim
Short commutes? So why all the complaints that we are a rural province and can't afford to pay the price on pollution?
Max Ruby
Reply to MR Cain
Short commutes in the future 15 minute cities.
MR Cain
Reply to Max Ruby
That would be progress.
Max Ruby
Reply to Benny Swim
Be...in this place
David Amos
Reply to Max Ruby
I was born and raised here and plan to remain throughout eternity
Benny Swim
Scapegoating immigrants is not a surprise from this man. (Although perhaps he should tell his Minister of Post secondary Education, Training and Labour, as that department has a whole section whose sole role is to attract immigrants.)
He also said the federal Liberals had the audacity to have a budget that was designed to help all Canadians. How dare they. In his estimation, only billionaires and those making $150,000 or more annually are the people who deserve government help.
He would make sunshine a political issue if it would help divert the discussion from his failing government. He can't even hold his own party together let alone deal with the real problems that face NBers.
He and his assistant from Alberta are trying to divert the conversations to culture wars, and not day to day issues impacting the province's citizens.
By the way, I have never voted Liberal or Conservative in my life. But this year I am going to vote for the candidate that has the best chance to defeat Higg's party. I don't care what their party colours are.
Max Ruby
Reply to Benny Swim
I will vote for the party that will cut in half residential property tax, it has become untenable...in this place.
SarahRose Werner
Reply to Max Ruby
So you don't plan on voting at all then?
David Amos
Reply to Benny Swim
Nothing ever surprised me about Higgy and his doings
David Amos
Reply to David Amos
However his hiring of Cardy as his Chief of Staff should have surprised everyone
claude bourgeois
What a joke our Premier is. Least popular Premier in Canada for many reasons. This is just one more.
David Amos.
Reply to claude bourgeois
Yup
G. Timothy Walton
This is the same premier that once advertised for people to move here from other parts of Canada.
Now he wants the not-a-tax-increase of exhorbitant assessment increases—residential, of course—but wants to appeal to xenophobia for votes at the same time can't even be bothered to hire somebody who lives here to run his office.
Max Ruby
Reply to G. Timothy Walton
From the article: In a state of the province address in 2020, Higgs called for bringing 10,000 new immigrants to New Brunswick by 2027.
Instead we got 33,000 between July 2021 and July 2023.
MR Cain
Reply to Max Ruby
In March 2024, when the province's population hit 850,000, Higgs shared an image bearing his signature celebrating this milestone on a social media account.
"Our province is experiencing growth like never before. This is a key to our prosperity — more New Brunswickers contributing to our innovation, art, culture, and economy," Higgs wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Max Ruby
Reply to MR Cain
I am not voting for the PCs or Liberals. I didn't last time either. Independant or bust. I stay home.
MR Cain
Reply to Max Ruby
Don't care, none of my business. The KISS party looks good; Bourque is a nice down to earth kind of guy.
David Amos
Reply to Max Ruby
I wish you had voted for me years ago
Reply to Max Ruby
Mr. Amos might be willing to run in your riding.
Never forget who he is.
This guy was CoR and we all know how they feel about 'other types of citizens'. A tiger doesn't change its stripes.
David Amos
Reply to Alison Jackson
Oh So True
Housing is affected by supply and demand just like everything else, increased demand obviously drives prices higher, new immigration to the province drives demand. The people interviewed in this article are ignoring and deflecting what’s right in front of them.
SarahRose Werner
Reply to Dylan Hubble
So what drives supply? And in particular, what drives supply for people on low to moderate incomes? It's not gonna be the "free market" that solves this, that's for sure.
Max Ruby
Reply to SarahRose Werner
Supply is determined by marginal cost: firms will produce additional output as long as the cost of producing an extra unit is less than the market price they receive.
A rise in the cost of raw materials (carbon tax, inflation) would decrease supply, shifting the supply curve to the left because at each possible price a smaller quantity would be supplied.
A fall in costs would increase supply, shifting the supply curve to the right and down. Axe the tax.
MR Cain
Reply to Max Ruby
The carbon tax has virtually no effect on anything.
Max Ruby
Reply to MR Cain
Carbon tax is levied on the transportation of raw materials, on the production facilities that process the materials, the buildings that store the materials in order to reduce demand. The cost to build homes will keep rising.
MR Cain
Reply to Max Ruby
15-30 cents on a hundred bucks; we can handle it.
David Amos
Reply to Max Ruby
Amen
Steve Morningstar
The housing crisis started during covid. We seen lots of people from all over Canada who could suddenly work from home find affordable housing in NB. Then as more and more people moved the prices went up, add in record immigration right across the country and there is just more people than places to sleep. This is always going to drive up rents and housing. Now add in record inflation and taxes and you have a perfect storm. That said if you google average rent in Moncton it's 1452 while the average rent in Hali is 2200.
SarahRose Werner
Reply to Steve Morningstar
Agreed: the housing crisis started during COVID - when immigration was heavily restricted.
Steve Morningstar
Reply to SarahRose Werner
You could still move if you were buying a house. A lot of people from other parts of Canada were buying up real-estate site unseen to get out of the big centers. Then as soon as restriction eased even a little.. they were moving in.
Allan Marven
Reply to Steve Morningstar
A lot in this area regretting that. Paid way to much and are finding that out the hard way.
Max Ruby
Reply to Allan Marven
Property tax, and those who paid way too much inflated the residential property tax assessments for every one else, especially those who have lived here all their lives. I digress, Conservatives or Liberals won't lower property tax.
David Amos
Reply to Steve Morningstar
Well put
Content Deactivated
Samual Johnston
Reply to Samual Johnston
then tag on people migrating from out west - but again nothing can be done about that.
SarahRose Werner
Reply to Samual Johnston
Actually, we could use more emigration, i.e., people leaving.
Benny Swim
Reply to Samual Johnston
Just like every other problem in NB you and Higgs think it is the Feds fault. What about the section in the province's Department of Post Secondary Education, Training and Labour devoted to promoting immigration to NB? Are the feds secretly running an operation with one of Higg's departments? That Justin is tricky so and so, but I would think that would be hard to pull off.
Benny Swim
Reply to Samual Johnston
Note the word promo in the address.
David Amos
Reply to Benny Swim
Higgy is clueless
Samual Johnston
Reply to Benny Swim
wonder where the original went?
Note the word promo in the address.
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