Clash over Cash for New Rent Supplement

Alberta is pushing back against the Trudeau Liberals’ expectation that provinces and territories pick up half the cost of a new rent supplement, asking instead to substitute federal funding for their own.

The promised supplement was originally proposed as a joint funding venture between the federal and provincial governments.

But in negotiations over the funding arrangement, Alberta officials have sought to have their existing spending count towards the cost-matching approach instead of increasing funding as other provinces have said they would.

The details of the behind-the-scenes talks were provided to The Canadian Press by multiple people with knowledge of the talks who spoke on condition of anonymity, either because they weren’t authorized to publicly discuss federal work, or to ensure relationships with governments and agencies weren’t compromised.

What has housing advocates concerned is that the new supplement may have limited effects if spending doesn’t increase as originally envisioned.

A spokeswoman for Alberta’s housing minister says the province hopes to finalize a funding arrangement with Ottawa to streamline provincial rental assistance programs.

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Press, J. (2019, December 19). Alberta, Feds set to clash over cash for new rent supplement. The Canadian Press.