Realtors in Saskatchewan have weighed in with their thoughts on the election campaign.
The Association of Saskatchewan Realtors is commenting on the issue of affordable housing. The realtors are calling for more houses at reasonable prices, and say if price is the issue then supply is the answer.
They are proposing more rental units to create more choice and to control costs. They are not in favour of rent control as they say it will lead to fewer units and higher costs, as well as scare off investment. They also oppose "second generation" rent control exempting new units, which they say creates two classes of renters and discourages renovation and upgrading in the buildings needing it the most.
Rent control is being put forward by the New Democrats as one of their policies in the campaign. The Saskatchewan Party has voiced their opposition to the idea.
The association also supports the new Saskatchewan Housing Strategy offering builders a subsidy per new unit. As well, they support a provincial tax credit for investing in rentals, which they say would multiply the available dollars by drawing private investment.
They also are calling for regulatory reform with more incentives instead of directives, less bureaucracy and more innovation.
On the issue of the property tax and the way water and sewer services are paid, the Association of Saskatchewan Realtors is also calling for a replacement of the property tax with what they say is a better way to raise funds - by sharing a percentage of provincial revenue with local government.
They also are proposing more innovation in paying for infrastructure and service by lifting the burden of major capital projects from property tax, with new self-financing bodies - similar to the setup of the province's Crown corporations - created to provide water, sewer or facilities that would no longer be tied to municipal taxes.
The realtors are touting revenue sharing as policy that makes sense, saying taxing capital assets is bad policy. They say using provincial tax machinery to raise municipal funds is more efficient and supports growth and a better lifestyle.
Realtors also support a change to a self-financing model for services and infrastructure, saying tis more accountable to customers and taxpayers because they would be able to see the real costs and follow how their money is spent.
They say it also means funds can be raised in the market. Instead of using tax money or the credit of the municipality, self-funded services can raise their own funding and repay debts from their own revenues, not taxes.
