New Brunswick — With the recent rent cap legislation not providing the protection it should, those living on a lower incomes are still finding it hard to find adequate housing in New Brunswick. Nevertheless, there are many who still praise how “affordable” the province continues to be.
“Right now, in Moncton, you can get a junky, ugly, bottom-of-the-barrel apartment for $600 a month. Considering the cost of rent elsewhere in Canada, you could easily raise that to $800, $1,000…maybe even $1,700!” said one enthusiastic landlord. “In fact, I think I will.”
It’s not just the landlords, however. Several new arrivals to the province are ecstatic about the cost of living.
“When we moved here, we were shocked to learn how cheap everything was,” said influencer Cari Labotte, who moved to Saint John from Toronto back in February. “We absolutely love it! If we had one complaint, though, it would be that everything is so…you know — cheap.”
She praised the local stores but bemoaned the fact that so few managed to remain open for very long. She dismissed the suggestion that most local business owners struggle to pay two rents in the city.
“Don’t they just, like, sleep in the same building as the store? Like in Bob’s Burgers. You ever see that show? They’re always complaining about money, too. It’s hilarious.”
The Manatee pointed out that Bob’s Burgers was a cartoon.
“No, I know,” she said, a little offended. “Nobody’s actually that poor.”
It’s been suggested that bringing more people living in a higher income bracket will bring more tax dollars and purchasing power to the province. This, in turn, would inevitably raise the wages of those living and working in the province. Would these recent metropolitan expats continue to stay in the province despite the rising costs?
“No,” said Labotte. “If it gets expensive to live here, why bother? We’ll leave.”
But isn’t that the essence of gentrification?
She considered this for a moment. “I prefer to think of it as a “gentri-vacation.“