Our group on Facebook has reached over 1700 members! Unfortunately that means we can no longer send messages to the entire group, for the time being. A solution to this is setting up a mailing list, where anyone can sign up to stay up to date on the latest news from our movement.

I promise I will not send out an email more than once a week, unless it is really important.

Please sign up for the “Rent Controls for Albertans” mailing list.

Calgary, January 14th 2008—A Facebook group calling for the implementation of rent controls in
Alberta has reached 1500 members.

The group is called “Rent Controls for Albertans” and has reached the milestone in less than a month.
“These are 1500 ordinary Albertans that are fed up with the rental market in Alberta,” states Tyler
Kinch, founder of the Facebook group.

The group was started after the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation released a report that
found Calgary to be the most expensive major city for a renter, in Canada.

The report also found that average rents in the province of Alberta increased 17.2% last year and
13.3% the year previous.

“Alberta renters are being squeezed. It’s time that their right to affordable housing be protected, and
we are urging the Stelmach government to implement rent controls,” declared Kinch, “People should
not have to choose between paying rent or buying groceries, that’s not right and it’s a shame that so
many Albertans have to make that choice.”

The group is asking that all rent increases be limited annually by the Canadian Price Index, plus two
percent. The group is also asking for a moratorium on condo conversions.

The group has a goal of reaching 10,000 members by mid February.

The Press Release

Today a facebook group that I created calling on the Alberta Government to implement rent controls has reached 1000 members! This is a major milestone, as many of the members are just ordinary Albertans! Now that it is the new year, I hope to organize events from this group. These events will focus on pressuring government to have more protections for renters. More to come soon!

If you haven’t already joined the group, I encourage you to do so. If you have already, I encourage you to invite all your friends. Can we make to 10,000 members soon? Let’s see!

Click here to go to the group. 

I have written this simple but effective letter that can be used to pressure the Alberta Government into implementing rent controls. Please feel free to use it, or adjust it. Just copy and paste it into your email program.

Ed Stelmach’s email address is premier@gov.ab.ca . Be sure to send a copy to the deputy premier, Ron Stevens, at calgary.glenmore@assembly.ab.ca . And if you have time, search for the email address of your MLA here.

Be sure to include your contact information with your letter.

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Dear The Honourable Ed Stelmach,

A recent report from the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation states that Alberta is now the most expensive place in Canada to rent in. Rents went up an average of 17% this past year and the previous year they went up an average of 13%

This is making it very difficult for working people to stay in this province. Alberta may be the richest province in the country, but its shame the number of homeless people we have in our cities and how few Albertans have access to the wealth this province is generating.

I was disappointed to hear that the Alberta Government will not even consider the rent controls suggested by the housing taskforce in their report. I am writing to let you know that rent controls are a very important issue to me, and it will be a key issue for me in the next election when I decide how to cast my ballot.

I hope you will take a second look at rent control.

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If you have even more time. Print out this email and mail it to the premier at:

The Honourable Ed Stelmach
307 Legislature Building
10800 97 Avenue
Edmonton, AB
Canada T5K 2B6

Average rent in Calgary and the rest of Alberta:

Be sure to join the Facebook group urging the Government of Alberta to adopt Rent Controls.