Pointing to the latest rental report for the country from rentals.ca the Saskatchewan NDP continues to push for rent control.

But it’s all in how you view the numbers. The Saskatchewan government says Saskatchewan average rents for apartments and condos decreased by 0.3 per cent year-over-year, while Manitoba, with rent control implemented, saw an increase of 2.6 per cent – the highest increase in the country. At $1,437 Saskatoon is seventh lowest for average asking rent for purpose-built condos and apartments while Regina is fourth lowest at $1,402. The province says 90 per cent of the cities with higher rents than Saskatoon and Regina have rent control in their respective provinces.

However, the report also indicates that the fastest three-year increase or growth in apartment rents was found in the prairie provinces where Manitoba saw a 27.1 per cent increase, Saskatchewan recorded a 26.5 per cent increase in three years and Alberta a 20.5 per cent increase.

The Saskatchewan NDP plans to introduce rent control legislation in the coming legislative session.