At yesterday's daily press conference, the Saskatchewan government announced that it was temporarily suspending tenant eviction hearings as a result of the COVID-19 emergency.

The Office of Residential Tenancies (ORT) will not be hearing any applications for eviction related to late or missed rent or for non-urgent claims, and previous eviction orders will not be enforced.

However, hearings for eviction will continue in cases where there is a risk to health and safety resulting from violence or damage to property, or situations where the tenant has been locked out by their landlord or where the landlord is accused of not providing services such as power and water.

Justice Minister and Attorney General Don Morgan said that ensuring that tenants facing hardship can remain in their home is important.

"An essential part of flattening the curve is staying home and self-isolating. We want to provide peace of mind that those taking the necessary precautions as a result of this unprecedented situation will still have a roof over their head.”

The government is specifically concerned that evicted tenants will be unable to self-isolate or physically distance themselves from others, potentially increasing the risk of transmitting or contracting COVID-19.

Tenants will, of course, be expected to pay their unpaid rent in full once the COVID-19 crisis has passed.

The ORT continues to encourage landlords and tenants to communicate with each other about their individual situations so that they can come to mutually agreeable solutions in this challenging time.