The leader of the provincial NDP believes the potential elimination of the HST on new rental housing builds is a good step, but more action is needed.

Finance Minister Siobhan Coady wrote the federal government last week asking that both the federal and provincial portions of the tax be done away with. Jim Dinn wonders if the tax is taken out, will the savings actually be passed along to tenants.

He says most of the rental issues he hears about are not with people renting out their basement, but rather with the larger landlords.

Dinn believes a focus on the non-market sector would be a big help, as well as funds from the National Housing Strategy.

He says action is needed. If not, more people will be sleeping in tents and bus shelters, noting that one constituent found a person living in her shed.