New Brunswick has been experiencing unprecedented growth since 2021, and Dieppe is no exception. According to estimates, our population has increased by around 6,000 people. It now stands at almost 34,500, up from 28,114 in 2021, a jump of over 20% in just three years!
When we revised our municipal strategic plan in 2019, the forecast was for us to reach 30,000 by 2030.
While we’re always happy to welcome new residents, it’s important to note that we have no direct control over the number of people who choose to settle in our city.
Growth and its challenges
One of the challenges of rapid growth is the shortage of housing, a phenomenon that’s on the rise across Canada. When the housing supply is low, rental and purchase prices go up. It’s the principle of supply and demand.
Demand for rental housing (apartments and houses for rent) is increasing across Canada. The national vacancy rate for rental apartments hit a new low of 1.5% in October 2023, which means that for every 100 apartments, only 1.5 are available.
The situation is even more striking in Dieppe. The data for October 2023 shows a vacancy rate of 0.3%, while the average between 1990 and 2023 was 3.42%, which means that there are basically no units available for rent in our municipality.
This housing crisis is mainly linked to:
- rising demand
- our rapid population growth
- rising interest rates
- inflation
- a labour shortage
- rising home values
The municipality has no direct control over those factors. However, it is working with various stakeholders to try to reduce the impact on residents.
Challenges of home ownership
As far as private housing goes, i.e., single-family homes, duplexes, townhouses, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to buy a home.
For example, imagine the down payment required by a young couple wishing to buy their first home at an average price of $360,700. We're talking tens of thousands of dollars!
A safe home for all
The City of Dieppe is committed to ensuring that all members of our community have a safe, quality home.
To that end, the City wants to create a diverse and sustainable community that considers the housing needs of all current and future residents, while ensuring that the quality of life of the entire community is protected and enhanced.
The Municipal Development Plan is a legal document adopted by City Council that helps manage growth in an organized way, while protecting and enhancing the natural environment and limiting urban sprawl.
Community development and growth must be managed responsibly and not “on the fly” to achieve planned, organized growth.
The following need to be identified:
- locations
- types of buildings
- the density permitted in each part of the city
We also need to ensure that the requirements are understood and followed by all.
Keep reading!
