The province will suspend any rent increases scheduled to take effect on April 1 or later."We're ensuring that no Manitobans will be evicted in the coming weeks as a direct result of COVID-19."

That from Premier Brian Pallister on Tuesday. He announced the Province has put a freeze on rent increases and postponed all eviction hearings in light of the COVID-19 situation.

"Manitobans who have been laid off, are working less or are in self-isolation shouldn’t also have to worry about making rent payments and keeping a roof over their heads," Pallister explains.

The Province will suspend any rent increases scheduled to take effect on April 1 or later.

Measures to suspend non-urgent eviction hearings are in place until May 31 and will be monitored to determine if additional adjustments are required.

"This approach balances the need to support renters experiencing economic hardship or who are self-isolating in their unit due to COVID-19 with those safety concerns," Finance Minister Scott Fielding says. "The Residential Tenancies Branch remains available to resolve urgent situations involving health and safety for landlords and tenants, which could include a landlord illegally shutting off utilities or locking tenants out of their rental unit, or a landlord dealing with a situation where a tenant is conducting illegal activities from their rental unit."

Pallister also thanked landlords who are working to ensure their tenants are safe and have a place to live during this unprecedented time.

However, he says the recent measures are not permission for tenants to stop paying their rent, "that is an obligation they have accepted."