The Government of Saskatchewan announced that it is temporarily suspending eviction hearings as a result of COVID-19.

Starting Thursday, the Office of Residential Tenancies (ORT) will not be accepting applications for evictions related to missed or late rent and other non-urgent claims. Previous eviction orders and hearings, not related to health and safety concerns, will not be carried out.

The government says the ORT will only be conducting evictions for urgent situations where the is a risk to health and safety, resulting from violence or damage to property.

Tenants who are unable to pay their rent during the provincial state of emergency will be expected to pay their rent in full once the state of emergency is lifted. The province says they are aware of the unprecedented situation that people are currently facing.

“It’ll go a month at a time and then we will continue to extend it for as long as it’s necessary,” said Minister of Justice and Attorney General Don Morgan.

“We’ll likely have a plan in place where we’ll work with the renters and landlords to have them work something out. If they are unable to pay, maybe they can make a partial payment or whatever else.”

The government says these measures have been put in place due to their concern that evicted tenants wouldn’t be able to self-isolate or distance themselves from the public, potentially increasing the risk for greater spread of COVID-19.

The ORT is urging landlords and tenants to try and discuss a mutually beneficial plan going forward.

(With files from Josh Sigurdson and Moises Canales)