SoVote

Hon. Ahmed Hussen (Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion, Lib.)

Dec/2/21 3:07:19 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Hochelaga for her question. I was in Quebec recently to talk to stakeholders about their housing needs. In May, I had the pleasure of joining my colleague to make an important announcement about $100 million for more than 500 affordable housing units. We will keep working to make sure every Canadian has an affordable place to call home.

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Context: House Hansard - 9 - Dec/2/21

Hon. Ahmed Hussen (Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion, Lib.)

Dec/2/21 7:13:45 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I want to begin by thanking my colleague from Port Moody—Coquitlam for her question and for her advocacy, and I want to congratulate her on her recent election. I welcome the member's focus on affordable housing, and our government agrees with that side of the House that every Canadian deserves a safe and affordable place to call home. This is an issue that should unite all of us. The need for more affordable housing is one of the biggest challenges our country is facing. It is not just a question of housing; it is also a question of making sure our economic recovery after COVID is an inclusive economic recovery. Housing will be key to making sure no one is left behind. This is not a new problem. It requires a long-term plan and consistent action. Housing, therefore, is a key priority for our government. That is why we developed Canada's first-ever national housing strategy, followed closely by the National Housing Act and a commitment to take a human rights approach to housing. In 2017, the national housing strategy was projected to spend $40 billion over the next 10 years, and that program has now grown to $72.5 billion. In the past year alone, we have made hundreds of announcements and held countless opening celebrations to welcome people into their new homes, in British Columbia, for example. All of them were possible through the national housing strategy. It required, and was the result of, strong partnerships from coast to coast to coast. Take, for example, the bilateral housing agreements that we negotiated with every province and territory. Through those agreements, we are able to not only build new housing but also maintain the federal community housing stock that is there. As my colleague from Port Moody—Coquitlam may recall, just last March we announced significant support for individuals and families in British Columbia. Our 10-year, $517-million Canada-British Columbia benefit will go directly into the pockets of British Columbians, helping 25,000 households across the province of British Columbia to pay their rent. That is the national housing strategy in action. As we continue to make progress on that strong foundation, we recognize that more work needs to be done, so that is why we introduced the rapid housing initiative in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, as a response to the housing challenges made worse by the pandemic. Through the first round, we were targeting building 3,000 new permanent affordable housing units, and we blew past that target to build 4,700 housing units: 100% federally funded, permanent, affordable housing units. In the second round, collectively with the first round, we seek to build 9,200 permanent affordable housing units for Canadians experiencing homelessness or those who are at risk of experiencing homelessness. As I said, there is more work to be done, and I agree with my hon. colleague. That is why, in the throne speech, members heard that we are planning to launch a housing accelerator fund that will help cities expedite housing. It will bring on more planners. It will offset the cost of land purchases. It will help build the infrastructure needed for housing. Home ownership is also important. We need to make sure more and more Canadians can access the dream of home ownership, so I look forward to the hon. member's supporting these initiatives. We are making deep, sustained and long-term investments in housing, but we share the member's commitment to making sure all Canadians have a safe and affordable place to call home.

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Context: House Hansard - 9 - Dec/2/21

Hon. Ahmed Hussen

Dec/2/21 7:18:55 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, for every challenge the hon. member mentioned, we actually have a different program in the national housing strategy to address it. On the issue of loans, that is for rental construction. We have another program called the co-investment fund that builds deeply affordable housing. On the rapid housing initiative, I am surprised the hon. member is saying the money did not get there quickly enough. We had a separate stream for cities, and we gave the money directly to them. The only condition we put on them was that the housing had to be built in 12 months or less and had to target vulnerable populations. Whether they built new housing or acquired existing properties was totally up to them; we trusted them to make the right decisions because they know best what they need to do. In terms of the project stream, those projects are landing in British Columbia and they are creating deeply affordable housing. Does that mean that the job is done? Absolutely not. We need to do more. In terms of the solutions that are necessary, we are always open to partnering with municipalities, provinces and territories, and indigenous governments to make sure that more and more affordable housing is being built for Canadians.

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