SoVote

Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 50

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
March 31, 2022 10:00AM
Context: House Hansard - 50 - Mar/31/22
Mr. Denis Trudel (Longueuil—Saint-Hubert, BQ)
  • Mar/31/22 11:03:29 a.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, when we are talking about inflation, it is difficult to ignore the housing crisis. A recent study by Scotiabank, which is not exactly an organization fighting for more social housing in Quebec, found that Canada would need 1.8 million housing units just to reach the G7 average. A recent report by the National Housing Council, which oversees the big national housing strategy that was launched by the federal government five years ago, said that only 35,000 housing units had been built. We need 1.8 million housing units, but only 35,000 have been built. In Quebec, 50,000 people are on a waiting list for low-income housing. My colleague from Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques is fighting for housing in his riding. The vacancy rate is 0.2%. There is no housing to be had even in Rimouski. My colleague from Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot is also very involved in the housing issue. The housing market in Saint-Hyacinthe is extremely tight. In the budget that is coming on April 7, will the government actually be making major investments in housing? The crisis is serious. It is affecting all of Quebec, but it is particularly hard on the most disadvantaged, women fleeing domestic violence, seniors, and people with mental health issues. This is one of the major crises of our time. On April 7, will the government take the crisis into account and make the necessary investments?
249 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Context: House Hansard - 50 - Mar/31/22
Mr. Denis Trudel (Longueuil—Saint-Hubert, BQ)
  • Mar/31/22 1:01:16 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, I want to compliment you on your hard work. My colleague spoke about the tax on vacant housing owned by non-Canadians. This is not a bad policy for addressing the crisis that is playing out right now. Unfortunately, it is just a drop in the ocean. The federal government's main programs, including the national housing co-investment fund and the rental construction financing initiative, are programs that, unfortunately, mean that Montreal's so-called “affordable” housing costs $2,200. A lot of money is being invested in things that the average Joe cannot afford. A decent program was launched during the pandemic: the rapid housing initiative. Rumour has it that this program could be extended as a result of the Liberal-NDP agreement. In Quebec, housing organizations are asking for predictability. Will the program be extended for just one year or for several?
149 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Context: House Hansard - 50 - Mar/31/22
Mr. Denis Trudel (Longueuil—Saint-Hubert, BQ)
  • Mar/31/22 1:47:26 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, again, I would like to commend you on your hard work. All morning I have been hearing the Conservatives say, and rightly so, that they are concerned about rising debt and inflation. We should be concerned, and we cannot allow spending to increase this way. Let us focus on the housing crisis. Right now, federal government spending and the Liberal government programs are primarily helping private developers. That does nothing for affordability and accessibility. I see my Conservative friends worrying about the fact that house prices have doubled, and they are right. However, I never hear solutions coming from the Conservative side. What is the Conservative plan to tackle the housing crisis?
114 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border