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House Hansard - 268

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
December 14, 2023 10:00AM
Context: House Hansard - 268 - Dec/14/23
Mr. Chris Bittle (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities, Lib.)
  • Dec/14/23 6:49:13 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, the challenges we are facing are complex and multi-faceted. There is no simple solution. This is a nationwide issue that can only be solved with close co-operation between partners in every sector and all levels of government. After decades of absence at the housing table, this government has stepped up and assumed a leadership role. To this end, I am happy to remind members what the Government of Canada is doing for Canadians and the solutions we have put forward for Canadians to find homes they can afford and improve communities across the country. On housing, we are taking a practical approach to increase the supply of all types of homes. We have to look at the housing challenge holistically. As I said, this is multi-faceted with a range of factors that requires participation from all concerned. We are talking about shelters, transitional housing, community housing, affordable rental housing and more. Each of these comes with its own unique set of challenges. With that mind, we are attacking it from all angles. To get more homes built, we are working with partners directly or indirectly involved in the housing sector. That includes provinces, indigenous governments, municipalities and private and community sectors. Thanks to various programs under the national housing strategy, many projects have been started in my colleague's city of Calgary. One such example is the Sheriff King Home women's shelter. By working with the Government of Alberta, we were able to double the number of available spaces. Another example is the Templemont Place and Gardens residence, which opened last spring. This 120-unit affordable housing project for seniors provides 50 affordable housing units and 70 supportive housing units, where residents have access to on-site doctors and nurses. This housing complex was made possible thanks to contributions from the national housing co-investment fund, the Canada-Alberta National Housing Strategy Bilateral Agreement and the seed fund program. No doubt, this initiative demonstrates the success that comes through a concentrated approach and this is the approach we are taking to get more homes built more quickly. This government invests to ensure greater equity across the country that is essential to making a difference for all Canadians.
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Context: House Hansard - 268 - Dec/14/23
Mr. Chris Bittle (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities, Lib.)
  • Dec/14/23 7:00:28 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague from Port Moody—Coquitlam for her question and for her concern for the well-being of those who are unable to find an affordable place to live. The Government of Canada shares this concern. Far too many Canadians are struggling to keep a roof over their heads, and those particularly affected are our most vulnerable neighbours. That is why we have urgently addressed this issue. Identifying and implementing effective solutions to Canada's housing crisis is our top priority. We are already making deep investments in affordable housing through the national housing strategy. This $82-billion plan focuses first and foremost on providing housing for our most vulnerable neighbours, such as women and children fleeing family violence, seniors, indigenous people, people with disabilities, those dealing with mental health and addiction issues, veterans and young adults. The rapid housing initiative, for example, is expected to create more than 15,500 permanent affordable homes across the country. These homes are being rapidly built to address the most urgent needs of those experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Several cities in my colleague's province have already benefited from this funding, including Vancouver, Surrey and Burnaby. The national housing co-investment fund is another program geared to helping the most vulnerable populations. It provides low-cost loans and contributions to non-profit organizations to build affordable housing. It has already committed funding to build close to 40,000 new homes and repair more than 126,000 existing homes. At the same time, our new housing accelerator fund is an incentive for municipalities to make the regulatory changes and planning commitments they need to get more homes built faster. The federal government also recently announced GST exemptions for rental construction and additional financing available through Canada mortgage bonds. All of this will help cut out the red tape and make the math work for our partners across the country so we can quickly get shovels in the ground. We know that increasing the housing supply alone cannot be the only lever we pull, especially when too many of our most vulnerable neighbours are presently experiencing homelessness. It is unacceptable that anyone in Canada has to go without a place to call home, but there is no magic solution to addressing this challenge. It requires all hands on deck to deliver innovative solutions and change how we tackle the crisis. Since its launch in April 2019, Reaching Home, Canada's homelessness strategy, has helped connect over 122,000 people with homelessness prevention supports like rental assistance and mediation, and has helped place almost 70,000 people in stable housing. In the Tri-Cities areas of Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody, Reaching Home is supporting the SHARE Family and Community Services Society. SHARE delivers homelessness prevention and client support services focused on tenant advocacy. This non-profit organization has received $100,000 in funding from Reaching Home from July 2022 through March 2024. Through Reaching Home, we are also supporting The Link, which is a continuum of care for homeless or at-imminent-risk youth from foster care living in Coquitlam and nearby municipalities. Reaching Home is also providing nearly $854,000 in funding to support housing placements, prevention, shelter diversion and client support services. This housing first program ensures youth in great need can enter difficult rental markets and develop essential life skills. I invite my colleague and all members of the House to work with their communities to make the most of national housing strategy programs and other initiatives.
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