- Member of Parliament
- Prime Minister
Leader of the Liberal Party
- Liberal
- Papineau
- Quebec
- Voting Attendance: 55%
- Expenses Last Quarter: $79,187.97
- Government Page
- May/29/24 2:48:17 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, the leader opposite speaks of 2015. We took office with a commitment to getting the federal government back in the business of building housing. We launched a national housing strategy in 2017, which put 2.5 million Canadians into new or refurbished homes, and we have continued to invest ever since. We are building homes on public lands. We are converting underused federal offices into homes. We are taxing vacant land to incentivize construction. We are building apartments, and bringing rents down with top-ups to the apartment construction loan program. We are scaling up modular housing. We are also launching Canada Builds to lead a team Canada effort to build more homes and more.
117 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- May/8/24 3:14:22 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, I agree with the member for Vaughan—Woodbridge that more needs to be done for renters. That is why we are unlocking well over 600,000 new rental homes across the country for the middle class, investing $1.5 billion to keep affordable apartments affordable and introducing a new renters' bill of rights to protect renters.
The Leader of the Opposition does not seem to worry about renters. He was housing minister in a government that pulled out of housing. Now, he wants to raise the taxes on apartment construction, and he continues to delay debate on his own housing proposal because he knows it does not measure up.
We will not rest until we level the playing field for renters.
124 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Apr/17/24 2:56:00 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, in 2017, we created the national housing strategy, which put millions of families into homes across the country. We have continued to step up with investments, including last year with the housing accelerator, which has delivered increased densification and is going to be building thousands upon thousands of homes over the coming years. We are continuing to step up in this budget, which is focused on fairness for every generation to make sure young people can again see a pathway to home ownership and can be able to afford rents in the cities in which they work. These are things we are continuing to do because Canadians need it.
111 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Apr/17/24 2:42:33 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, I was in Vancouver a few weeks ago to speak with young people about the fact that we are supporting renters with greater protections and by making sure that the money they spend every month on rent actually gets counted in their credit scores to help them get a mortgage in the future.
Our housing plan will unlock 3.87 million new homes by cutting red tape, by reforming zoning, by lowering the costs of homebuilding and by using public lands and vacant government offices for housing. We are making it easier to save up for a tax-free down payment. We are helping end chronic homelessness and making homes more affordable.
We are going to continue doing the work—
123 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Mar/20/24 2:56:17 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, child care supports not only parents, but also our economy. I am so happy to see that with the support of the member for Vaughan—Woodbridge and our caucus, the Canada Early Learning and Child Care Act received royal assent yesterday.
Unfortunately, the Conservative leader ordered his members to obstruct and delay the passage of this bill. Nevertheless, we have kept our promise to Canadians. No matter where they live, they will have access to affordable, inclusive and quality child care.
84 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Feb/14/24 3:08:41 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, Canadians know that cuts from the Conservative leader would not get more homes built. If he were really concerned about rents, he would line up behind us and support the removal of the GST on new apartment construction. That is something they actually voted against. We know that unlocking a greater supply of housing, including with purpose-built apartment buildings across the country, is a way of bringing down rents for people. That is a concrete solution we put forward that the Conservatives chose to vote against for political gain and for political reasons.
We are going to continue to be there to do the hard work of delivering for Canadians, while he relies on catchy slogans and misunderstanding of what it is he is choosing to cut.
130 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Feb/13/24 2:30:17 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, on the contrary, we will continue to listen to community organizations and municipal and provincial partners. We will continue to work hand in hand.
We have signed agreements to speed up housing construction with Quebec, Nunavut and cities across the country to make it possible to build over 500,000 houses. We have taken a series of measures to build over 600,000 apartments. We have taken measures to crack down on short-term rentals.
We are investing to fight homelessness and to help people in vulnerable positions. We still have work to do.
96 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Jan/31/24 3:14:20 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, I am going to leave aside the question of where exactly he is living rent-free and focus on the supports we are giving to Canadians.
We are continuing to invest in meaningful ways in partnership with municipalities, with unions and building trades and with provinces across the country to solve this housing crisis that Canadians are feeling so acutely. Whether it is cutting the GST from purpose-built rentals, whether it is moving forward with the tax-free savings account for first-time homebuyers or whether it is putting $4 billion in the pockets of municipalities across the country to increase density and cut red tape, we are taking action on housing.
115 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Jan/31/24 2:31:08 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, we have been there investing in housing across the country, including with hundreds of millions of dollars directly to the City of Toronto for investing in housing, housing affordability and fighting homelessness. We know there is lots to do, and we are going to keep doing it.
Whether it is signing housing accelerator agreements across the country, introducing a suite of new measures to unlock the construction of 600,000 new apartments, cracking down on short-term rentals to unlock even more apartments, or introducing a mortgage charter to protect homeowners from the stress of elevated interest rates, we are taking action.
104 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Nov/29/23 2:41:45 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, we launched our housing accelerator this fall precisely to create more housing in Canada and lower rents for all Canadians. That is part of the actions we have taken since 2017, and even before that, to invest in housing in Canada.
We know how much we have left to do. Our population is growing faster than that of the U.S., but I am sure that the Leader of the Opposition is not speaking out against immigration.
We will continue to be there to build more housing and to grow our economy and our population at the same time.
101 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Jun/13/23 2:33:18 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, for years, we have been investing in housing, in various programs to help students and low-income families and to encourage housing construction. We will continue to do that.
We know we have to be there for our students, because support for them in the short term will contribute to society in the long term. That is why we eliminated interest on federal student loans in the last budget. We will continue to be there with more help for students, which includes continuing to look at ways to help them with rent.
94 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Jun/6/23 2:31:29 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, we know Canadians are struggling with the rising cost of housing, whether it is a young family looking to buy its first home or a student trying to rent an apartment near campus. That is why we are taking action on so many fronts.
We are helping Canadians save up for their first home. We are investing in building and repairing more homes, including supporting local governments to fast-track the creation of 100,000 new homes. We are providing support for low-income renters, and we are assuring housing is used as homes by curbing unfair practices that drive up prices, which includes bringing forward an anti-flipping tax. Unfortunately, Conservatives are choosing to block this for political games instead of delivering for Canadians.
127 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- May/10/23 3:21:58 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, as members of the House know, I am committed to and continue to be hopeful about replacing the first-past-the-post system with a preferential ballot.
I moved forward in 2015 to live up to that promise and to find consensus in the House of Commons. When we change something as fundamental as the way we elect members of the House, it has to be done with consensus. Unfortunately, there was no consensus on moving forward with a ranked ballot; therefore, we chose not to do it.
I continue to be open. If anyone wants to move forward with a preferential ballot, I am happy to talk with them, but we will not impose a change on Canadians.
121 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- May/10/23 2:55:51 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, we have taken significant steps on supporting low-income renters, including a $500 housing benefit top-up, which the Conservatives voted against and tried to delay. We are investing to rapidly increase the supply of affordable rental units. We are introducing measures to end rent evictions.
That is on top of the significant measures we are working with municipalities on to create 100,000 new homes over the coming years as we accelerate the processes of zoning and permitting. We are doing that hand in hand with municipalities by respecting them, instead of by fighting with them as the Conservatives proposed. We know that collaboration is the way to get things done.
114 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Mar/27/23 2:31:58 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, from the moment we first took office in 2015, our focus has been on supporting young people and supporting all Canadians. We recognize, for example, that millennials are struggling with the cost of housing, whether it is a young family looking to buy their first home or a student trying to rent an apartment near campus.
That is why we have been taking action on so many fronts. On housing, we have been helping Canadians save up for their first home. We have been investing in building and repairing more homes, including by supporting local governments to fast-track the creation of 100,000 new homes. We are providing support for low-income renters, which the Conservatives voted against, and we are ensuring houses are used as homes, not investment vehicles.
133 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Mar/27/23 2:28:00 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, we know Canadians are struggling with the cost of housing, whether it is a young family looking to buy their first home or a student looking for an affordable apartment near campus. That is why we have taken action on so many fronts, from helping Canadians save up for their first home to investing in building and repairing more homes, including supporting local governments to fast-track the creation of 100,000 new homes. We are providing support for low-income renters, which the Conservatives voted against, and ensuring houses are used as homes, not investment vehicles, by curbing unfair practices that drive up prices, including banning foreign homebuyers and putting in a federal anti-flipping rule.
119 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Mar/9/23 2:30:47 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, we know that Canadians are very concerned about the price of groceries. That is why the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry wrote to the Competition Bureau a few months ago to ensure that all available tools are used. We are very pleased that the committee studied this matter yesterday, and I am very proud of our Liberal team, which is continuing its efforts to defend the interests of Canadians who are struggling to pay for groceries.
We will always be there, whether it is with a GST rebate, support for dental care or support for low-income renters. As the government, we are there to help Canadians get through these difficult times.
115 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Feb/8/23 2:27:48 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, over the past eight years we have stepped up on investing in housing. We have invested in low-income rentals, and we have made sure that seniors have extra supports so they can retire with dignity. The previous Conservative government consistently nickelled and dimed seniors and veterans and refused to support young families. These are the kinds of things we have been working on, and yes, there is more to do. This is why we were so surprised that the Conservative Party stood against extra supports for low-income renters and supporting families to send their kids to dentists when they could not afford it.
These are things we will continue to do.
115 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Feb/1/23 2:55:57 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, that was the excuse Conservatives gave when they voted against rental benefits for the most vulnerable renters. That was the excuse they gave when they said, “no, we are not going to make sure that all families can send their kids to the dentist in this country”. They said, “oh, no, that is too much spending”.
We have the strongest balance sheet in the G7. We have an enviable fiscal position. This government is choosing to use that to support Canadians in targeted ways that are going to help them through these difficult times while Conservatives stand there and vote against it.
We will take no lessons from them.
115 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Feb/1/23 2:53:24 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, we are well aware that many people are worried about the cost of housing crisis, and we are firmly committed to continue working to solve this problem.
That is why we introduced the first-time home buyer incentive. We invested over $82 billion in the national housing strategy. We supported the construction and renovation of almost half a million housing units, and we announced a rent-to-own program. We have helped over 2.6 million families get the housing they needed, and we will continue to do everything we can to meet the housing needs of all Canadians.
103 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- menumenu
- notificationsnotifications
- home
- mailmail
- searchsearch
