Housing  Mr. Speaker, I agree with my colleague on the fact that speculative investments in real estate contribute to higher prices. That is why our government imposed a tax on residential real estate owned by non-Canadians. We have imposed a moratorium to stop foreign investments in this country.

Housing  Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question. I would like to remind him that, since our initiative with the national housing strategy, Quebec has received more than $5 billion to build or renovate thousands of housing units. We will continue to work with the Government of Quebec, particularly on the third round of the rapid housing initiative that we have just come to an agreement on with the province.

International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia  Mr. Speaker, May 17 is the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia. In 2003, Fondation Émergence, a non-profit organization in Hochelaga, created the first-ever national day to fight homophobia. Today, it is celebrated in over 100 countries. I am pleased and proud to welcome a delegation to Ottawa today to highlight the theme of this year's campaign, “LGBTQphobias are Irrational Fears”.

Business of Supply  Madam Chair, I just want to remind my colleagues about the co-investment fund. It is $979 million. Since 2015, it is more than 8,000 units. If we take the rapid housing initiative, one and two, there was $200 million on one, $185 million on two and more than 1,000 units. Those are the numbers for British Columbia.

Business of Supply  Madam Chair, over 32% of the national housing strategy is focused on working with women and children to ensure they get the housing they need. We will continue to increase funding because we want all women across the country to be safe.

Business of Supply  Madam Chair, I would like to invite my colleague to ask questions about the national housing strategy and not about the programs that fall under the purview of the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and the Minister of Health.

Business of Supply  Madam Chair, I thank my colleague for her question. She knows very well that we are working on that. We have recognized that many women across the country are fleeing violence, and we must do more to ensure that every one of these women has housing that will give them the sense of safety they need.

Business of Supply  Madam Chair, I have a great deal of respect for my colleague, and she is quite aware of that. I visited her riding in the first few weeks after I was named parliamentary secretary. I would like to remind her that our goal is to have 2,000 shelters for women who are fleeing—

Business of Supply  Madam Chair, I understand that more needs to be done. My colleague and I agree on that. I find it rather deplorable that she cannot even acknowledge that, in her own riding, our government has worked with representatives of Velma's House. It was to make sure that we were taking women off the streets and giving them a place to call home.

Business of Supply  Madam Chair, we have answered a couple of my colleague's questions around speculation of the market, and we agree. We have engaged in doing a reform of the investments in residential estates. There is a lot more work to be done. I think the member would recognize that we are moving forward with legislation that supports the right to homes and supports working on breaking speculation of the market.

Business of Supply  Madam Chair, in terms of the national housing co-investment fund, we have listened to a number of people across the country. What we want is to make sure that this fund, which is primarily for community non-profits, is quick and easy to access because we want to increase the number of affordable housing units across the country.

Business of Supply  Madam Chair, I am very pleased to answer that question because I have lived in a housing co-op myself. I have helped establish two housing co-ops in my lifetime, and I am a firm believer in that model. After 30 years, we finally have a program dedicated to co-operatives. The government has allocated $1.5 billion over five years for co-operatives across the country.

Business of Supply  Madam Chair, this comes back to what I was saying earlier. We need to work on market speculation. Slowing down market speculation will allow for more housing units and homes to be available for Canadians here and not for foreigners who do not live in the country.

Business of Supply  Madam Chair, I thank my colleague for telling us about a project in her riding. There are projects like that one right across the country. One thing we wanted to ensure was that we created shelters for women fleeing violence. These shelters are built in such a way as to provide safe and affordable housing and also the social safety net they need to to take back control over their lives.

Business of Supply  Madam Chair, there is no such thing as a small project. Every home represents an individual, a family, a woman fleeing violence or someone who was homeless. There is no such thing as a small project or small housing. Every home meets a specific need and that is exactly what the national housing strategy does.