What's the amount?
Evidence of meeting #47 for Finance in the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was federal.
Evidence of meeting #47 for Finance in the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was federal.
Noon
Executive Director, Atlantic Provinces Community College Consortium
I'm afraid I don't have that with me.
Noon
Conservative
Bob Dechert Conservative Mississauga—Erindale, ON
Is it 5% of more than a billion dollars? Is that what we're talking about? I'm just trying to get a handle on how much you're asking for. I certainly agree with you that education is where we need to spend some resources.
I just came back from China last week as vice-chair of the Canada-China Legislative Association, and you're right that a lot of money is being spent on education there. They're developing very high-tech industries as a result of it. In order to keep our competitive edge, we need to do that. I think that's why our government invested $2 billion this year in the knowledge infrastructure program. I hope that some of your community colleges were able to take advantage of some of that funding and that it was helpful. I appreciate your comments in that regard.
I also have a question for Ms. Smith-MacDonald about social housing. I agree that social housing is very important. As you know, our government has put $2.1 billion into social housing this year. That's an unprecedented investment for the federal government. In my city of Mississauga, several co-op housing developments have received significant grants and funds to help with renovations and retrofits from a safety and security perspective--also energy retrofits. I hope that's been helpful in your area as well.
12:05 p.m.
Conservative
Bob Dechert Conservative Mississauga—Erindale, ON
In addition to the $2.1 billion that we've invested this year, what do you suggest we should be spending? Do you have a dollar figure?
12:05 p.m.
Director, Every Woman's Centre
I'm sorry, I don't have a dollar figure for you.
Sometimes just the process of accessing what's available from the federal government costs non-profit organizations a lot of money, with the time that goes into making a proposal to try to access money and fit ourselves into the groove that's been set, as opposed to what the community needs. There are some changes needed, not only in the money but in the whole system of how communities access that money and what the best needs of their communities are.
12:05 p.m.
Conservative
12:05 p.m.
Conservative
Bob Dechert Conservative Mississauga—Erindale, ON
Thank you very much.
You also mentioned the costs for first-time house buyers, in particular closing costs. As you're aware, in the budget there's a tax credit for first-time home buyers that covers up to $750 in closing costs. Is that helpful?
12:05 p.m.
Director, Every Woman's Centre
I'm talking about a single women who has to go to the bank to get a mortgage, balance that debt load, and what not. She is able to get the mortgage, but the closing costs are $3,000. She can't get the closing money so she can't get the mortgage. In that case it's not helpful.
12:05 p.m.
Conservative
Bob Dechert Conservative Mississauga—Erindale, ON
They're providing $750, but you suggest they provide the whole amount.
12:05 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Rajotte
Thank you, Mr. Dechert.
I want to thank all of the witnesses for coming in, for your presentations and submissions, and for responding to our questions. We appreciate that very much. If you have anything further you'd like to submit, please do so through the clerk.
The meeting is adjourned.