When we talk about housing, we're talking about land use planning and infrastructure that allows for the deployment of the types of housing units that will best suit local populations. In rural communities, people are more interested in single-family homes and less interested in multi-unit housing. Who better than local authorities to identify and meet needs?
I've heard about all the problems with bureaucracy in cities. We know Quebec has those problems too, but it's a lot quicker and easier to get permits and construction facilities in rural communities.
Housing and land use planning are key. As such, agility is also about how we meet those needs. I am very familiar with rural Canada, and I know there are town cores in every established rural community in Quebec and across Canada. Unfortunately, those town cores tend not to have local services, which hinders the construction of what is typically affordable housing there.
We also have to think about how to make the best possible use of all the spaces we have. Here again, RCMs, associations of municipalities in Quebec, are experiencing similar circumstances in similar places. These municipalities are often in the best position to make good decisions about development types and supports, and to plan for that. We need to do a good job of planning and coordinating development and taking concrete action in our regions. We have to make the best possible decisions and have a comprehensive vision for our regions.
That vision needs to cover the medium term and the long term. Current programs are only for the short term. Ontario builders and municipalities have complained about how there's no predictability, so a short-term vision is a real obstacle to getting all kinds of housing—be it social, affordable or higher-end—to market.
Thank you for your question.