Of course.
We're building more units, which is obviously necessary, but we're seeing that, for all kinds of reasons, we're still losing affordable units that are on the market. That's why we should establish acquisition funds that enable non-profit organizations, for example, to acquire units in order to remove them from the speculative market and ensure long-term affordability.
Various studies have shown that 20% of units should be removed from the private market in order to guarantee an affordability threshold. That's definitely a potential suggestion that the federal government might also consider. For example, British Columbia has established a $500 million acquisition fund to take units off the market. I think the federal government may also have a role to play in that regard.
As for maintaining the existing rental stock, housing quality and cleanliness are also basic issues. We need funding that will meet needs so we can prevent the depreciation of our real estate assets. These investments are important. When housing is substandard and of poor quality, it obviously becomes an incentive for major renovations that will obviously have a significant impact on rents. Consequently, if existing rental housing is well maintained, we can preserve a supply of affordable housing.