Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
Ladies and gentlemen of the committee, I'd like to thank you for giving us the opportunity today to share our comments on important issues such as infrastructure, housing and transportation. With me today is Samuel Roy, strategic policy advisor at the Union des municipalités du Québec, whose members represent over 85% of Quebec's population and territory.
First, we would like to address the urgent need for action to ensure that the funds earmarked for the Canada community‑building fund are paid out. These amounts are essential to funding municipal infrastructure through the gas tax and Quebec's contribution program.
In Quebec, our infrastructure is aging and in urgent need of attention. We are facing a $45 billion deficit to maintain municipal water infrastructure assets. This figure doesn't take into account the additional costs required to extend pipes, increase the capacity of our infrastructure or adapt it to climate change. At present, infrastructure is at maximum capacity in many areas, slowing down or completely halting the construction of new housing units. In the context of a housing crisis, we can't collectively afford to put our infrastructure rehabilitation projects on hold.
As the construction season gets under way, it's vital that these funds be released without delay, without getting bogged down in major program revisions, and without adding new conditions. We're still waiting on an agreement between the federal government and the Government of Quebec. We reiterate that urgent action is needed.
On the housing front, faced with a 32% drop in housing starts and a vacancy rate of just 1.3% in 2023, it's crucial that Quebec benefit equitably from federal investments. The flexibility and agility of federal programs, their alignment with Quebec programs and the speed of an agreement with Quebec for the transfer of funds are key elements that will enable Quebec municipalities to play their full role in the fight in combatting the housing crisis. In addition, adding conditions related to housing types and urban planning bylaws is not desirable. Municipalities are, and continue to be, best placed to plan their land use according to the specific characteristics of each community. One size does not fit all.
It's also crucial to provide substantial, predictable and sustainable funding for housing for people experiencing homelessness, whose numbers increased by 44% in Quebec between 2018 and 2022. The federal reaching home program, which has funded various projects to combat homelessness in 16 regions of Quebec, must be maintained and enhanced.
Now I'd like to say a few words about transportation. The vitality and economic development of all the regions depend on an adequate public transit supply. To enable the development of our communities, Quebec municipalities want transportation to become a national priority. To promote the development of our communities, Quebec municipalities are calling on the federal government to provide financial support to municipalities so that they can maintain their infrastructure and invest in modern and efficient public transit services.
Thank you for your attention.