Obtaining funds specifically for acquiring land and buildings for cooperatives, not-for-profit housing organizations, or even municipal housing services, is an important part of the solution in helping to enhance the supply of social and community housing, which is insufficient at the moment. For example, it helps groups of that kind to quickly buy a rental building that is for sale.
In Quebec, cities have established acquisition funds. Some cities, like Quebec City and Montreal, set aside funds in their budget to buy land to be handed over to cooperatives and not-for-profits. That is one way for cities to become involved. To become even more involved, they must be assured that higher levels of governments will step up and fund those specific initiatives. Setting up a complementary fund specifically for not-for-profit organizations, cities and cooperatives with that goal would be a fine, positive action. It would be another response to enhancing the supply.
Mrs. Chatel was also talking just now about the housing accelerator fund, which the government has announced, but with details that are not yet known. Consultations are currently under way. From what we gather from those consultations, rather than looking at innovation, the fund is supposed to accommodate initiatives and requests that are already known and that communities have already made, as a way to encourage social and community housing.