Thank you, Mr. Demers.
Good afternoon, members of the committee.
The rural world definitely has its particular features. Every one of Quebec's regions is unique. Investment needs are different in the regions, and public policies must be adjusted accordingly.
We often see underinvestment in regional infrastructure and services, and it always seems more difficult to convince governments to invest in sectors with low-density populations. Today we will try to show you how important investment in infrastructure or climate change mitigation, for example, actually is.
The federal budget includes some positive measures for Quebec's regions. In housing, for example, the announcement of a more than $11 billion investment in affordable housing is good news for development in the regions. All the initiatives designed to increase the number of housing units are worth highlighting. However, the implementation of those measures will still entail many challenges. A cohesive relationship between the federal and provincial governments will be essential to the success of that rollout.
Housing has become a critical problem in the past few years, and it's no longer limited to the cities and urbanized areas. Quebec's regions face housing challenges. The task is no longer merely to provide social or affordable house, but also to house workers and newcomers. This is even more important in the context of the present labour shortage. The housing shortage also prevents certain regions from taking full advantage of the current interest in Quebec's regions, which rose during the COVID‑19 pandemic and has been accelerating since it began.
The federal budget also includes new funding for regional economic development. A total of $1.5 billion is earmarked for development agencies to support the economic recovery. We welcome that initiative.
Now I want to discuss FQM's priorities, which do not necessarily appear in the budget, but which are key to the development of Quebec's regions.