Thank you, Madam Chair.
Gentlemen, since the start of its mandate, the government has put a lot of emphasis on creating a single Canadian economy, reducing interprovincial barriers and the importance of labour mobility. The government has stressed that.
I get the impression that rising house prices could actually reduce labour mobility. I get the sense that some people are trapped in their homes. First, there is the price of houses themselves. Then there's the fact that some people are seeing a drop in the price of their house right now and have a lot of debt tied to the house, which could prevent them from selling. Fixed costs are often proportional to the price. Brokerage fees, welcome taxes and the cost of renovations have increased. I also sense that a lot of people feel somewhat trapped in their homes, and also trapped in their housing, because housing prices are regulated, particularly in Quebec. When you move, the price goes up.
Have you ever assessed the impact that has on labour mobility, on the ability to adapt, change regions or move, among other things? Is that something the department is concerned about? If the department is concerned about it, are there any measures that could be taken to address the problem in part?