It's a shame, because we don't yet have an accurate picture of the situation. We know where the vacancy rates are currently the lowest. We know that the housing crisis is particularly severe in areas with universities, such as Rimouski, Saguenay, Trois-Rivières and Sherbrooke. However, we don't yet know exactly what's needed.
We're currently working with the Government of Quebec, in particular, to better identify needs on the ground. We've been asking for this for several years now. However, one thing is certain: We need housing of all types, including non-market housing, of course, and rental housing that meets families' needs and, above all, fits within their budget. Yes, families' ability to pay is at the heart of the affordability issue right now. Families can't afford a two-bedroom apartment on the Island of Montreal right now. Why can't they? There are many factors.
Spoiler alert: We're currently preparing a study on the skyrocketing construction costs in Quebec. We will examine building codes, municipal fees and permit processing times in every municipality in Quebec. We need to look at this carefully, because construction costs have risen by 54% since before the pandemic. That's enormous.