Thank you, Madam Chair.
When the government announced a goods and services tax rebate for the purchase of a new home upon signing the contract, it obviously intended to incentivize people to buy a newly built home rather than an existing home on the market. We wanted to create demand for new housing, and we know that first-time buyers don't necessarily prefer newly built homes.
On March 20, 2025, when we weren't in an election campaign, the Prime Minister announced the measure in a press release. We have since heard from representatives of the Association des professionnels de la construction et de l'habitation du Québec, or APCHQ, and the Residential Construction Council of Ontario. They clearly told us that a number of people, having believed the Prime Minister, had signed a contract to buy a new home only to realize, when the notice of ways and means was tabled and, subsequently, when the bill was introduced, that what had led them to make the purchase wasn't there.
The purpose of amendment BQ‑1 is therefore to recognize the situation these individuals are in. All we're proposing is to change the date on which people who signed a contract will be able to get a refund. I assume the government has some apprehensions since, even if the amendment is in order, there are some costs associated with it. However, the amendment would add only two weeks to a program that will last several years. The government's credibility with respect to its announcements is also at stake. In my opinion, this is entirely in line with the bill, and I invite my colleagues to support the amendment.