Sure.
Let me just say that I should correct the record. One of the things that were asked of me is whether we could implement the Portland model in Canada. There is no reason we can't do some of the things they do, but Portland was very unique. They had a 7% vacancy rate, and they used a lot of the funding they received to provide rent supplements to help people step into private rental stock. That's not an option that's open to places like Victoria certainly, or many cities, because as you said, as the economy grows and people are more prosperous, not only are they building more and more expensive housing in a lot of places, but many apartments are being converted to condominiums and this kind of thing.
I'm simply pointing out that you can't necessarily transfer directly what works in one area to another area. A lot of times it's local solutions to local problems.
I think we need to figure out what gets results. In some cases that means building new units; in other cases it means taking advantage of existing housing stock, maybe with rent supplements. It may be more in Atlantic Canada that you see existing stock where you still have those opportunities, and maybe to some degree in smaller centres you still have those opportunities. In other places we'll have to find ways to build, but then there are questions about how you do that. I think we need to be creative and consider all kinds of ideas when it comes to that.
At any rate, let me affirm that I am concerned about this. That's the reason I went to Portland. I've been to the downtown east side; I've been across the country, many times, looking at some of these things. The conclusion I have come to is that not only is this complicated, but it does require people of good will--and this is what the people in Portland emphasized--to come together in partnerships to try to address these issues and find the best possible solutions to suit that particular jurisdiction.