Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I would like to thank the witnesses for coming here today. Thank you, Madam Minister.
I would like to talk to you about housing. As you know, there are 600,000 social housing units in Canada, with long-term subsidies, including 127,000 in Quebec. Some of these subsidies have already expired. Others will expire in the next few years. It is said that approximately 75,000 units will be affected between now and 2016. These are all buildings that are at least 25 years old. They need renovations. Should the low-income tenants who are subsidized lose this subsidy, they will have to pay double or triple the rent that they are currently paying or find housing at $90 per month. What can you find at that price? A hovel with truly horrible conditions. Or else they will have to choose between paying rent, buying food or buying clothing for their children.
According to your main estimates, you feel that you will be saving $21.7 million, once the agreements expire. Does that mean that your department does not intend to renew these agreements?