Human Resources Committee on Feb. 25th, 2020

[Adam Vaughan, Liberal, Spadina—Fort York, ON]

I'll be supporting this motion. When the province has direction and isn't spending in the poorest jurisdiction in Manitoba, we need to find out why that government is making that decision. We have a national housing program that is made up of different programs. It's not a single program, but a combination of programs around fighting homelessness and around community investments with housing providers and developers. We usually say “providers” rather than “developers” because they share jurisdiction and capacity across non-profits and private sector developers.

We also have the Canada housing benefit, which is the cost-shared program that Ontario is rolling out. Quebec is a province that hasn't signed on to receive federal funding to subsidize low-income tenants in that province. We'd really like to see additional dollars be spent in Quebec. Maybe we can find out why Quebec has refused to receive federal dollars to subsidize low-income folks.

I'm very open to having that conversation. We know that in Alberta they want to rip up the agreement and not spend any money on new housing. I think having an examination of where the barriers are in the program design and which jurisdictions.... B.C. is embracing it and has made a dozen or so housing announcements. It would look at why some governments are embracing it, housing people, subsidizing low-income folks and getting the numbers of homeless people down, while other communities have decided to withdraw services in that area.

I think getting an environmental scan of the whole national housing strategy would be fascinating. We can then understand why perhaps we need to bypass provinces occasionally to help people when they have housing needs, and why sometimes working with other provinces works really well. Maybe there are lessons that can be learned across jurisdictions.

We can also understand some of the challenges that smaller provinces are having in realizing the capital requirements to participate in the program.

I have no problem supporting it as amended. I think we can probably vote on it and get on to the next one.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Mr. Albas.

[Dan Albas, Conservative, Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC]

I was going to ask for some more details on what we meant by “communities”, but I think I have a very good picture now. Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Mr. Long.

[Wayne Long, Liberal, Saint John—Rothesay, NB]

I can support the amendment. It's important, though, that we recognize that we want to investigate ways that we as a federal government can make more money for housing available.

To MP Vaughan's point, you can go province to province. You can say the government in New Brunswick isn't spending enough money on affordable housing, but maybe the government in New Brunswick ran on a platform of more austerity.

I'm good with the amendment. I certainly will support it. I thank MP Kusie for bringing the whole thing forward. I caution, though, that we don't want to go down a rabbit hole of going province by province and looking at each government. Every government has a different platform and a different strategy on housing, which, obviously, we may not agree with.

Anyway, I will just throw that out there.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Are we ready for the question?

We're on the amendment proposed by Ms. Gazan. The motion as amended would read as follows:

That the committee undertake a study of the effectiveness of the programs in the National Housing Strategy, the distributing of funds through the National Housing Strategy to communities, and any barriers which may be preventing the distribution of funds to developers.

We are voting on the amendment.

(Amendment agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

Is there any debate on the main motion?

(Motion as amended agreed to)

Thank you.

Mr. Turnbull.

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Whitby, ON]

I would like to move another motion, if possible.

The motion reads:

That the committee undertake a study to investigate and make recommendations on the issue of supportive housing for seniors with an emphasis on how the National Housing Strategy can better incorporate measures to address a wide range of seniors’ housing needs as they relate to the National Housing Strategy; and that the committee report its findings to the House.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Thank you, Mr. Turnbull. The motion is in order.

Is there any debate?

Mr. Vis.

[Brad Vis, Conservative, Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon, BC]

I have a question for the member opposite, through the chair.

Given that we just passed a motion unanimously on the national housing strategy, is it pertinent to commence an additional study on one subsection of the overall national housing strategy?

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Mr. Turnbull.

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Whitby, ON]

Obviously, I think it is pertinent, and I will give some reasons as to why, but I understand the question, and I appreciate it.

I think seniors are identified as a vulnerable group within the national housing strategy already. I think there are several indications within the national housing strategy that to date there has been limited data to fully address the housing issues.

Coming from Whitby and representing the people of Whitby, I hosted a consultation during the last break week. There are quite a lot of individuals in my community who are seniors, who are saying that there really is a gap between the folks who are living at home aging in place and the other end of the spectrum, which I think involves those in long-term care.

I think there really is an opportunity to improve on the great work that has already been done on the national housing strategy. I think a study on this matter deserves some focus.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Ms. Gazan.

[Leah Gazan, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Turnbull, for your motion.

I want to suggest a couple of small amendments. The motion would then be as follows:

That the committee undertake a study to investigate and make recommendations on the issue of supportive housing for Seniors with an emphasis on how the National Housing Strategy can better incorporate measures to address a wide range of seniors' housing needs, including affordable, accessible social housing and coop housing as they relate to the National Housing Strategy; and that the committee report its findings to the House with recommendations on how the National Housing Strategy needs to be revised.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

All right, the amendment is in order.

Is there any debate on the amendment?

Madame Chabot.

[Louise Chabot, Bloc, Thérèse-De Blainville, QC]

Earlier, a member asked why a previous motion was adopted when we have this one before us. I read the motion and I am leaning towards supporting it, whether it is amended or not. The amendment does not change the substance of the motion.

From the outset, we decided to tackle the issue of social housing or housing in general. Earlier we focused on indigenous people. We then discussed the issue of social housing in general. Now we are discussing seniors.

If we are going to study the effectiveness of our programs, why not look at all aspects of this issue? We might find different solutions. That said, I am in favour of the motion.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Are we ready for the question on the amendment?

(Amendment agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

Is there any debate on the motion as amended?

Mrs. Kusie.

[Stephanie Kusie, Conservative, Calgary Midnapore, AB]

I'll just say that as the official opposition, the Conservative Party of Canada supports seniors. We were the first government to have a minister of seniors. I think we would like to see the people who built this nation, and who are truly the most vulnerable, taken care of. In fact, I'm very concerned for the future in terms of the organizational structure of OAS and CPP. I think demographics and personal investment history are not on our side, so this is probably the least we can do for them.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Are there any further interventions?

(Motion as amended agreed to)

Thank you.

Mrs. Falk.

[Rosemarie Falk, Conservative, Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I would like to move:

That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee undertake a study on the social and economic impacts and overall well-being of Canadian grandparents who become guardians of their grandchildren; that the study comprise no fewer than four meetings; that the committee report its findings, with recommendations, to the House; and that, pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee request that the Government provide a comprehensive response.

I think—especially in my past line of work—that we're seeing more and more children who are being taken care of by grandparents. I think it is imperative for us to study to see why that is, if there are supports, or what can be done differently to help alleviate that stress.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Ms. Falk, the motion is in order.

Mr. Long.

[Wayne Long, Liberal, Saint John—Rothesay, NB]

Thank you, Chair.

I think that is a good motion. It's something we deal with weekly in our constituency office, grandparents coming in as full-time guardians of their grandchildren and the lack of recognition and lack of support they get. I certainly will be supporting the motion.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Mr. Turnbull.

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Whitby, ON]

I just wanted to relay a bit of a personal note. I'm fully in support of this. I think it's a fantastic motion, and I appreciate Ms. Falk's putting it forward. My nephew had both his parents pass away, and my wife's mother and father are now taking care and have become the legal guardians of little Ryan, so I have heartfelt support for this.

Thank you very much for putting it forward. I'll be supporting it.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Mrs. Kusie.

[Stephanie Kusie, Conservative, Calgary Midnapore, AB]

Further to Mr. Turnbull's touching story, I think there are many segments of our broken society that touch upon this motion. I feel that an examination of this situation, which many are put into unexpectedly and often unknowingly, is necessary. If we can attempt to do an evaluation of the supports that are necessary or required to assist those, I think we'll actually see improvements in other segments of society as well.

Thank you.