Human Resources Committee on Feb. 25th, 2020

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

I would support Mr. Long's motion. When we talk about housing, especially social housing or indigenous housing, as we just did, we know that there are problems and needs. The study will make it possible for us to determine what they are.

I represent the Bloc Québécois, and therefore you will not be surprised that we are interested in this issue. With respect to a national housing strategy, we may not have the same concerns or positions on these issues because of provincial differences. However, I would agree to the motion because the idea is to conduct a study. As for the solutions, we shall see.

Thank you very much.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Mr. Dong.

[Han Dong, Liberal, Don Valley North, ON]

Sorry, Chair. I'm a bit confused here. Which motion are we discussing right now? Are we still on Mrs. Kusie's motion?

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

It's Mrs. Kusie's motion, to undertake a study on the effectiveness of distributing funds through the national housing strategy and any barriers.

[Han Dong, Liberal, Don Valley North, ON]

Can I have a copy? Is it identical to Mr. Long's motion? Okay.

[Stephanie Kusie, Conservative, Calgary Midnapore, AB]

Sorry, Mr. Dong.

[Han Dong, Liberal, Don Valley North, ON]

Sorry, I'm just a little confused.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Ms. Gazan.

[Leah Gazan, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

Can I recommend an amendment to this motion?

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Of course.

[Leah Gazan, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

I'm so sorry, everybody. I'm really learning. I know I'm stumbling, and I apologize.

It's just a small recommendation:

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.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Thank you, Ms. Gazan.

The amendment appears to be in order. Now we have debate on the amendment.

Mr. Long.

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

Could you read that again?

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Ms. Gazan, go ahead.

[Leah Gazan, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

It says:

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.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Mr. Long, go ahead.

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

Although I certainly understand what MP Gazan is undertaking here, the only concern I would have with that amendment would be.... We all know that through the bilateral agreements, all that housing money goes out through the province, or the co-investment fund is a direct way, through CMHC, to circumvent the bilats.

I'll throw it out for debate, but my concern would be that we're opening up a whole...delving into provincial jurisdiction that I think complicates what I was trying to get at with that study.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Mr. Housefather.

[Anthony Housefather, Liberal, Mount Royal, QC]

Thank you.

Mr. Chairman, if I may, I would like to ask Ms. Gazan to explain from her perspective how the wording changes the motion, because I guess I don't understand what the amendment is actually trying to achieve.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Ms. Gazan.

[Leah Gazan, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

The focus of this motion is on developers, and I think it leaves out community. Talking about developers in the absence of community, and decision-makers as stakeholders in it.... That was the purpose of the change.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Ms. Chabot, you have the floor.

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

I would like some clarification so that I can understand the motion before I vote.

First, with respect to the effectiveness of the programs, what exactly are we talking about? Second, could you please clarify why you are adding the words "to communities"?

Thank you.

[Leah Gazan, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

Thank you very much for your question.

One of the first amendments is also the study of the effectiveness of the programs in the national housing strategy. I think that's one of the critical amendments. Also, it's about how the funds are actually being distributed through the national housing strategy itself.

In my riding, the third-poorest riding, I've had no money distributed for housing. It's of interest to me to find out how decisions are being made and if they're being made effectively in terms of how monies are being distributed.

I said, “the distributing of funds through the National Housing Strategy to communities”. How is the distributing of funds through the national housing strategy to communities happening? How are decisions being made? I think that's an important research question.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Mr. Vaughan, please.