Human Resources Committee on April 30th, 2020

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

Thank you very much, Chair. I was patiently waiting for my turn. Thank you for recognizing me and giving me this opportunity to say hello to our wonderful minister.

Thank you very much, Minister, for all the great work you've done on behalf of all Canadians in providing those key supports to every riding across the country.

In Toronto, as you know, COVID-19 is affecting homeless Canadians. Earlier I heard that my colleague, MP Long, also brought up this issue. I want to ask you a question around support for homeless Canadians. They are facing an incredible number of challenges during COVID-19.

I know that in Toronto the organizations and their front-line workers are providing a great service. They are finding ways to adjust so that they can continue to deliver those key services to support our homeless population. Can you give us some information on how the government is supporting organizations and municipalities such as Toronto?

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, York South—Weston, ON]

This is an area that I was very sensitive to right at the very beginning of the pandemic. We moved very quickly to get some initial money out the door to the five major urban centres that have the majority of Canada's homeless individuals.

On top of that, we flowed money to the community entities, including those in Toronto, to the tune of $157.5 million. We got that money out very fast, and it's important to note that this money is additional to the regular Reaching Home money that we fund every year to the community entities. The City of Toronto got over $22 million when you include the additional Reaching Home money plus the additional money that we got out the door quickly.

The second key point about the money that we got out as part of the COVID-19-related Reaching Home money is that we made the decision to make the use of that money by the community entities and the front-line organizations as flexible as possible, so that as they respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, they can use that money for whatever purposes that they need to, either to prevent an outbreak of COVID-19 among the homeless population and/or to contain any potential outbreak.

We've given them the flexibility to acquire hotel rooms and motel rooms and to acquire personal protective equipment and cleaning supplies and so on. We've really freed their hands for them to be able to respond as they see fit in terms of what the local circumstances demand.

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

Thank you, Minister.

It's another sober reminder that we are all equal in facing COVID-19 and also of the importance of looking after each other. It doesn't matter what your social status is or your wealth or whatnot. We are all equal. Thank you very much for continuing to provide support to help our homeless population.

In Don Valley North, my riding, housing affordability and affordable housing have always been at the top of people's minds. Rent is a big issue. That's what I've been hearing in my constituency. In a lot of cases right now during COVID-19, it has gone up very much, in some cases by double digits, which is appalling. Also, there's the fact that COVID-19 has effectively stopped the building of new housing inventory or slowed down the construction.

With so many people out of work, what is the government doing to ensure that everyone can keep a roof over their heads? Are you considering residential rent support programs?

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, York South—Weston, ON]

Our government's priority is making sure that Canadians are able to keep food on the table and a roof over their heads at this difficult time, so our first focus was making sure that we got money out the door and into the pockets and hands of Canadian workers and Canadian families. That is why we introduced the Canada emergency response benefit, which has already provided income support to millions of Canadians, and the Canada emergency wage subsidy, which launched on April 27. We also gave families a top-up to the Canada child benefit and gave Canadian individuals and couples an increase in the GST tax credit.

Before COVID-19, as you know, in Ontario we had signed the Canada-Ontario housing benefit, which is also meant to help people from vulnerable populations with rent affordability. All 10 provinces have implemented a form of eviction freeze, and we commend them for taking this action.

We will continue to look at all options possible to boost funding for Canadians and to provide help in this area. It's essentially a provincial jurisdiction, but we have also made sure that we've put money into the pockets of Canadians so that they can pay their rent and pay for their other necessary expenses.

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

Yes, I understand quite well.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Thank you, Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Dong, for your patience and for your questions. That's your time.

Next is Ms. Kwan for six minutes, please.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister, for coming to our committee.

In terms of the federal government's support for provinces and municipalities across the country, as we are dealing with the homelessness crisis, provinces are struggling to ensure that people get into a safe environment. In British Columbia, our provincial government has undertaken to lease some empty hotels and motels to put the homeless population in those rooms. The long-term plan, of course, would be that we need to house these individuals permanently. Will the federal government contribute to the capital cost of these purchases with the provincial government?

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, York South—Weston, ON]

I want to begin by saying that there are additional Reaching Home dollars on top of the regular Reaching Home funding. With those two additional amounts, with the money that has been freed in their regular approaches to homelessness, municipalities have extra fiscal room to be able to actually purchase these properties. We are providing—

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

With all due respect, Minister, it is deficient. I can tell you that right now. The contribution from the federal government is somewhere between 10% and 12%, 15% at best, in terms of support to the provinces. That number is deficient.

We're talking about a significant number of people who are homeless. We need to get them out of the environment they're in. Right now, as it stands, the measures that have been put in place will address some of the homeless population, but not all of it. Even then, what we need now is for the federal government to come to the table, to continue to support the provinces and municipalities and to get the homeless population out of harm's way during this pandemic and then, into the future, into permanent housing.

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, York South—Weston, ON]

I can answer that. I didn't really get to finish my response.

Basically, I believe that we have provided a lot of support to communities. We've given them not only the flexibility to respond to COVID-19 but also the flexibility to determine how to approach the acquisition of properties and so on. However, if we are serious about finding long-term solutions to homelessness, we can, of course, through the national housing strategy, and we have been providing capital dollars to house people permanently.

The fact of the matter is that this is a whole-of-society approach. The provinces also have to step up to provide supportive services, supportive housing—

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Thank you, Minister. I can assure you that in British Columbia we're doing exactly that. I hope I can continue a conversation with you—

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, York South—Weston, ON]

Oh, absolutely.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

—to talk about how you can support British Columbia in that effort.

By way of example, you say that a lot of money has been given to local communities and organizations. To take my riding as an example, we have the third-largest urban indigenous community in this country. In terms of the allocation of funding that we got out of that $15 million—which is deficient, by the way, in terms of supporting urban indigenous peoples in this country—your contribution, the federal government's contribution, to Vancouver East is 0.019% of the $15 million.

That is a quick calculation on the numbers that I have. Maybe those numbers are incorrect.

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, York South—Weston, ON]

I don't agree with your numbers.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

I would love to get the correct numbers, because I've been asking for them on a riding-by-riding basis so we can understand what resources have actually been provided to communities as they are faced with this COVID-19 pandemic.

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, York South—Weston, ON]

I think we have a philosophical difference, because many of your positions are related to giving the money outright to the municipality of Vancouver. What we believe federally is that—

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

I'm sorry. With all due respect, no, you're wrong in that, Minister. I'm talking about the actual value and the amount that's being provided.

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, York South—Weston, ON]

If I could just finish my answer—

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

No, you've misrepresented what I said, Minister, so I want to correct the record to say that what I'm arguing and what I'm saying is that the dollar amounts provided by the federal government to organizations in the community, to the provinces or to the municipalities, are deficient in terms of helping them address the homelessness crisis during the COVID-19 crisis and after COVID as well.

In the federal government's $15-million allocation, the total amount to Vancouver East for the urban indigenous community is 0.019% of the $15 million, and yet Vancouver East is the third-largest urban indigenous community in this country. I just simply want to say that the dollar amounts are insufficient, and I hope there is a way in which the federal government can find a path forward in providing additional resources to the communities for them to get through this pandemic.

Minister...?

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, York South—Weston, ON]

I thought you were making a statement. I didn't hear the question. Sorry.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Well, that's really helpful.

My question is this: Will your government be providing additional resources and investments to the communities, the organizations and the provinces so that they can get through this pandemic?

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, York South—Weston, ON]

Absolutely, and $207.5 million, when you add the $50 million to the $157.5 million, is a significant investment for COVID-19-related homelessness, but the national housing strategy of $55 billion hasn't stopped. We are continuing and we're welcoming projects. I welcome any project from any non-profit organization, in your constituency and beyond, through the national housing strategy co-investment fund.

We haven't stopped. As long as an organization can convince the province to get the supportive services, we will provide the capital dollars through the national housing strategy. I give you that commitment, and I will continue to work with you to make sure that we get people off the streets.

I have seen those projects in Vancouver, through modular housing and other options, but we have to ensure that this is a whole-of-society approach. If we are going to exceed our targets under the national housing strategy, the provinces also have to step up to provide the supportive services so that through our capital dollars, we enable people to get off the streets.

Third, municipalities also have to do their part to speed up the planning process and enable organizations to acquire land.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Yes.

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, York South—Weston, ON]

Everybody has to do their part, and we're doing our part.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Thank you, Minister, and thank you, Ms. Kwan. We're well over time, but I wanted to give the minister the courtesy of an opportunity to respond.

Next we have Ms. Kusie for five minutes.

One minute, please, Ms. Kusie. I think Mr. Vaughan has his hand raised.

Do you have a point of order, Mr. Vaughan?