Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'd like to thank the witnesses for their invaluable insight.
The committee is tasked with studying this new fund, and with the help of people like you, the witnesses, we are examining the possibilities it opens up. The government is investing $4 billion in the fund over five years. That's a lot of money. Like you, we are interested in where the needs truly lie and how the money should be spent to meet those needs.
My question is for Mr. Cimon.
Mr. Cimon, I first want to commend you on the work your association is doing in Quebec.
Earlier today, I asked the minister the same question I had previously asked the general manager of Bâtir son quartier, Ms. Cyr. When she appeared before the committee, she said that increasing the housing supply would not automatically result in a greater supply of affordable housing units, specifically affordable rental housing units. This program seems to focus on supply, but it strikes me that addressing demand would be a better idea.
I'd like to hear your take on that.
In my riding of Thérèse‑De Blainville, the housing committee of the Table de concertation sur la pauvreté Thérèse‑De Blainville just created 40 community housing units in Boisbriand. There were numerous roadblocks along the way, but the effort proved very rewarding.
One of those roadblocks was the “not in my backyard” mentality. Nevertheless, the project was successful. I don't only mean in terms of price and affordable housing. I'm also talking about the fact that the people who live there are empowered going forward. It's a great model.
Should the government invest in community housing and these types of models on a broader scale?