Human Resources Committee on June 2nd, 2022

[Éric Cimon]

It could certainly be useful, but it's not a cure-all.

You may not know this, but we had to create the Fonds d'acquisition de Montréal—an acquisition, or investment, fund—in conjunction with Ms. Cyr's organization, Bâtir son quartier.

We had to create the Fonds d'acquisition québécois so that we had the funding to take advantage of market opportunities and purchase properties while we were waiting for program funding to come in.

Through the program, the government could make land available to us, and the wonderful thing is that municipalities in Quebec have the right of first refusal. In other words, they can come forward if they see a strategic use for a particular piece of land that can meet certain needs. They can buy the land if it's put up for sale. Municipalities would be acting in a coordinated way, based on community needs and development.

Community housing construction is an important economic lever.

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

It's a social lever as well.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Thank you, Ms. Chabot.

We'll go to Madam Zarrillo for the last five.

[Bonita Zarrillo, NDP, Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I'm going to start with Monsieur Cimon.

We were talking about getting affordable housing built faster. That's what I'd like the accelerator fund to be for. You mentioned that there are 10,000 not-completed units because there's no funding, no money nor partnership with CMHC. I wonder if you could expand a little bit more on how this government could help to get those 10,000 units completed with some funding.

What does the partnership with CMHC need to look like to get the housing to the communities faster?

[Éric Cimon]

A good example is with the RHI money that's been spent in Quebec. The agreement was that we had a lot of projects that were responding exactly to the needs that the program wanted, so we took the money. The Quebec government didn't index the amount of money to realize the project, so they were all underfunded. The money from the federal government made the difference to make sure that those projects were viable.

It didn't take time to do it because they were already there on the table. On the first wave, most of them were just waiting for the money to go on and be built.

For the second one, a couple of projects were totally out of the program because some motel, hotel or different kinds of buildings could be transferred within a year, but it's really tough. We need to make sure that we don't have that anymore. For people or groups that are building, the pressure to spend the money within a year, making sure that the city's in and making sure that all the regulations are passed—it's almost impossible. We can do it, but everybody's burned at the end, even the group that we're supposed to help.

That's what we have to do. We have to make sure that this money goes to fund the project, not to make a couple of programs that all go together. We want one program that will make sure that, from beginning to end, we will build those houses to help the needs of the community.

[Bonita Zarrillo, NDP, Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC]

Thank you very much. I'm going to Mr. Morrison next.

Following on that ability for a project to go from front to back quickly, I do think that politicians have a role to play here around the lack of courage among politicians. I think about “Simbyism”, or “strategy in my backyard”. The committee groups don't have the gavel. These politicians have the gavel. They have the ability to fast-track and make these decisions.

I'm going to pivot to indigenous housing on that, Mr. Morrison. I know your organization does a lot of work on indigenous housing. We know that indigenous community groups are ready to build housing. They have strategies to build housing. They're ready to go. They, too, can't get the funding and infrastructure is not available to them.

If you wouldn't mind, could you share how this accelerator fund could actually help get some accelerated housing or even infrastructure available for indigenous communities for housing?

[Jeff Morrison]

Ms. Zarrillo, as I think you know, our association has an urban indigenous housing caucus made up of urban indigenous housing providers. We were so disappointed in the 2022 budget. The urban, rural and northern indigenous strategy that was part of the past two mandate letters was not fully funded.

We have done study after study. You have done a study, as a committee. There is no more need for engagement. There is no more need for study. We are ready to go with an urban, rural and northern indigenous strategy that is properly funded. The $300 million over five years to codevelop the study, contained in the 2022 budget.... We're all still scratching our heads, trying to figure out why we need five years to codevelop a strategy that, frankly, has been studied to death.

We hope a funding announcement for such a strategy will be forthcoming very shortly. We're continuing to have discussions with various officials, but there are, frankly, no more barriers to getting that strategy in place. We are completely ready to go. If the accelerator fund can help with that strategy, fantastic, but there is nothing preventing us from getting and moving on an urban indigenous strategy, other than the announcing of it by the federal government.

[Bonita Zarrillo, NDP, Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Morrison.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Thank you, Madam Zarrillo. Your time has expired.

I would like to thank the witnesses for attending today and answering questions from the committee members.

Committee members, before we adjourn....

Go ahead, Madame Martinez Ferrada.

[Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Liberal, Hochelaga, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I have a request for the committee members.

We've heard what a number of witnesses have to say, but we haven't heard much about certain issues. I would therefore like us to hold an additional meeting to hear the perspectives of women and indigenous community members on the housing accelerator fund and the municipalities dimension.

I am asking for agreement from committee members to invite witnesses who could shed a different light on our study and tell us about their reality. I think that's important.

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

How long of a meeting are we talking?

[Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Liberal, Hochelaga, QC]

I think an hour would do it.

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

All right.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

You had the discussion. That's what I was looking for. I need direction. You'll see on the calendar that next Thursday.... We were to conclude the witnesses on Monday, and then move to drafting instructions on the housing accelerator.

We have a request to schedule another one-hour meeting with witnesses. That would have to be provided quickly. Is there agreement from the committee?

Go ahead, Madame Chabot.

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

I am fine with that. The meeting could take place next week.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Okay.

Madam Zarrillo, you have your hand up.

[Bonita Zarrillo, NDP, Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I really appreciate that intervention by the member. I can remember that, on one of the witness days, it was almost the end of the testimony before we heard from even one woman.

I would like to ask whether the member would be open to also adding.... I'd like to hear from people with disabilities at this time, too. We know they've been negatively impacted by the loss of accessible housing. Perhaps we could add that to the day.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Do we have...? I am sensing agreement, unanimous consent, that we schedule another one-hour session to hear from witnesses, as articulated by Madame Martinez Ferrada. We'll fit that in. That may influence the drafting of instructions. We'll discuss it further on Monday, when we have more time.

With that, I will adjourn the meeting. Thank you, members.