Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'd like to start by acknowledging that I'm joining all of you virtually from the traditional land of the Algonquin Anishinabe peoples.
As we all know too well, this decade has had an incredibly difficult start.
Housing has a critical role to play in ensuring that we seize this moment and continue to progressively realize the right to adequate housing.
Our government has set out an ambitious agenda to make housing more affordable for everyone in Canada, tackling the issue from every angle that will have an impact. We’ll do this by making further investments in programs that are already making a difference through our National Housing Strategy, a 10‑year plan, backed by more than $72 billion in investments, to give more Canadians a place to call home.
Through our national housing strategy, we have helped house over 1.1 million Canadians since 2015. That's because we put in place different programs that address the different housing needs of Canadians. This includes more funding for the national housing co-investment fund and enhancements to the rental construction financing initiative and the federal lands initiative.
These programs to create more housing are working, but we need to free up roadblocks at the municipal level. That’s why we will be launching a housing supply accelerator fund to increase the housing supply in Canada’s large and most rapidly growing urban regions. It will include financial incentives for new housing units and measures such as upzoning, inclusion rezoning and transit-oriented development, modernized permitting systems, and a more responsive housing supply to improve housing affordability and accessibility.
Next week I will be co-hosting a national housing supply summit with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities to bring together all orders of government and all sectors. Now more than ever before, we need our provincial and municipal partners to work closely with us. I will also be working to develop a fairness in real estate action plan to ensure that there's more protection and transparency for both homebuyers and renters.
On the other hand, through Reaching Home, Canada's homelessness strategy, we will continue to support communities across Canada to prevent, reduce and eventually eliminate chronic homelessness. So far this program has helped thousands of Canadians, and I look forward to sharing an update in the coming weeks.
Similarly, through the rapid housing initiative, we will continue to create more urgently needed housing for those who need it the most. This program, Mr. Chair, is very close to my heart. We launched it a year ago and we now see that we've exceeded our targets and are on track to create over 10,000 new permanent, affordable housing units.
Over 40% of these will support indigenous families. First nations, Métis and Inuit people face some of the worst housing conditions in the country. That's why, on top of the previous supports in the programs that I have listed so far, we will be working with indigenous partners to co-develop a northern, urban and rural indigenous housing strategy, as was recommended by this committee last year.
Mr. Chair, having grown up in social housing myself, I can't overemphasize what having a reliable roof over your head does for people. I saw it first-hand, and that is why I couldn't be more committed to this mandate that is ahead of me. In my role as Minister of Diversity and Inclusion, I know just how important an equitable housing system is to creating communities where everyone feels they belong.
Even as we celebrate Black history month, recent events have made it clear that the fight against racism requires vigilance, allyship and a sustained commitment. This government will continue to combat racism and discrimination in all its forms. I'm sure members are as thrilled as I was two weeks ago when we kicked off Black history month by announcing a carve-out of $50 million through the national housing co-investment fund to support Black Canadian renters across the country.
Before I conclude, I also want to make a brief mention of the Canada housing benefit. This benefit is a prime example of why we need all orders of government to work together, as this $4-billion fund, in collaboration with provinces and territories, provides direct rental support payments to Canadians. The national housing strategy is all-encompassing, Mr. Chair, with many ambitious initiatives to make sure every Canadian has a safe and affordable place to call home.
I turn it back to you, Mr. Chair, and I would be happy to take any questions from the committee.
Thank you.