Evidence of meeting #96 for Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was amendment.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Peter Fragiskatos Liberal London North Centre, ON
I was just saying that sometimes you can't win in this business. I was simply trying to compliment colleagues across the way. I suppose that's how it is. That's fine. I have very thick skin.
I am keeping within the scope of what's been proposed. Again, just in case colleagues have forgotten what exactly the amendment is all about, Canada is in a housing crisis. Again, to Mr. Aitchison, who said that I didn't embrace that, no. What I just described and what the amendment looks at and recognizes is that the committee should undertake a study of co-op housing and affordable housing. Well, how could we actually have a serious study of housing if we didn't look at those things?
I opened it up to committee members to say whether they wanted to look at the importance of non-market housing or of rent-geared-to-income housing, to be more specific than what the original amendment on my side proposed. If committee members want to go down that path, then I would be open to a subamendment to that effect; that's quite fine with me.
I have a hard time understanding, Mr. Chair, how we could actually have a serious meeting when we would bring back the minister again to share with us the many actions that the government is taking to address the crisis at hand. I would like to hear them, of course, and I think opposition members should hear them, because oftentimes they overlook that aspect or are not aware of it. I'm not sure.
However, the meeting with the interim CEO is not something that.... I think Mr. Long has something to add on these points as well, so I won't belabour the point, but I don't see how bringing the interim CEO here will do very much.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey
Thank you, Mr. Fragiskatos.
The current minister has been here twice since his appointment.
Mr. Long, you have the floor on the amendment, and then we'll go to Madame Chabot.
Liberal
Wayne Long Liberal Saint John—Rothesay, NB
Thank you, Mr. Chair. It's great to be back in Ottawa. It's great to see all my colleagues.
Obviously, I respect MP Aitchison, MP Gray, MP Falk and MP Ferreri for their work on HUMA.
On the motion that MP Gray put forth, I'll be honest. You lost me with the “(c) No housing has been built as a result of the Housing Accelerator Fund.” I think that to be fair on that one, the minister has gone across the country. He's probably signed 32 agreements so far.
Liberal
Wayne Long Liberal Saint John—Rothesay, NB
I think anyone who understands the housing accelerator fund is going to realize that there hasn't been housing built yet. I mean, it's accelerating the process and it's breaking down barriers. Obviously, municipalities have to submit a plan that they're going to build so many houses over so many years. If they do that, if they achieve those goals, they'll get money. It's a wonderful program. I was actually thrilled to have the Prime Minister in my riding here two weeks ago. We made an announcement for Saint John—Rothesay, and it was received very, very well by the community. We announced nearly $9.2 million for the City of Saint John. In addition to that, we announced $4.9 million for the rapid housing initiative.
I'm happy to say that I'm probably the ranking member here, since I've been on HUMA since 2015. When I started with HUMA, we did travel across the country at that point. Adam Vaughan was parliamentary secretary for housing. I learned a lot from him, and we came up with the national housing strategy. It's puzzling to me that when a federal government is trying to lead in housing through rapid housing, co-ventures, co-investment, and different programs through CMHC, all of a sudden we seem to own every problem that's happening across this country in housing.
I think we all know that this has been an issue that's been unfolding over many, many years and over multiple levels of government. How the provinces have gotten away with not leading on this file is shocking to me. I think we are delivering. I think, as my colleague MP Fragiskatos said, that we obviously have a crisis. We do have an issue. A lot of things have happened, whether it's labour, the supply chain or the pandemic. Again, this has been unfolding over many, many governments and many different levels of government over many, many years.
I'm proud of what we've done. I think that Mr. Fragiskatos' amendment is fair. Minister Fraser, as we all know, handles himself very well when he's here. Again, I've been here for nine years. I understand the reasoning of bringing officials in so that the opposition can ask questions and maybe get a good clip or a misstep or what have you, but I think there's good work being done. I think there's productive work being done. We're not going to solve this problem, obviously, in a year, but I'm really very proud of what we're doing.
Mr. Chair, how are we on time?
Liberal
Conservative
Tracy Gray Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC
I have a point of order, Mr. Chair. I said “point of order” before you banged the gavel.
Conservative
Tracy Gray Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC
I said “point of order” before you banged the gavel. You do not have consent to adjourn, Mr. Chair.
Conservative
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey
I do not see consensus to extend beyond 5:30. Do we have consensus to move beyond 5:30?