Minister, can you talk about another investment policy criteria around ensuring that sustainable material is used, ensuring sustainability and working hand in hand on our agenda with respect to fighting climate change?

4:10 p.m.

Liberal

Gregor Robertson Liberal Vancouver Fraserview—South Burnaby, BC

That is also a very important element of the investment policy. The criteria around sustainability and climate resilience are front and centre for us. We want to make sure, going forward, that everything funded in part by the Government of Canada is built for the climate challenges we face.

The siting is important. Where we build is very important, so we're not going to build in vulnerable areas. How we build is very important in that we want to see low-embodied carbon materials. Canadian steel is one of the lowest-carbon steel supplies in the world. Obviously, Canadian wood is very low-carbon material. Great building technologies have Canadian IP; we want to support those in addressing the climate challenge.

Energy efficiency is obviously critical across the board. We want to make sure we're on our net-zero trajectory. Housing and housing-related infrastructure need to contribute to that success. That's through a combination of reducing impact on climate and making sure we're more resilient with everything we build.

4:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey

Mrs. Gill, you have the floor for two and a half minutes.

4:10 p.m.

Bloc

Marilène Gill Bloc Côte-Nord—Kawawachikamach—Nitassinan, QC

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Minister, I'd like to ask you two questions on homelessness considering the growing crisis.

First, why did you decide to stop funding the community encampment response plan at the end of the year?

According to studies on the ground, over 3,000 people in Quebec will directly lose the support they're receiving, and 69% of respondent organizations say that this is going to significantly affect their intake and support capabilities.

4:10 p.m.

Liberal

Gregor Robertson Liberal Vancouver Fraserview—South Burnaby, BC

That was a two-year program. We're looking at what next steps we can take. The initial step here is to fund transitional supportive housing. We know people in tent encampments need to access housing. That is the solution, so we're pushing hard for those partnerships with the provinces.

This week, I met with the Quebec minister of housing, Minister Proulx. We have our shoulders to the wheel together to make sure we move fast on delivering support for supportive housing, for the Reaching Home program and for other housing investments we want to make together.

4:10 p.m.

Bloc

Marilène Gill Bloc Côte-Nord—Kawawachikamach—Nitassinan, QC

Thank you.

I have one minute left to ask you my last question, so you can answer it in writing if necessary.

Are there any plans to increase federal housing funds considering that Quebec and large cities are once again experiencing a rise in homelessness? In fact, the same thing is happening everywhere. Elected officials are making it a priority of their own.

4:10 p.m.

Liberal

Gregor Robertson Liberal Vancouver Fraserview—South Burnaby, BC

Absolutely.

We want to see investment scale up to solve homelessness, and the affordable housing crunch more broadly. We are working closely now with Quebec on next steps with Build Canada Homes, as well as on the existing programs we have together.

I will say, to your earlier question, that student housing is part of Build Canada Homes as well. We want to see student housing proposals come forward. We've had lots of interest. Utile has been one organization we've talked to a number of times now. We want to see that work scale up, because many students have to live in the community and obviously need access to affordable housing.

4:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey

You have 10 seconds left, Mrs. Gill.

4:10 p.m.

Bloc

Marilène Gill Bloc Côte-Nord—Kawawachikamach—Nitassinan, QC

That’s excellent.

Is the CMHC planning to update the study on the amount of housing construction required to restore affordability by 2030, given the immigration plan update announced in the last budget?

4:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey

Minister, could you provide that answer in writing?

4:10 p.m.

Liberal

Gregor Robertson Liberal Vancouver Fraserview—South Burnaby, BC

Yes, we can come back in writing.

4:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey

We'll now go to Madame Cobena for five minutes.

You have the floor.

4:10 p.m.

Conservative

Sandra Cobena Conservative Newmarket—Aurora, ON

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

My questions are for Minister Robertson.

Thank you for being here and for giving us your time.

I represent the riding of Newmarket—Aurora. In Newmarket, particularly, we have a homelessness problem. I have to ask you about this $97,000 spend. I cannot find a way to justify this to the people in my riding who see our neighbours on the streets, struggling to find a home, shelter and food. I can't walk up to them and say, “I know you're homeless, but it's okay, because the minister spent $97,000 to learn about it.”

How do you suggest I justify that to the people in my riding?

4:15 p.m.

Liberal

Gregor Robertson Liberal Vancouver Fraserview—South Burnaby, BC

In terms of the investment in government staff who are attending and in many cases making contact with many of the homeless providers and services, these are Government of Canada employees—

4:15 p.m.

Conservative

Sandra Cobena Conservative Newmarket—Aurora, ON

May I clarify that? It's not an investment.

4:15 p.m.

Liberal

Gregor Robertson Liberal Vancouver Fraserview—South Burnaby, BC

—who are there to help assist.

4:15 p.m.

Conservative

Sandra Cobena Conservative Newmarket—Aurora, ON

It's not an investment. It's an expense.

4:15 p.m.

Liberal

Gregor Robertson Liberal Vancouver Fraserview—South Burnaby, BC

They're making sure—

4:15 p.m.

Conservative

Sandra Cobena Conservative Newmarket—Aurora, ON

It's not an investment. It's not going to create capital.

4:15 p.m.

Liberal

Gregor Robertson Liberal Vancouver Fraserview—South Burnaby, BC

—that we are connected to the people on the ground—

4:15 p.m.

Conservative

Sandra Cobena Conservative Newmarket—Aurora, ON

It's not capital formation.

4:15 p.m.

Liberal

Gregor Robertson Liberal Vancouver Fraserview—South Burnaby, BC

—who are doing the work on homelessness.

4:15 p.m.

Conservative

Sandra Cobena Conservative Newmarket—Aurora, ON

There's not going to be an asset. It's not an investment. It's an expense. We're not going to see a return on that money.

I have to justify it to the people in my riding: $97,000 spent to learn about homelessness. How do I tell a constituent of mine who is homeless that your government spent $97,000 learning about how he is homeless?

4:15 p.m.

Liberal

Gregor Robertson Liberal Vancouver Fraserview—South Burnaby, BC

The Government of Canada is investing billions of dollars in solutions to homelessness. We need the people who work for the Government of Canada to be connected, on the ground, to all the people who are doing the work, who are operating shelters and who are helping people into supportive housing. We want to make sure we're well informed and well connected to the large community of people who support people who are homeless.

4:15 p.m.

Conservative

Sandra Cobena Conservative Newmarket—Aurora, ON

Minister, my question is quite simple.