That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2)(a), the committee undertake a study of at least six meetings on housing starts in relation to federal programs in Canada; that the committee invite the Minister of Housing and the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation to appear separately for at least two hours each; that the committee invite other witnesses selected by its members to appear; and that the committee report its findings and recommendations to the House.

We know housing starts are down, and we haven't had an opportunity at this committee to study housing—a massive portfolio—in this session. We would like to do that immediately after completing the study regarding the Bloc's motion we just passed—the Standing Order 106(4) letter.

If the Liberals want a moment to discuss this, that's fine. We understand that the minister is coming here in 15 minutes, and we would like to honour her time while she is here at committee.

8:55 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey

Thank you, Ms. Falk.

The motion moved by Ms. Falk is in order.

8:55 a.m.

Conservative

Rosemarie Falk Conservative Battlefords—Lloydminster—Meadow Lake, SK

I'll just add that it was put on notice. Every member should have it. I believe it is in the digital binder.

8:55 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey

I have Madame Desrochers next; then it's Ms. Koutrakis and Mr. Genuis.

8:55 a.m.

Liberal

Caroline Desrochers Liberal Trois-Rivières, QC

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thank the member for bringing up this issue.

Our government has taken its responsibility with respect to building more affordable housing very seriously, and that's why we are moving forward with Build Canada Homes. I would ask the member to take a look at her data, because housing starts are actually up.

It's a complex problem. There are different issues in different cities. I think it's a very worthwhile and relevant subject for this committee to study. However, we'd like to suspend so we can review the motion.

8:55 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey

Okay. We'll suspend for several minutes.

9 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey

Come to order, members. The committee is back in session.

Madame Desrochers had the floor when we suspended.

9:05 a.m.

Liberal

Caroline Desrochers Liberal Trois-Rivières, QC

I'd like to thank my colleague for her motion to study housing starts and housing-related issues. As we said before, there is a housing crisis and it's important that we make the time necessary to discuss it and get to the bottom of it.

I would like to propose a couple of amendments to this. I think then we can find some consensus for moving forward.

First of all, we propose that the committee undertake a study of no less than four meetings. We don't have to set a cap, but it's no less than four meetings. At the end, we'd like to add an amendment saying that, pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to the report.

9:05 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey

We now have an amendment to the motion of Ms. Falk on the floor. The discussion will now move to the amendment of Madame Desrochers.

9:05 a.m.

Bloc

Andréanne Larouche Bloc Shefford, QC

Mr. Chair—

9:05 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey

I remind those at the back of the room that this committee is in session. Please be quiet.

9:05 a.m.

Conservative

Rosemarie Falk Conservative Battlefords—Lloydminster—Meadow Lake, SK

I have a point of order, Chair. It's very noisy in the back and it is hard for us to hear.

9:05 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey

Yes, I agree.

I'd ask the members at the back of the room to simply respect that the meeting is in session. We're dealing with a subject matter before the final hour.

We have an amendment to the motion of Ms. Falk, put forward by Madame Desrochers.

I believe, Madame Larouche, you had your hand up.

9:05 a.m.

Bloc

Andréanne Larouche Bloc Shefford, QC

Actually, Mr. Chair, I had trouble hearing because of the noise. I understood the first amendment, which proposed to hold four meetings, but there was talk of a report. I just want to understand.

9:05 a.m.

Liberal

Caroline Desrochers Liberal Trois-Rivières, QC

It has to do with Standing Order 109. We're asking the government to table a response to the report.

9:05 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey

Do you agree, Ms. Larouche?

9:05 a.m.

Bloc

Andréanne Larouche Bloc Shefford, QC

I'm not saying that I agree at this point. I just didn't understand the amendment.

Thank you.

9:05 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey

Is there discussion on the amendment of Madame Desrochers?

Mr. Genuis, go ahead on the amendment.

9:05 a.m.

Conservative

Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB

Chair, very briefly, our view is that the six meeting minimum is appropriate.

Over the break especially, I've been visiting university campuses across this country. I've been on about a dozen campuses in five different provinces asking young people if they are better or worse off than their parents' generation. Overwhelmingly, young people tell me that they feel they are worse off than their parents' generation. The two key reasons are challenges to affording homes and challenges to finding employment.

We have begun and will continue to do a very robust study on youth unemployment. I think having the study on housing as well, which is of sufficient length and robustness, is appropriate in light of the feedback I'm getting from young people about how challenges to affording homes and accessing jobs are critical priorities for them as they think about their present and future.

With respect to Standing Order 109, it's been presented as one amendment, so we will oppose the one amendment. That doesn't preclude the committee from deciding it wants a government response later. It does not have to be in the initial motion for the committee to request a government response. I suspect we would request a government response. That's the normal thing to do when there are recommendations in a report.

Certainly, we're not supportive of this amendment, principally on the grounds that we don't agree with the first point, and the second point is just not necessary.

9:05 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey

Thank you, Mr. Genuis.

We'll go to Madame Desrochers and then Madame Larouche.

9:05 a.m.

Liberal

Caroline Desrochers Liberal Trois-Rivières, QC

I just want to say something about the number of meetings.

We're not going to die on the hill of six meetings or four meetings, even though I think this is an important issue. However, I just want to note that we're currently talking about housing starts, a fairly limited topic, and there's a desire to hold six meetings on that. That doesn't bother me, but what's going to happen is that we'll do the same thing as when we started the first studies. In other words, we're going to constantly add things and start going beyond the scope. That's the only thing.

When we talk about housing starts, we're also talking about labour availability and municipal and provincial regulations. At the federal level, we obviously don't have a magic wand, and we don't have control over all the factors that are making housing starts what they are right now. We have programs designed to accelerate that.

I'm open to hearing what others have to say about this; perhaps Ms. Larouche has something to say.