Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Minister, thank you for being here today. You will only be spending one hour with us. I would have preferred that you spent at least four hours here, since there is much to say about your department, particularly in light of the last budget.
One item in this budget caught my eye, and that's where I'll begin.
The government announced its intention to use federal public properties to build housing. Post offices, vacant land and military bases are among the properties mentioned. That in itself may seem like common sense to many. There have long been questions as to why the federal government wouldn't dispose of its surplus properties. The government is finally signalling its intention of doing so, and we'll see what results that brings.
However, there are concerns that the federal government may decide not to comply with municipal bylaws. So, by retaining ownership of its land and granting leases to the Canada Lands Company, for example, the federal government would look after developing for building construction, while ignoring municipal bylaws and without consulting municipal residents.
Is that your government's intention?