Mr. Speaker, a report of a study undertaken by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities found that Canada's poorest citizens have been hardest hit by the continuing drop in family incomes.
The poorest 10% of residents in 16 Canadian cities saw their total income drop by 18.8% from 1992 to 1996. During the same period the top 10% of Canadian earners saw their total incomes rise by 6.8%. The old notion that if the affluent are doing well then everybody else will be doing well is clearly not happening in Canadian cities.
We do not have to concern ourselves with the families that pay the highest taxes. We do have to be concerned about the quality of life of Canadians who pay half or more of their incomes for housing as their numbers are increasing.
Affordable housing and adequacy of income are basic determinants—