Mr. Speaker, the minister responsible for housing says he will be announcing a program of affordable rental housing. Tragically, all the indications are that the program will not help Canadians most in need.
The National Coalition for the Homeless, in a letter to the minister, hit the nail on the head. It said:
There is a stark choice coming before Cabinet: to choose a genuine affordable housing program targeted to low and moderate-income Canadians or to approve an expedient, less expensive option that will not reach those who truly need help.
Every single housing group in the country has told the government loud and clear that rental subsidies are totally inadequate.
For once will the government not get it right and develop a genuine non-profit housing program with an adequate budget, not the measly $170 million it suggested?
We are in the worst housing crisis since World War II. The government's proposal is cheap and nothing more than political ass covering.
Let us get real and make non-profit housing a priority.