Mr. Speaker, next week is Housing Affordability Week in Victoria. Police are now seeing twice as many people on the streets of Victoria than they did two years ago.
I agree with Victoria's police chief when he says that we cannot police our way out of homelessness, poverty and inequality. Victoria is taking action with an affordable housing trust. The Cool Aid Society, Pacifica Housing and Cornerstone project are creating local housing solutions.
Through the proposed Victoria urban development agreement, citizens and community groups agreed that housing was the number one priority for municipal, provincial and federal cooperation.
It is time for the federal government to listen to what Victoria is saying loud and clear and do its part to grant the right to safe, decent housing to every citizen in the country.