Mr. Speaker, this government’s newest housing program gave half a billion dollars to big cities but left Canada’s small and medium-sized municipalities, non-profits and indigenous governing bodies to compete for the rest. Many of these communities simply lack the capacity to submit an application during normal operations, never mind the current circumstances.
A disproportionate number of these communities are rural, remote, indigenous, or all three. There are communities like Lillooet, B.C., which put forward an application but had it disqualified. Urban centres should not automatically be first in line for government services. Once-vibrant small communities are emptied out as vulnerable people leave their hometowns in search of housing and other supports.
We know that housing is an essential component of our economic recovery and necessary to secure our future. Canada’s Conservatives have heard and are heeding the calls to improve the national housing strategy. We are focused on increasing affordable rental stock, improving fairness in the mortgage market and ensuring the current generation is not left behind.