Madam Chair, the Conservatives did not invest in housing in the north.
House of Commons Hansard #197 of the 44th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was chair.
House of Commons Hansard #197 of the 44th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was chair.
This summary is computer-generated. Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.
Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Act Report stage of Bill C-282. The bill seeks to amend the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Act (supply management) by adding a clause that would prevent the Minister of Foreign Affairs from making commitments in trade negotiations that increase tariff rate quotas or reduce tariffs for supply-managed products. Its sponsor, the Bloc Québécois' Luc Thériault, argues it will protect Canada's supply management system from further concessions in future trade agreements. The Liberal government supports the bill, while the Conservatives express concerns that it could hinder broader trade negotiations and negatively impact other agricultural sectors. 7600 words, 1 hour.
Bill S-5—Time Allocation Motion Members debate a Liberal motion to impose time allocation on Bill S-5, An Act to amend the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. While Liberals and NDP argue the bill has received extensive study and debate and it's time to act for environmental protection, Conservatives and the Bloc Québécois criticize the government for limiting debate on legislation. 4900 words, 35 minutes.
Strengthening Environmental Protection for a Healthier Canada Act Report stage of Bill S-5. The bill seeks to modernize the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA), recognizing a right to a healthy environment for all Canadians and strengthening protections against toxic substances. It aims to improve chemical management, address cumulative effects on vulnerable populations, and enhance transparency. While broadly supported, some members, like the Bloc Québécois, express concerns about the bill's ambition, perceived federal overreach into provincial jurisdiction, and lack of enforceability for the new environmental right. 22700 words, 3 hours in 2 segments: 1 2.
First Nations Fiscal Management Act Third reading of Bill C-45. The bill amends the First Nations Fiscal Management Act to expand the services and capacities of First Nations-led financial institutions, and establishes a First Nations Infrastructure Institute. This aims to improve infrastructure outcomes and support First Nations' self-determination and economic reconciliation by allowing them to assert jurisdiction in financial management, taxation, and access to capital markets. Some Conservatives support the bill but argue for further measures to remove federal "gatekeepers," while the NDP supports the bill as a step towards self-determination but notes it does not absolve the government's responsibilities. 5700 words, 45 minutes.
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation—Main Estimates, 2023-24 Members debate the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation's estimates, primarily focusing on the nation's housing crisis. The Conservative Party critiques the Liberal government's policies, arguing they have doubled housing costs, mortgage payments, and rent, and failed to increase supply. They also question the CMHC's performance bonuses. The Liberal government defends its National Housing Strategy, highlighting investments like the Housing Accelerator Fund, programs for first-time homebuyers, and efforts to combat homelessness, while accusing the Conservatives of voting against these measures. The Bloc Québécois and NDP raise concerns about the lack of social housing, financialization of housing, and the urgent needs of vulnerable populations and Indigenous communities. 35300 words, 4 hours.
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation—Main Estimates, 2023-24Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Liberal
Ahmed Hussen Liberal York South—Weston, ON
Madam Chair, the Conservatives did not invest in housing in the north.
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation—Main Estimates, 2023-24Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Conservative
Bob Zimmer Conservative Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC
Madam Chair, it is 13.1% in the Yukon.
What is the core housing need in Northwest Territories?
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation—Main Estimates, 2023-24Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Liberal
Ahmed Hussen Liberal York South—Weston, ON
Madam Chair, the Conservatives released a housing plan with no mention of homelessness.
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation—Main Estimates, 2023-24Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Conservative
Bob Zimmer Conservative Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC
Madam Chair, the minister does not know the answer. The answer is 13.2% in Northwest Territories.
What is the core housing need in Nunavut?
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation—Main Estimates, 2023-24Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Liberal
Ahmed Hussen Liberal York South—Weston, ON
Madam Chair, why does the hon. member not believe there is a federal leadership role in housing?
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation—Main Estimates, 2023-24Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Conservative
Bob Zimmer Conservative Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC
Madam Chair, these are basic questions. We have 10 provinces and three territories, and the minister should know them. It is 32.9% in Nunavut. The need is over 3,000 homes and the shortage is very clear.
We have heard many announcements that the minister and the government have made. However, what makes matters worse is that millions of dollars are getting spent and houses are not necessarily getting built. We are seeing examples in the territories, where this is profound.
I asked the Minister of Northern Affairs about certain houses getting built in the territories, and he said he did not know. I then precisely asked the ministry and officials said they did not know because they do not track the information. It is pretty hard to hit a target that they do not even monitor.
How many mixed low-income units were promised according to this minister's own document, the “Northern Housing Report”?
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation—Main Estimates, 2023-24Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Liberal
Ahmed Hussen Liberal York South—Weston, ON
Madam Chair, the hon. member has asked a number of questions about northern housing, but guess what. They do not have any plan for northern housing in their so-called housing plan.
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation—Main Estimates, 2023-24Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Conservative
Bob Zimmer Conservative Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC
Madam Chair, the answer is $248 million for 824 units in the territories. How many have been completed? According to my own numbers, because the minister could not answer, for Nunavut, 101 are listed as completed; in the Northwest Territories, 39 are listed as completed; in Yukon, zero were listed as completed, but we found that a triplex had been completed. Therefore, there are 143 listed as completed of 824 units, where thousands are needed.
Would you say you have done a great job getting the thousands of houses needed built in the territories?
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation—Main Estimates, 2023-24Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
NDP
The Deputy Chair NDP Carol Hughes
I would ask the member to direct his questions through the Chair, please.
The hon. minister.
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation—Main Estimates, 2023-24Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Liberal
Ahmed Hussen Liberal York South—Weston, ON
Madam Chair, that number is inaccurate, but, worse than that, the Conservatives released a so-called housing plan with no mention of northern housing.
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation—Main Estimates, 2023-24Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Conservative
Tony Baldinelli Conservative Niagara Falls, ON
Madam Chair, does the minister know what the average rent is for a one-bedroom apartment in Niagara Falls?
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation—Main Estimates, 2023-24Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
York South—Weston Ontario
Liberal
Ahmed Hussen LiberalMinister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion
Madam Chair, why did the Conservatives vote against the Canada housing benefit that is helping renters?
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation—Main Estimates, 2023-24Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Conservative
Tony Baldinelli Conservative Niagara Falls, ON
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation—Main Estimates, 2023-24Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Liberal
Ahmed Hussen Liberal York South—Weston, ON
Madam Chair, I do not understand why the Conservative members are opposed to getting real help to Canadian renters.
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation—Main Estimates, 2023-24Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Conservative
Tony Baldinelli Conservative Niagara Falls, ON
Madam Chair, again the minister refuses to answer, and it is a failure of the government. According to Niagara Regional Housing, the answer is a wait time of 21 years. That is unacceptable.
Does the minister know the estimated wait time for a senior in Niagara-on-the-Lake who is waiting for a new, affordable one-bedroom unit?
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation—Main Estimates, 2023-24Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Liberal
Ahmed Hussen Liberal York South—Weston, ON
Madam Chair, I was proud to work with Niagara Region to deliver rapid housing units for the most vulnerable in that region. On top of that, we are proud to have delivered rental supplements to Canadians. Conservatives voted against it, and now they pretend to care.
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation—Main Estimates, 2023-24Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Conservative
Tony Baldinelli Conservative Niagara Falls, ON
Again, Madam Chair, he is not answering the question. Again, according to Niagara Regional Housing, the answer is 12 years.
Does the minister know the estimated wait time for a family in Fort Erie who is waiting for a new, affordable four-bedroom unit?
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation—Main Estimates, 2023-24Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Liberal
Ahmed Hussen Liberal York South—Weston, ON
Madam Chair, the member and his party have opposed all our investments in affordable housing construction and repair, which are precisely to help families like the ones that he mentioned, but then he has the audacity to come to the House and pretend to care about this issue.
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation—Main Estimates, 2023-24Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Conservative
Tony Baldinelli Conservative Niagara Falls, ON
Madam Chair, the Liberals' programs are failing. Again, according to the Niagara Regional Housing, the answer is eight years.
Minister, under the first two streams of the government's rapid housing initiative—
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation—Main Estimates, 2023-24Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
NDP
The Deputy Chair NDP Carol Hughes
The hon. member has to address his question through the Chair and not directly to the minister. The member is starting his question with “Minister”, so he needs to be careful how he phrases his question.
The hon. member.
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation—Main Estimates, 2023-24Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Conservative
Tony Baldinelli Conservative Niagara Falls, ON
Madam Chair, under the first two streams of the government's rapid housing initiative, the government committed $2.5 billion to projects. How much money was allocated to construction in the Niagara Region?
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation—Main Estimates, 2023-24Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Liberal
Ahmed Hussen Liberal York South—Weston, ON
Madam Chair, the hon. member was denigrating the national housing strategy. We have delivered almost half a million newly built or repaired units for Canadians and we are supporting, through the national housing strategy, almost two millions households.
That party and the member can continue to denigrate those results, but we know that this program is working for Canadians, and we need to do more, of course.
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation—Main Estimates, 2023-24Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Conservative
Tony Baldinelli Conservative Niagara Falls, ON
Madam Chair, the program is not working. The answer is $10.5 million out of $2.5 billion.
Can the government answer how many new, affordable housing units have been built in the Niagara Region through this program?
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation—Main Estimates, 2023-24Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Liberal
Ahmed Hussen Liberal York South—Weston, ON
Madam Chair, that is not only inaccurate, but misleading. The hon. member is taking one program among many programs and pretending that is the only investment we have made in Niagara Region. Nothing could be further from the truth, and he knows that.
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation—Main Estimates, 2023-24Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Conservative
Tony Baldinelli Conservative Niagara Falls, ON
Madam Chair, the minister fails to answer the questions. He does not even know the details of the rapid housing initiative and how many units were built in Niagara. The answer to that, out of the $2.5 billion, is only 42 units in Niagara.
Do the government and minister know how many households in Niagara Falls were on the centralized housing wait-list last summer?