Debates of May 15th, 2023

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation—Main Estimates, 2023-24

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, York South—Weston, ON]

Madam Chair, if the hon. member cared about housing supply, why did she and her party vote against the housing accelerator fund, which is about building more housing supply?

[Tracy Gray, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Madam Chair, to the housing minister, what is your definition of housing affordability?

[The Deputy Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

Speak through the Chair, please.

The hon. minister.

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, York South—Weston, ON]

Madam Chair, the Conservatives do not even believe that Canadians have a human right to housing. We are the ones who legislated a human right to housing.

[Tracy Gray, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Madam Chair, can the minister name one criterion being used to determine housing affordability?

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, York South—Weston, ON]

Madam Chair, their plan does not include any mention of homelessness. Their plan does not really prioritize affordable housing.

[Tracy Gray, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Madam Chair, the housing minister has no definition for housing affordability and has no criteria, so it is no wonder we are in a housing crisis and the Liberals' housing plan is failing Canadians.

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, York South—Weston, ON]

Madam Chair, the Conservatives do not believe in the right to housing. They have no plan. All they have are gimmicks and buzzwords.

[Bob Zimmer, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC]

Madam Chair, it is an honour to be here tonight.

My question for the minister is this: Is Canada in a housing crisis?

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion]

Madam Chair, does the official opposition actually believe that Canadians have a right to a safe and affordable place to—

[The Deputy Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

The hon. member.

[Bob Zimmer, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC]

Madam Chair, the answer is yes. Maclean's says, “[The housing minister] has a plan to solve Canada’s housing crisis”, so that is a yes.

What is the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Victoria?

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, York South—Weston, ON]

Madam Chair, does the official opposition believe in a right to housing, yes or no?

[Bob Zimmer, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC]

Madam Chair, he is to answer the questions and not offer them. It is $2,000 per month.

What is the average home price in the Yukon?

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, York South—Weston, ON]

Madam Chair, the Conservatives miraculously think that doing less on housing will build more housing.

[Bob Zimmer, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC]

Madam Chair, for anybody watching, whenever the minister does not answer a question, he means he does not know.

What is the average home price in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories?

[Mark Gerretsen, Liberal, Kingston and the Islands, ON]

Madam Chair, on a point of order, the member was trying to suggest the motive of the minister, and I do not think that is appropriate.

[The Deputy Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

That is more a point of debate.

The hon. member.

[Bob Zimmer, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC]

Madam Chair, the question remains. Will the minister answer it?

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, York South—Weston, ON]

Madam Chair, I hope the party opposite actually comes around to appreciating federal investments in housing. They do not believe we should do more on housing.

[Bob Zimmer, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC]

Madam Chair, it is $500,000, according to the Canadian Real Estate Association.

By the way, when the member gets up and does a point of order, it is code that the minister needs to read some of his notes. That is why he does it.

What is the average home price in Iqaluit, Nunavut?

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, York South—Weston, ON]

Madam Chair, when that party was in office, it did not invest in northern housing.

[Bob Zimmer, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC]

Madam Chair, according to the Nunatsiaq News, it is $706,950 for an average house. That is incredible.

What is the definition of “core housing need” according to the minister's own department?

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, York South—Weston, ON]

Madam Chair, the Conservatives do not even believe in the right to housing.

[Bob Zimmer, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC]

Madam Chair, that was an easy one. It means when a household cannot afford suitable and adequate housing in their community.

This leads to my next question: What is the core housing need in the Yukon?