Madam Speaker, it is important for us to recognize that when we think of housing as a policy issue, it is only in the last number of years that we have actually had a government that has recognized that there is a federal role to play on the housing file. Prior to Justin Trudeau becoming the Prime Minister, during the previous 10 to 15 years, there was very little footprint on the housing file. The member talks about a housing shortage or the cost of housing, but he has been around for a while. He knows that even 10 years ago or 15 years ago, people were saying that there were children living in homes and that they were having a difficult time being able to purchase a home in certain areas of the country.
In other areas of the country, I can tell us that, right now, one can buy a beautiful condo in Winnipeg for under $150,000. We need to look at what we can actually get out there and get the support from the different levels of government.
The Conservative Party's approach to housing seems to be to just stand back, do nothing, maybe do some talking and be very critical, whereas the government has continued to work with the different stakeholders, the provinces, municipalities, private industry and non-profit groups. We are looking at how we can enhance programs for Habitat for Humanity. We are looking at ways in which we can support the growth of housing co-ops, other forms of non-profits, with provinces, and shelter relief programs, as well as supporting the private sector.
A good example of that would be the GST exemption for first-time homebuyers, which is actually incorporated in legislation that we have brought forward. We have a government that has actually taken an approach, particularly the Prime Minister's approach, to have Build Canada Homes.
It is like what happened after the war, when the Government of Canada got engaged, in a very real and tangible way, and saw exceptional growth in the housing industry, in the building of homes. That is what we are seeing from the current Prime Minister, who recognizes the problem. We have to realize that he has been Prime Minister for only about eight months. It takes time. We have a program in place, and all the Conservatives do is say that it is bad. They say to just open the market, to get out of the way.
We are committed. We have both feet in to try to build more homes, and we are looking at doubling the numbers, for hundreds of thousands of new homes.
Contrast that to the leader of the Conservative Party. The member knows that the leader of the Conservative Party was actually the minister of housing at one time. Canadians would be shocked to find out how many homes he built when he was the minister of housing. I barely need two hands: It was six. I still do not know where those homes are, but I am told he built six homes, not by himself physically, but as a minister, he supported six homes being built. Does that not knock our socks off?
At the end of the day, again, it is a contrast. The Conservatives stand back and say they do not have to participate. They have demonstrated that. Their leader says that. Many of the Conservative MPs believe that. We believe that we need to work with people, work with governments and make things happen. The Prime Minister is going to do just that.