Debates of June 11th, 2025

Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A), 2025-26

[Gregor Robertson, Liberal, Vancouver Fraserview—South Burnaby, BC]

Mr. Chair, we will stand by the affordability definitions as they have been applied, but the focus with “build Canada homes” going forward is going to be on doubling the amount of affordable housing. We have heard the Prime Minister speak very clearly about the need to focus that funding on solving homelessness, and the most vulnerable in our population will need that support. Members on this side of the House—

[The Assistant Deputy Chair, Conservative, John Nater]

The hon. member.

[Marilène Gill, Bloc, Côte-Nord—Kawawachikamach—Nitassinan, QC]

Mr. Chair, the government is boasting about making federal buildings available to organizations and entrepreneurs so that they can be converted into affordable housing.

However, will the government change the rule that requires the Canada Lands Company to sell its facilities at market value?

[Gregor Robertson, Liberal, Vancouver Fraserview—South Burnaby, BC]

Mr. Chair, we will certainly be working with Canada Lands Company to ensure we can maximize the amount of affordable housing that we can build on federal lands. There is a big opportunity to increase the affordability and the opportunity for people to get deeper affordability on federal land.

[Marilène Gill, Bloc, Côte-Nord—Kawawachikamach—Nitassinan, QC]

Mr. Chair, a number of stakeholders in Quebec's housing sector have been saying that housing programs are too complex for a long time.

The Bloc Québécois strongly believes that federal programs need to be simplified and aligned with Quebec programs, since Quebec has jurisdiction over housing. Are discussions being held with the Government of Quebec to make sure that federal programs do not hinder the transfer of funds or make it harder for organizations to apply for programs?

[Gregor Robertson, Liberal, Vancouver Fraserview—South Burnaby, BC]

Mr. Chair, the government has had significant success in working in partnership with the Quebec government. I note that we have, through the national housing strategy, 365 projects in Quebec, worth over $3 billion, with over 26,000 units. Other programs as well are contributing significantly, with the Quebec government in the lead.

[Marilène Gill, Bloc, Côte-Nord—Kawawachikamach—Nitassinan, QC]

Mr. Chair, I wanted to know whether discussions were under way with the Government of Quebec.

[Gregor Robertson, Liberal, Vancouver Fraserview—South Burnaby, BC]

Mr. Chair, yes, there are ongoing discussions, certainly, on both housing and infrastructure, with the Government of Quebec.

[Marilène Gill, Bloc, Côte-Nord—Kawawachikamach—Nitassinan, QC]

Mr. Chair, what steps are being taken to cut through red tape, speed up housing starts and ensure that federal funds are transferred to Quebec with no strings attached?

[Gregor Robertson, Liberal, Vancouver Fraserview—South Burnaby, BC]

Mr. Chair, we are seeing a great uptake with the housing accelerator fund. Quebec has worked with the federal government to the tune of almost $1 billion, and 26,000 units of affordable housing are the target. We will work to support the Quebec government to deliver on those housing targets.

[Marilène Gill, Bloc, Côte-Nord—Kawawachikamach—Nitassinan, QC]

Mr. Chair, the Bloc Québécois is proposing that all federal investments in housing be accompanied by an equivalent increase in essential municipal infrastructure, such as water, electricity and waste water treatment infrastructure.

How does the minister plan to ensure that municipalities have the necessary resources to accommodate new housing projects while respecting Quebec's jurisdictions?

[Gregor Robertson, Liberal, Vancouver Fraserview—South Burnaby, BC]

Mr. Chair, I agree with the member that it is very important that there is a combination of housing funding, which we see with the national housing strategy as well as the housing accelerator fund. We are also looking at partnership on housing infrastructure with the Quebec government, and those are active discussions that are in play right now.

[Marilène Gill, Bloc, Côte-Nord—Kawawachikamach—Nitassinan, QC]

Mr. Chair, the Bloc Québécois would like to see measures to curb the financialization of housing, in particular by combatting house flipping and facilitating the transfer of federal lands at reduced prices for social projects.

What concrete action has the minister taken to achieve these objectives? At this time, the appropriations only provide for additional aid for short-term rentals, but nothing else for the measures I just mentioned.

[Gregor Robertson, Liberal, Vancouver Fraserview—South Burnaby, BC]

Mr. Chair, I certainly agree with the member on the importance of putting housing first and well ahead of investment. That has certainly been a concern in my community. Measures were taken by both the city and the province to make sure that investment does not skew the housing market any more than it already has. We look forward to partnerships with Quebec to achieve that same goal.

[Marilène Gill, Bloc, Côte-Nord—Kawawachikamach—Nitassinan, QC]

Mr. Chair, earlier the Bloc Québécois addressed the issue of homelessness and the minister addressed it as well.

Many community groups are speaking out about the chronic underfunding of homelessness programs in Quebec. We are critical of that too. The Parliamentary Budget Officer estimates that there is roughly a $3.5-billion shortfall annually to achieve the goal of reducing homelessness by 50%.

Beyond the $121 million announced in the estimates for all of Canada, will the upcoming Liberal budget include a substantial and permanent increase in homelessness transfers to Quebec?

[Gregor Robertson, Liberal, Vancouver Fraserview—South Burnaby, BC]

Mr. Chair, we are looking at a very significant doubling of housing. The investment in homelessness in particular is what is envisioned with “build Canada homes”, which I hope the member and her colleagues will support. That is the kind of scale we need to tackle homelessness across Canada and certainly in Quebec. We will be looking at doubling the resources that go into homelessness.

[Marilène Gill, Bloc, Côte-Nord—Kawawachikamach—Nitassinan, QC]

Mr. Chair, can the minister guarantee that the sums will be indexed and paid with no strings attached, and that Quebec's full jurisdiction over the fight against homelessness will be respected?

[Gregor Robertson, Liberal, Vancouver Fraserview—South Burnaby, BC]

Mr. Chair, I think the partnership between the federal government and Quebec has been delivering, with respect and with speed, on the housing front. My expectation is that we will continue that partnership very strongly, to deliver results on the ground with affordable housing.

[Marilène Gill, Bloc, Côte-Nord—Kawawachikamach—Nitassinan, QC]

Mr. Chair, that is all.

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

Mr. Chair, I will be splitting my time three ways.

When the minister first became mayor of Vancouver in 2008, he promised affordable housing, fewer drug overdoses, lower crime and to end homelessness by 2015. How did that work out?

[Gregor Robertson, Liberal, Minister of Housing and Infrastructure]

Mr. Chair, when I first became mayor, it was a Conservative federal government. For seven years, it was all but impossible to get any investment from the federal government on homelessness and affordable housing. We fought the federal government at the time—

[The Assistant Deputy Chair, Conservative, John Nater]

The hon. member for Cariboo—Prince George.

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

Mr. Chair, for the last 10 years, the Liberal government has been in power. Overdose is the leading cause of death for youth aged 10 to 18 in our province. What are the minister's thoughts on that?

[Gregor Robertson, Liberal, Vancouver Fraserview—South Burnaby, BC]

Mr. Chair, the overdose crisis is a terrible tragedy across Canada. Certainly, we felt that from the very beginning of it, a decade ago in Vancouver, when the emergency was declared.

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

Mr. Chair, over 50,000 Canadians have lost their lives to overdose. Our province of British Columbia is one of the worst. It is experiencing the worst opioid crisis in our country. The minister is now a member of the government. What will be his actions to represent our province at the cabinet table?