Debates of June 11th, 2025

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

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

Mr. Chair, I am certainly thankful to be elected by my constituents in Vancouver Fraserview—South Burnaby. I am here to represent my province as well. With my knowledge from serving at the city and provincial levels, I will do all I can to deliver positive change and a lot of affordable housing in our home province.

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

Mr. Chair, does the minister still feel the same way about decriminalizing drugs?

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

Mr. Chair, I do not know where the drug policy fits within the estimates for Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada.

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

Mr. Chair, the minister is on record as saying decriminalizing illicit drugs would be a life-saving shift. Does he still feel the same way?

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

Mr. Chair, again, we are here to focus on budget estimates for the Department of Housing and Infrastructure.

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

Mr. Chair, how many rental properties does the minister have?

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

Mr. Chair, we are here to talk about the actions and the budget of the federal government on affordable housing and infrastructure.

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

Mr. Chair, it is easy to say, “I have none.” If he has none, why does he not declare it?

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

Mr. Chair, I am here to answer questions about the budget for the federal government on housing and infrastructure, and I welcome questions on that.

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

Mr. Chair, I will ask again, how many rental properties does he have?

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

Mr. Chair, again, we are here to talk about the budget estimates for the Department of Housing and Infrastructure, and I welcome the member's questions. It is about $16 billion of taxpayer money that is focused on housing and infrastructure.

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

Mr. Chair, is the minister comfortable with his record as the mayor of Vancouver in terms of the cost of housing over the course of his tenure?

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

Mr. Chair, I will say that no single elected official is responsible for the prices in the housing market, and the federal government needs to do everything it can to bring the overall cost of housing down across—

[The Assistant Deputy Chair, Conservative, John Nater]

The hon. member.

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

Mr. Chair, the minister is on record saying, “Factors such as the impact of the [drug injection] site on crime rates and expressions of community support or opposition should not be relevant to the Federal Government’s approval process.” Does he still feel the same way?

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

Mr. Chair, again to the member opposite, I am here to talk about the budget estimates for the Department of Housing and Infrastructure. I would remind the member to keep us focused on the budget estimates.

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

Mr. Chair, safe injection sites disrupt communities and devalue properties. The minister's radical policies have contributed to Vancouver's housing hell. Is the minister proud of that?

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

Mr. Chair, again, the member opposite is veering off into misinformation that has been spread by his party relentlessly, twisting around proven science and Supreme Court decisions that defended the actions of the city.

[Tamara Kronis, Conservative, Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC]

Mr. Chair, the Prime Minister said he wants to build big projects. Does the minister agree?

[Tim Hodgson, Liberal, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources]

Mr. Chair, what the Prime Minister has said is that he wants to build projects of national importance.

[Tamara Kronis, Conservative, Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC]

Mr. Chair, does the minister consider an order for four ferries to be a big project?

[Tim Hodgson, Liberal, Markham—Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Chair, projects of national interest are defined by the five criteria that have been laid out. If that is something that the hon. member wants to talk about, they should put it forward and we will review—

[The Assistant Deputy Chair, Conservative, John Nater]

The hon. member.

[Tamara Kronis, Conservative, Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC]

Mr. Chair, is the minister aware that the Prime Minister called Beijing the biggest security threat to Canada?

[Tim Hodgson, Liberal, Markham—Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Chair, I am not sure what that has to do with the main estimates. We are here to talk about the main estimates tonight.