Debates of June 12th, 2025

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

[Shafqat Ali, Liberal, President of the Treasury Board]

Mr. Chair, can I ask my colleague to repeat the question, please?

[Sukhman Gill, Conservative, Abbotsford—South Langley, BC]

Mr. Chair, again, the PSPC and the Treasury Board goals are to be accurate with the management of the funded and led projects.

I would like to know how many Canadians are living in converted housing spaces that were former government office spaces.

[Shafqat Ali, Liberal, Brampton—Chinguacousy Park, ON]

Mr. Chair, this portfolio has a minister responsible for it. I can ask my colleague to get in touch with the member and respond to the specific question related to his ministry.

[Sukhman Gill, Conservative, Abbotsford—South Langley, BC]

Mr. Chair, I will move on to my next question.

How many buildings does the government own currently? I just want the number.

[Shafqat Ali, Liberal, Brampton—Chinguacousy Park, ON]

Mr. Chair, again, we are here to discuss the main estimates for 2025-26. Let us talk about the main estimates, what we have—

[The Chair, Conservative, Tom Kmiec]

The hon. member.

[Sukhman Gill, Conservative, Abbotsford—South Langley, BC]

Mr. Chair, while the member opposite is not the Minister of Housing, tonight we are rising to speak on the issue of government spending, and this also falls under the 2024 budget.

Could you please answer the question?

[The Chair, Conservative, Tom Kmiec]

Just a reminder, questions go through the Chair.

The hon. minister.

[Shafqat Ali, Liberal, Brampton—Chinguacousy Park, ON]

Mr. Chair, can I ask my colleague to repeat the question, please?

[Sukhman Gill, Conservative, Abbotsford—South Langley, BC]

Mr. Chair, we can clearly see here that the minister cannot answer any questions. This is another failed Liberal broken promise. I will move on to my next question.

Ottawa has the most federal buildings in the country. However, the Liberal MP for Ottawa Centre stated that this program is not moving fast enough. If the minister's own colleague is criticizing this program, why would Canadians not criticize it? Does he have an answer for that?

[Shafqat Ali, Liberal, Brampton—Chinguacousy Park, ON]

Mr. Chair, Canadians elected the Liberals to come here and deliver for Canadians, to work together and to not play politics. We are in a different era. We have an economic threat. We have a sovereignty threat. We need to work together to deliver the priorities most important to Canadians.

[Sukhman Gill, Conservative, Abbotsford—South Langley, BC]

Mr. Chair, I have a simple question. How many office spaces have been sold here in Ottawa?

[Shafqat Ali, Liberal, Brampton—Chinguacousy Park, ON]

Mr. Chair, I would again refer this question to the minister responsible, or if it is within the main estimate, my colleague should look into that. There are more details. We cannot give a very short answer for a specific issue.

[Sukhman Gill, Conservative, Abbotsford—South Langley, BC]

Mr. Chair, the minister failed to answer because the answer is zero. The Liberals failed to deliver any.

Under the federal lands initiative, 4,000 units were to be built by 2028. It has been seven years and the government has only built 309. How does the government plan on building the remaining 3,691 units when it takes seven years to build 309 units?

[Shafqat Ali, Liberal, Brampton—Chinguacousy Park, ON]

Mr. Chair, the Liberals made a promise while campaigning that we would build homes, including affordable homes, with a speed that has never been seen in Canada. That is exactly what we are focusing on. We will be making one economy, building more homes and securing our borders.

[Sukhman Gill, Conservative, Abbotsford—South Langley, BC]

Mr. Chair, does the government think that taxpayers would rather have homes built or more Liberal-connected consulting contracts, yes or no?

[Shafqat Ali, Liberal, Brampton—Chinguacousy Park, ON]

Mr. Chair, with that style of yes or no, Conservatives have not learned a lesson—

[The Chair, Conservative, Tom Kmiec]

The hon. member.

[Sukhman Gill, Conservative, Abbotsford—South Langley, BC]

Mr. Chair, we are in the middle of a housing crisis. Why is the government prioritizing consultants instead of putting roofs over Canadians' heads?

[Shafqat Ali, Liberal, Brampton—Chinguacousy Park, ON]

Mr. Chair, their leader, who was rejected by his own constituents, whom he had represented for 20 years—

[The Chair, Conservative, Tom Kmiec]

The hon. member.

[Sukhman Gill, Conservative, Abbotsford—South Langley, BC]

Mr. Chair, what reports can the government show to the people of Abbotsford about the housing options program for their city?

[Shafqat Ali, Liberal, Brampton—Chinguacousy Park, ON]

Mr. Chair, can I ask my colleague to repeat the question, please?

[Sukhman Gill, Conservative, Abbotsford—South Langley, BC]

Mr. Chair, I will. I am trying to run through my questions because the minister is not answering.

How will the government show the housing options for programs for my city of Abbotsford?

[Shafqat Ali, Liberal, Brampton—Chinguacousy Park, ON]

Mr. Chair, I would ask my colleague, the minister responsible for housing, to get in touch with my hon.—