Mr. Speaker, I think we all agree on this. Everyone in this country should have access to an affordable, safe and healthy place to live. Let me assure members that this government is focused on making housing more affordable and attainable. This is why we are taking action on affordable housing across the range of the affordability continuum. We are talking about co-ops, social housing and deeply affordable homes, exactly the kinds of homes for the missing middle the member is talking about.
Our government is taking action with the recent launch of “build Canada homes”, with $13 billion in investments, including funding for supportive and transitional housing and for the Canada rental protection fund to preserve the affordability of units. At the core of its mission, “build Canada homes” will finance and build affordable housing at scale across Canada, including in rural areas. It will leverage public lands, offer flexible financial incentives, attract private capital, facilitate large portfolio projects and support manufacturers to build the homes that Canadians need.
“Build Canada homes” will partner with builders and housing providers that are focused on long-term affordability. It will focus on using Canadian-made materials and modern construction methods, such as factory-built housing, to catalyze an entirely new Canadian housing industry, one that builds faster and more sustainably. When we talk about that, we are talking about really increasing the productivity of the construction industry through digitization and automation where it makes sense.
“Build Canada homes” is one of the ways our government is addressing barriers, reducing risk and helping to navigate the process of building non-market housing. We will work closely with builders, investors, indigenous partners and all levels of government to continue to implement innovative solutions to complex problems.
The government is also taking targeted financial measures to make home buying more affordable for Canadians. As my colleague noted, by eliminating the GST for first-time home purchases at or under $1 million and lowering the GST on homes between $1 million and $1.5 million, our government is making it easier for Canadians to enter the housing market.
We are also making the process of buying a home fairer, simpler and more transparent through actions such as the creation of the blueprint for a homebuyers' bill of rights, which sets out principles for a fair and transparent rental system. We are calling on provinces and territories to take actions that support the blueprint's principles, improve the rental system and ensure rental markets work for Canadians. Working together with our partners, we will help deliver affordable housing options that meet the needs and the budget of families, the kinds of homes that families need.
We will continue our work to ensure that all Canadians have a place to call home, because housing is a basic need. We hope our colleagues across the aisle can support us on this as we move forward with measures to support the industry.