Mr. Speaker, in Montmorency—Charlevoix, like everywhere else in the country, families are working hard and making the right choices. People get up every morning and go to work. They pay their taxes. They want to build a better life for their children. Today, however, there is one vital thing that eludes far too many young families, workers, and seniors: the ability to find suitable, reasonably priced housing in their region.
The crisis is not limited to housing. It is a cost of living crisis. It is a regional development crisis. It is also a crisis of confidence in our institutions and in the government, which makes big promises, makes plenty of announcement and spends lots of money, but is not delivering results.
The Liberals promised to build 500,000 homes a year. According to current estimates, the government is going to end up building more like 212,000 homes a year between now and 2028, or less than half the number expected. That is a far cry from the Liberals' promise. It is a far cry from what is needed. Most of all, it is a far cry from addressing the reality confronting families looking for a home but forced to remain longer in an apartment because the market is obviously not on their side.
What has the Liberal government done to try to tackle this crisis? Instead of drawing up a proper plan, it has created more red tape. Instead of speeding up the start of new housing projects, it has added a fourth department responsible for housing. Instead of setting clear targets, the minister himself tells us that no overall target has been set for the number of homes to be built. When a government does not even know how many homes it actually wants to build, how can we, as elected representatives and as the public, trust the Liberals?
That is not all. The assessment indicates that, even once the machinery gets up and running, Build Canada Homes will only be able to build 5,000 homes a year. That is 1% of what was announced. Their strategy is a wholly inadequate response to the crisis. It is not a response that meets families' needs. It is not a construction plan. It is a sham. These are announcements and pretty pictures, but they do not address the real problems.
What are people going through in the meantime? Everything is more expensive. Interest rates are going up, shutting down their chances of buying a home. Household budgets are being eaten up by rent. Their children are leaving the region because they cannot afford to settle there.
Back home in Montmorency—Charlevoix, this is the harsh reality for young couples, tourism workers, retail employees, single-parent families and seniors who want to stay in their communities, but this is also affecting small businesses that cannot find employees because people are unable to move to these towns. Having a roof over one's head is the foundation for building a family, a future, and a community's future. It is a matter of economic vitality. It is a matter of social well-being. It is a matter of land use. It is, in fact, an existential issue for our regions.
The federal government cannot do it all alone. We know that. In Quebec, land use planning, urban planning, permits and several other mechanisms fall under the jurisdiction of the municipal and provincial governments. However, the federal government has very real responsibilities and can really help where its jurisdiction allows. The federal government can provide federal tax relief, better direct its transfers to certain programs, quickly free up its land and empty buildings and put an end to tax barriers that are slowing down construction investment.
The federal government can enter into clear agreements with Quebec and the municipalities to reward those that are actually getting things done rather than funding bureaucracy. In other words, Ottawa does not issue municipal permits, but it can stop making the crisis worse and start rewarding those who are building. That is why the Conservatives are proposing a clear, simple and, above all, responsible approach at the federal level.
First, we need to axe the GST on all new homes under $1.3 million. That is something only the federal government can do. That would directly reduce the purchase price, help families and encourage the construction of new homes. It could also save a family up to $65,000.
Second, the government could tie federal infrastructure dollars to homebuilding. Let us be clear. Municipalities are the ones that make the decisions regarding building permits. That falls under their jurisdiction. However, the federal government has the right, and even the duty, to demand results when it provides cities with billions of dollars.
We in the Conservativs Party are proposing that municipalities allow a minimum 15% annual increase in residential construction in order to receive full federal support. This is not an intrusion into municipal areas of jurisdiction; it is a federal condition for receiving federal funding. That is exactly how a serious government can work in partnership, by rewarding municipalities that are really making an effort to find solutions for their residents.
Third, the taxes and fees that are driving up construction costs could be reduced by 50%. Obviously, these costs are also a municipal matter or are often even covered by provincial programs. However, the federal government can set standards. It cannot eliminate all these standards unilaterally, but it can work on agreements with Quebec and the municipalities, use its programs and offer financial incentives to reduce taxes and fees. In other words, co-operation is not just a slogan. It must become the normal way of working. Quebec and the municipalities retain authority over their jurisdictions, but Ottawa uses its financial tools to get more housing built faster and at a lower cost.
Fourth, we could end the capital gains tax on reinvestments in new housing in Canada. Once again, that is a federal responsibility. It is a powerful means to unlock billions of dollars of investment in residential construction. Here is what we propose: fewer tax penalties, more private investment, more housing, less talk and more action.
Finally, the federal government needs to clean house. We found out that it takes up to nine years to dispose of federal property. Knowing that, the reason for the problem is clear. The Liberal government talks about doing things fast but moves at a snail's pace. It talks about urgency but acts like there is no hurry, like all is well. If the federal government owns under-utilized or entirely vacant buildings and sites, it must make them available quickly, subject to clear requirements, simple agreements and an obligation to produce results.
It should not take nine more years and three or four more administrative structures. While the Liberals drag their feet, families have bills to pay. Families are paying more for everything. Right now, they are putting off making purchases. Families are even delaying plans to have children because they cannot find an affordable home. Families are leaving our regions because they cannot stay and settle down there.
What does that mean, in concrete terms, for Montmorency—Charlevoix? It means that personal support workers, hotel employees, young entrepreneurs, couples with two children, fishers and seniors who want to stay in the area are all asking themselves the same question: What can they do to stay in their region, in their home? That is the real question.
The answer does not lie in a new agency that has no clear targets. It does not lie in more delays, more press releases, or more announcements about fake projects. The answer lies in a clear response from the federal government that respects its jurisdictions and uses them to the fullest in order to lower federal taxes, reward construction, unlock federal lands faster, attract private investment and enter into partnerships with Quebec, the RCMs, the municipalities and the private sector.
The Conservatives believe that a strong country starts with families who can afford a home. We believe that a strong economy starts with workers who can stay in their region. We believe that a fair society starts with an affordable roof over everyone's head. Most importantly, we believe that after 10 years of promises, Canadians deserve results. Enough with the red tape. Enough with the false starts. Enough with the empty promises. The time has come to build more, tax less, approve faster and give families a chance not just to survive, but to thrive.
