Ahmed Hussen

[Business of Supply, May 15th, 2023]

Madam Chair, the hon. member points out the challenge of access to safe and affordable housing that meets the needs of each and every Canadian. At the end of the day, different people in the housing spectrum have different types of needs.

There is absolutely a need for more deeply affordable housing. That is why we are investing more federal resources into building more co-op housing, by investing $1.5 billion in a new generation of co-op units. We are providing supports to municipalities through the housing accelerator fund, to build more housing of all types, including affordable housing, but also bringing forward investments in the national housing co-investment fund, to free up more affordable housing for Canadians, as well as reinvesting in the third round of the rapid housing initiative.

All of these measures are a recognition of the importance of deeply affordable housing to meet the needs of Canadians.

[Business of Supply, May 15th, 2023]

Madam Chair, of course, any Canadian that we lose to the overdose crisis in the country is real. Of course, we want to make sure that there is enough skilled labour to build the housing that Canadians need. We are doing everything that we can, through different measures, to make sure that this is the case. That also requires investments in local communities to make sure that more young people join the building trades and pursue a life in the construction industry.

It is something that we support and I join the hon. member in highlighting the importance of making sure that we keep people safe and that we keep people alive by investing in community programs that help people.

[Business of Supply, May 15th, 2023]

Madam Chair, we have not abandoned the most vulnerable in this country. In fact, we have doubled our investments in Reaching Home from just over $2 billion to almost $4 billion to support 5,000 projects and organizations across the country that are doing the work the hon. member is talking about. We are there. We will continue to be there and we are proud of that work.

[Business of Supply, May 15th, 2023]

Madam Chair, the hon. member would have us believe that investing $228 million to build over 6,200 housing units in Winnipeg is a pittance. Those are her words. We believe that we are delivering for provinces and territories. We are delivering for communities. We are delivering for vulnerable people. Of course, there is more work to be done, but to deny $228 million invested in Winnipeg for deeply affordable housing is a shame by the member.

[Business of Supply, May 15th, 2023]

Madam Chair, wow, that is the kind of over-the-top rhetoric and denial of the facts that will have the hon. member lose credibility on this issue. Is she saying $724 million over five years is not real money for women fleeing gender-based violence? Of course, there is more work to be done, but to say that we have not done anything is really unfair and inaccurate. We are doing a lot in this space and the hon. member should recognize that.

[Business of Supply, May 15th, 2023]

Madam Chair, we are the party in government that legislated the right to housing.

[Business of Supply, May 15th, 2023]

Madam Chair, of course, there is more work to be done, but I just want to remind the hon. member that we have already invested over $228 million in Winnipeg, representing over 6,266 units.

We are aware of the issue involving the sale of Lions Place, and we know that residents are concerned about it. We are committed to working with all the stakeholders to reach a conclusion.

[Business of Supply, May 15th, 2023]

Madam Chair, that is not fair. I met with the Manitoba housing minister, Rochelle Squires, precisely on that project. By the way, we built 50,000 units of affordable housing for seniors.

[Business of Supply, May 15th, 2023]

Madam Chair, I have news for the hon. member; the housing accelerator fund will enable local governments to do exactly that. They can use some of the proceeds and incentive amounts of money through the housing accelerator fund to actually buy land and build more affordable housing.

[Business of Supply, May 15th, 2023]

Madam Chair, every Canadian has a right to an affordable place to call home. The housing needs and economic circumstances of Canadians vary widely, which is why the national housing strategy has different programs for different people.