Chad Collins

[Affordable Housing and Groceries Act, October 5th, 2023]

Madam Speaker, I very much enjoyed the speech from the member opposite. I have worked long and hard with her at the HUMA committee on many housing studies, as she just referenced.

I always put the province of Quebec on a pedestal when it comes to supporting non-market housing for residents who are in need of affordable housing. I am in the unenviable position of being in the province of Ontario, which has a Conservative government whose approach to affordable housing is to make people rich in the private sector.

My question, and the member emphasized this in her speech, is this: Why is it important that all three levels of government address the national housing crisis we have? In certain provinces it is happening, and they are making inroads. The province of Quebec is a great example, and I would put the province of British Columbia in that category as well. However, here in Ontario it is not working, because we have a provincial government that has no affordable housing programs to match municipal contributions as well as federal. Again, my question to the member is this: Why is it important that all three levels of government work together?

[Affordable Housing and Groceries Act, October 5th, 2023]

Madam Speaker, I do not agree with my friend and colleague's comments in terms of demonizing the private sector. The private sector is going to be an important partner to get us out of this housing crisis. However, I also do not agree with the Leader of the Opposition when it comes to demonizing municipalities.

My friend and colleague talked about working with municipalities to build the non-market housing supply. Unlike the Leader of the Opposition, who has demonized small-town mayors and municipal councils, we have worked with municipalities; our housing accelerator fund is one example of that.

Why is it important to work with municipalities rather than making them out to be the demons, as part of our housing crisis that we have today?

[Indigenous Affairs, September 29th, 2023]

Madam Speaker, this weekend, Canadians in my riding of Hamilton East—Stoney Creek and across the country will honour the victims and survivors of the residential school system as we seek to address the harmful legacy of residential schools and reflect on our commitment to reconciliation.

For generations, indigenous peoples have kept their culture and language, showing great resilience in the face of discrimination and mistreatment by colonial systems. Canada has a responsibility to address the truth and support their healing.

In my community, people want to know how our government is working toward truth and reconciliation with indigenous peoples?

[Affordable Housing and Groceries Act, September 25th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, the common-sense legislation theme today sounds a lot like the common-sense revolution under Mike Harris. Members may recall those days when another Conservative government at another level downloaded municipal non-profit housing to municipalities, and they have been stuck with that cost ever since.

Why can the member opposite and his party not see fit to support programs for the seniors he talked about and for those people who are on affordable housing wait-lists across the country? That is not their plan. Their plan is more like the Mike Harris days from the 1990s.

[Single-Use Plastics Ban, June 9th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a very special group of young advocates in my riding of Hamilton East—Stoney Creek. The grade 1 class of Winona Elementary School, led by Mrs. Merritt and Ms. Tylee, petitioned our government for an expansion of our ban on single-use plastics. They collected hundreds of fruit and vegetable price look-up stickers and mailed them to my office in support of Maya's Plastic Pollution Campaign. The campaign builds upon our actions last year, when our government initiated a ban on six different types of single-use plastics.

Over the next decade, this world-leading ban on harmful single-use plastics will result in the estimated elimination of over 1.3 million tonnes of hard-to-recycle plastic waste and more than 22,000 tonnes of plastic pollution. While our actions will go a long way to preventing more damage to the environment, wildlife and human health, we know that more needs to be done. Initiatives like Maya's Plastic Pollution Campaign serve as a reminder for all levels of government that expanding our efforts to ban single-use plastics is a priority.

Thanks again to the students and teachers of Winona Elementary School for their advocacy on this very important issue.

[Canada Early Learning and Child Care Act, June 8th, 2023]

Madam Speaker, I heard the term “Conservative approach.” The Conservative approach has been to threaten to rip up these agreements, much like Prime Minister Harper did in 2006, when we had a deal in place with the provinces.

I would remind the member opposite that Conservative premiers across the country have signed these agreements with the federal government. Why does she not see the merit in these agreements like her Conservative cousins in all provinces across the country?

[Housing, June 6th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight the actions our government is taking to meet the housing needs of Canadians. Since the release of our national housing strategy in 2017, we have leveraged over $80 billion of investment, creating thousands of new units across the country and utilizing those same investments to renovate and repair decades-old, affordable housing units in every corner of the country. As an extension of this work, the minister recently announced the Canada greener affordable housing program that will provide $1.2 billion in funding over four years for much needed renovations to existing affordable housing units. The funding will allow affordable housing providers to make improvements to aging buildings that will improve energy efficiency and extend their lifespan, improving the living conditions and quality of life for tenants across the country.

While the leader of the official opposition villainizes our municipal partners, our government continues to work with municipalities and non-profit housing providers, ensuring our housing investments improve our affordable housing stock while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and combatting climate change.

[Business of Supply, May 18th, 2023]

Madam Speaker, it is important to note that the Leader of the Opposition was part of a government that tried to muzzle scientists with respect to climate change. He was also part of a Conservative team that undermined public health officials with respect to the pandemic and all things related to the vaccine.

Now the Leader of the Opposition pretends to know more than trained professionals and doctors with respect to the opioid crisis we are dealing with.

My question for my friend and colleague is this. Can he reiterate why it is so important to rely on doctors and the medical profession as it relates to the response to this crisis?

[Housing, May 3rd, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, while the leader of the official opposition blames local mayors and councillors for a lack of housing supply, our government has taken a different approach.

Could the Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion inform the House as to the level of support our housing accelerator fund will provide to municipalities that expedite the planning and approval process for new developments, which increase housing supply for all Canadians?

[Housing, May 3rd, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, while the leader of the official opposition blames local mayors and councillors for a lack of housing supply, our government has taken a different approach. Can the Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion inform this House as to the level—