Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet

[Business of Supply, May 14th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, it is becoming quite obvious that there is a housing crisis in Canada. My colleague spoke at length about certain aspects of that crisis. There is one aspect in particular that he did not mention, and he and I spoke about it. It is related to the economic boom that certain regions are experiencing.

I would like him to talk about our discussion, to show the other members of the House that there is another side to Canada's housing crisis.

[Housing, May 14th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, we are talking about the numbers, but let us not forget that there are real people behind those numbers.

The end of the rent supplements is causing upheaval in the lives of many tenants in housing co-operatives and low-income housing. One such tenant is Carole Parent, who lives in the Odyssée co-operative in Hochelaga. Soon she will have to pay an extra $200 a month for her apartment. Some 44% of her budget will go to her rent. That does not leave a lot of room for paying bills or buying groceries.

When will the government realize that access to housing is a right and renew the funding provided for in the social housing agreements?

[Housing, May 14th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, fighting poverty begins with ensuring everyone has a roof over his or her head. Unfortunately, Conservatives, like the Liberals before them, cut funding to affordable housing and ended social housing programs. Over the last four years, 26,000 more social housing units saw their funding cut when long-term social housing agreements expired. By 2016, this number could soar to 100,000. When will the federal government agree to renew long-term investments in affordable housing?

[Infrastructure, May 13th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, urban centres across the country are waiting to receive funding in order to replace aging infrastructure. Some of their projects could be delayed for a full year because of this. Construction jobs may never see the light of day. Major infrastructure projects may be delayed for a year.

The federal government has only one job: hand over the money. Can the minister do that? The municipalities cannot do the minister's job for him.

[Infrastructure, May 13th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, in 2013 the Conservatives promised that the Building Canada fund was going to be transferred to cities and municipalities in April 2014. However, the Conservatives are constantly changing the rules and demanding more information from municipalities, thereby delaying the approval of the projects.

In the middle of the construction season, the Conservatives are building nothing but confusion. Municipalities do not even know how to apply for infrastructure funding. Why have the Conservatives decided to put last-minute obstacles in the municipalities' way?

[Fair Elections Act, May 13th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, last week, I was at an event in my riding: the opening of a place called Dopamine. Many of the people who go there are homeless. There are many reasons for homelessness, including addiction. This community organization offers a service to help homeless people obtain ID cards.

I asked people in the organization whether that is an easy or difficult task, and they said that in order to get an ID card, you need ID. It takes months. There are a lot of hoops to jump through, and it is very difficult. That means that we are taking the right to vote away from a growing segment of society, the homeless. They are already disadvantaged. Now, democracy could not care less about them. Many of them will not have the right to vote because they will not be able to get ID cards.

In addition to all of that, those who look after the homeless in places like Dopamine will not be able to vouch for them because they do not have the same address. Earlier, the minister said that it has to be someone who lives in the same polling division. A person who is helping the homeless does not necessarily live in the same area, so the homeless are literally left out on street once again.

[Fair Elections Act, May 13th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, earlier, my colleague talked about the banking loan system. He said it was very complicated, but I would like more information about it. Can he provide a brief explanation?

[Champlain Bridge, May 7th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, between the credible studies by the Government of Quebec and this minister's empty promises, which are baseless, the choice is easy.

The Conservatives claim to be pro-economy, but they are about to kill the economy of Montreal and Quebec. Clogging up the other routes into Montreal will have a devastating impact. Studies clearly show that the toll will be catastrophic.

If the minister has a study that proves the contrary, we would love to see it.

[Business of Supply, May 6th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives keep saying that they want to take measures to prevent abuse, yet they have made cuts to Employment and Social Development Canada's budget. They have cut jobs, thereby reducing staff. I fail to see how the employees who are left can do even more work since there is an increasing number of temporary foreign workers.

Does the government intend to send out a document and ask employers to self-regulate? If so, I have to say that it will not work.

[Champlain Bridge, May 6th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, approximately 25% of Quebec workers deal with traffic problems. This costs $80 million a week in lost productivity, for a total of $4.2 billion a year. The minister's solution is to clog the road system even more. Way to go.

When will the minister stop being so stubborn and start listening to the public and business people, and when will he work with Quebec City and Montreal to develop an integrated transportation plan for the greater Montreal area?