Phil McColeman

[Housing, June 11th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, last week the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada held its annual rally on the Hill. During this time, members of the federation were grateful for our government's sound investments. They said that they looked forward to continuing to work with us on finding ways to improve housing options for Canadians.

Our government is committed to building on our record. In 2013, our government changed the rules to allow refinancing for housing providers that required capital repairs and renovations to extend the life of their housing. Just last year, we announced a common sense approach that gave many co-ops greater flexibility when their CMHC operating agreements reached their maturation.

Co-ops can now retain any money they have in their subsidy surplus fund to lower the cost of housing for low-income households.

On this side of the House, we are ensuring that these changes are saving Canadians money and are helping to lower the cost of housing, while at the same time creating jobs in the process.

[Business of Supply, June 10th, 2014]

First, Mr. Speaker, let me say more broadly that the numbers presented are very skewed toward the situations that have been characterized by the opposition as somehow being a tax break for the rich. I come from an orientation that is totally different than that.

I look at families of different natures in my riding, some of whom I have met through volunteer work in my life, and this will be a huge boon for them. This will give people the ability to have more disposable income than they ever thought they would have. Income splitting at all levels is a good thing. It would give people, especially at the lower and middle tiers, tax breaks that prior to this never existed. If we were to ask seniors right now what they think of income splitting, they will say over and over again it is one of the best things that ever happened. Now we are extending it to the rest of Canada and it is going to affect a much broader range than the numbers the member suggested.

[Business of Supply, June 10th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I have thought through the consequences for a wide group of people, including the ones I talked about, persons with disabilities in family situations.

Often for people who are in business, as I was in my previous life before I came to the House of Commons, income splitting was a common thing that went hand in hand with owning one's own business. A husband and wife were able to contribute to the business and split their incomes. In situations with persons, let us say, who are unable to work, this is of even greater benefit. These people are typically at the low and middle-income levels. I totally support our government moving forward on income splitting. I see a benefit for those families in situations where one of the potential earners cannot find work. The income can be split from one to the other and greatly benefit those in the low- to middle-income levels.

[Business of Supply, June 10th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, aboriginal people, to give another example, remain under-represented in the labour market and often face multiple barriers to employment. They are Canada's youngest and fastest-growing population group, but we are concerned that their rate of participation in the workforce is lower than the national average. Improving economic opportunities for aboriginal people remains a priority for our government. At the federal level, we are taking action to help aboriginal people gain skills and work experience. We are doing that through investments and partnerships with the private sector. This includes three key activities.

First, nearly $250 million is being invested over five years to improve the on-reserve income assistance program to help ensure aboriginal youth can access the skills and training they need to secure employment.

Second, our government is investing $1.6 billion over five years in the aboriginal skills and employment training strategy. This is an integrated approach to aboriginal labour market programming that links training to labour market demand.

Third, the skills and partnership fund helps respond to the changing needs and priorities of the labour market, while providing opportunities for aboriginal people to fully participate in Canada's economy.

In addition, economic action plan 2014 will help aboriginal people build a better future for themselves and their families. This includes $1.25 billion in support of the first nations control of first nations education act, $323.4 million over two years to continue to implement the first nations water and waste water action plan, and $303 million annually in support of first nations housing needs on reserves.

To paraphrase the Minister of Employment and Social Development, the paradox of our time is too many people without jobs and too many jobs without people. One person said recently at our human resources committee that the key will be matching talent to task. Many unemployed Canadians do not have the right skills for the jobs available. It is particularly challenging for young people who do not have the skills or the work experience. That is why we need to do a better job of making a compelling case to more young Canadians to consider a future in the skilled trades.

For too long, we have settled for this beige, one-size-fits-all approach to youth employment, which has essentially been to tell kids to stay in school for as long as they can while in many ways frowning on vocational schools and apprenticeship training.

The Government of Canada is helping Canadian youth get the skills employers are looking for with the Canada job grant, the apprenticeship incentive grant, the apprenticeship completion grant, the Canada apprentice loan, and through help from certain tax credits, such as tuition, education, and textbook tax credits.

As Canada is facing labour shortages, the government is investing in youth employment, skills and apprenticeship programs—

[Business of Supply, June 10th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to have this opportunity to respond today on the motion from the member for Skeena—Bulkley Valley. I will be sharing my time with the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Labour and for Western Economic Diversification.

The most effective approach to raising the incomes of Canadians and their families is by creating jobs and economic growth. The facts support it and the results show it. John Chambers, the CEO of technology giant Cisco Systems, just said last year, “The easiest place in the world to do business is Canada. Their prime minister gets it. They make it easy for me to invest and do acquisitions there; they have a great education program and they have a great immigration policy”.

Through economic action plan 2014, our government has set out a plan for safeguarding Canada's economy by helping Canadians get the information, skills, and experience they need for the jobs of today and tomorrow. The number of Canadians living below the low-income cut-off is now at its lowest level ever. As a result of our government's actions, today the Canadian economy is remarkably strong, setting the conditions for Canadians and their families to succeed and enjoy a high quality of life.

According to the Bloomberg News, Canada is the best country in the G20 for business. Canada also leads the G7 for tax competitiveness. The winner: Canadians from all walks of life. The average Canadian family pays $3,200 less in tax each year under our government. According to a recent PBO report, it is the low-middle-income Canadians who are benefiting the most from our tax cuts.

There is more good news. Canada now leads the G7 in job creation, with over a million net new jobs created since July 2009. There are over 1.4 million fewer Canadians living in poverty under our government than under previous governments. We have one of the strongest fiscal positions in the industrialized world. We are getting our fiscal house in order and we are going to balance the federal budget by 2015. With the help of Canadians, we will continue to build on our successes and focus on the drivers of growth and job creation—innovation, investment, education, skills, and communities—underpinned by our commitment to lower taxes and return to a balanced budget in 2015.

However, while we as Canadians have many reasons to be proud of our country, we must also recognize that there is much more work to be done. Our government recognizes that there are often challenges for under-represented groups in obtaining the support they require for jobs and growth. Those groups include persons with disabilities, aboriginal peoples, and youth. Encouraging their participation in the job market continues to be an important priority for us. As a parliamentarian, I have advocated strongly for reforms and improvements to help more Canadians with disabilities find employment.

This is important not only to promote their social inclusion and improve their quality of life; it is also important because we know that people with disabilities actually form one of the largest untapped talent pools in all of Canada. There are approximately 800,000 working-age Canadians with disabilities who are readily employable and have yet to find a job. Almost half of them have a post-secondary education, so it is clear that their education, skills, and talents are not being maximized, nor are these individuals getting a fair chance to find fulfilling careers. Eliminating the stigmas and removing barriers is key to seeing Canadians with disabilities succeed.

As a matter of fact, no government has done more than this government to support Canadians with disabilities. That is in large part due to the late minister of finance, the Hon. Jim Flaherty.

Former Minister Flaherty was a major supporter of my recent motion calling for reforms to help people with disabilities find work, and he personally spearheaded real, concrete action in this policy area. Last year, for example, we announced a $2 million investment to support the creation of a Canadian employers' disability forum. Established by Canadian business leaders under the name “Canadian Business SenseAbility”, the forum will facilitate education, training, and the sharing of resources and best practices among Canadian businesses. We also made permanent the enabling accessibility fund and announced $40 million in ongoing funding for the opportunities fund in 2013.

These measures create more job opportunities and encourage accessibility for persons with disabilities.

Last year, we extended the labour market agreements for persons with disabilities. We are introducing a new generation of agreements with the provinces and territories this year. Our goal is to better meet the employment needs of businesses and the employment prospects of persons with disabilities. To further ensure the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the labour force, our 2014 budget proposed to connect Canadians with disabilities with jobs by providing $15 million over three years to the Canadian Association for Community Living's ready, willing and able initiative.

Our government is also providing $11.4 million over four years for the expansion of vocational training for programs for persons with autism spectrum disorder.

There is indeed more work to be done. Aboriginal persons—

[Housing Industry, June 3rd, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the importance of the housing industry in Canada, especially the efforts of the Canadian Home Builders' Association.

Our government understands the critical role this sector plays in providing quality jobs and economic growth for Canadians. More than 8,500 small and medium-sized businesses are members of the CHBA. What is more, residential investment supports more than 900,000 jobs and generates more than $120 billion in economic activity every year. However, the industry is only as strong as the ability of Canadians to pursue their housing aspirations.

I have seen first-hand the efforts of our government to lower the barriers to home ownership, affordable renovations, and rental housing. Yet more must be done to support this critical industry. Continued partnership between the government and the housing industry is important to ensure that we continue to help Canadians achieve the dream of home ownership.

[Veterans Hiring Act, June 2nd, 2014]

You are not sincere.

[Business of Supply, May 14th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, we have shown leadership, as my speech articulated, particularly in the area of Housing First.

Let me answer the question in this fashion. I have had the great privilege of conducting many meetings of the Conservative construction and housing caucus. We have brought co-op housing provider organizations, social housing provider organizations, and private housing providers from across the country together in a forum to express their views. The leadership champions are in each of these industries. When we speak with them, we learn very quickly that many of them have new and innovative ways to deliver social housing at lower costs to the government.

We need to empower and learn from these people, and we need to be able to take their ideas. They are on the ground. We should not be sitting behind a desk in Ottawa saying what the solution is for them. They have very creative solutions that they bring to the table. Many of them understand that we pay—not in all cases, but in many—far too much per door for social housing in this country.

[Business of Supply, May 14th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, the member's question relates to emergency situations and to our government providing the necessary shelter for people in emergency situations. It is a debate that is meant for another day on another issue. Frankly, when the NDP brings to this chamber a motion such as today's, we have to look at the models for provision of social housing across all spectrums, including for the long term and for individuals who are partially displaced.

We have provided resources for them to eventually get back to where we need them to be. In some first nations cases, we are looking at alternative solutions that would move them to new locations.

These are not simple fixes that we want to put in place for expediency, just because disasters happen and we have put temporary services in place.

[Business of Supply, May 14th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to have this opportunity to speak to the motion brought forward by the hon. member for York South—Weston.

I would like to echo the sentiments shared earlier by the Minister of State for Social Development. Our government has, indeed, made unprecedented investments in affordable housing for all Canadians. We understand that some households will face financial constraints that will impede their participation in the housing market. This is why we are continuing to work with the provinces, territories, and industry stakeholders to ensure the accessibility of housing for those who are most in need.

I want to join my colleagues in urging the members opposite to acknowledge the important work that has been done by this government to improve access to affordable housing across Canada. Since 2006, our government has invested more than $16.5 billion in housing. I will repeat that. It has invested more than $16.5 billion. These investments have made a difference in the lives of close to 915,000 Canadian individuals and families: everyone from low-income households and seniors to persons with disabilities, recent immigrants, aboriginal people, and victims of domestic violence. In my role as chair of the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities, I know perfectly well that our approach is working in a balanced and sound way.

I would reflect on some of the comments made through questions and in debate in the House here today that sometimes the solution is simply looked upon, and the idea being put before the House that this is a crisis is somewhat misleading. There are a lot of individuals in this industry, both in the private and social sectors, providing good quality housing for Canadians in need. They need to be looked upon as being champions and advocates for new models that will give the best bang for the buck in terms of what governments do spend.

I would like to take the time to outline a few of the initiatives that form our government's approach. For housing groups that need assistance, our government is providing significant funding under the investment in affordable housing. Funding is provided through provinces and territories that have the flexibility to use federal funding to design and deliver programs that meet local needs and priorities, including rent supplement programs that can be made available to housing providers once their existing operating agreements mature. This is the flexibility that industry advocates have asked for, advocates such as co-ops, social housing, and municipalities.

Our government's initial commitment under the IAH was $716 million over three years, funding that assisted more than 183,000 households. As the member knows, because New Democrats voted against it, economic action plan 2013 renewed the IAH agreements with $1.25 billion in funding over five years. The funding is being implemented through amendments to existing agreements with provinces and territories. Four such agreements have been signed to date, with Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island. As the minister mentioned, we expect agreements with the remaining provinces and territories to be concluded shortly.

Investment in affordable housing is a great example of how our government is working with provinces and territories to fund innovative housing solutions that meet local needs and priorities. We have been told over and over by the groups we have met with that there is no one size that fits all. This has to be determined at the grassroots, on the ground, at the level where we build projects and where projects are needed.

We believe that provinces and territories are in the best position to design and deliver programs that address specific housing needs, meet the priorities in their jurisdictions, and give them the flexibility to do so. It is also important to note that federal funding provided through investment in affordable housing is cost matched by the provinces and territories, so that the total investments by governments will remain significant. I still cannot understand why the NDP would vote against long-term stable funding for affordable housing, especially because we know that investment would go a long way toward improving access to affordable housing in communities across Canada.

We have also introduced another important change to specifically support social housing providers in 2013.

Social housing providers whose operating agreements allow for the establishment of a subsidy surplus fund can now retain any money they have in this fund to use after their operating agreements mature. Many of these funds have been established because of interest rates going down, so they have had excess funds. They have been good, prudent managers of their social housing stock and they have used and managed that money correctly.

On the flip side, for some groups we have met with, it is the opposite. Some have not, so in some cases the mortgage money that we set out in original agreements has not gone for its intended purposes.

These funds can be used to continue to lower the cost of housing for low-income households living in existing social housing. This represents a common sense approach that will give some social housing projects greater flexibility when operating agreements mature.

This change was warmly welcomed by housing providers, including the 900 members of the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada. CHF Canada's executive director, Nicholas Gazzard, said at the time:

This additional flexibility allows co-ops to use federal funds to provide rent-geared-to-income assistance for vulnerable low-income households, even after their funding agreements have expired.

This is why I am particularly proud of our action plan 2013, through which the government renewed our investment in affordable housing agreements and our homeless partnering strategy with a focus on Housing First. In fact, the NDP voted against $600 million in funding over five years to renew the program. This funding will go a long way to help combat homelessness in our country, and the new focus on Housing First has been lauded from all sectors.

The Housing First focus builds on the outcomes of the Mental Health Commission of Canada's At Home/Chez Soi research demonstration project, which was funded by the federal government at $110 million over five years and established in five cities: Vancouver, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal, and Moncton.

The project, the largest of its kind, ended in March 2013 and demonstrates that the Housing First approach can be effectively implemented in Canadian cities to rapidly reduce homelessness while alleviating pressure on shelters and health and judicial services. The Housing First approach aims to move homeless people from the streets and short-term shelters into immediate and permanent housing while offering support for people with addictions and mental illness.

The project has demonstrated that the Housing First approach can result in significant savings through decreased use of costly resources such as paramedics and police services, particularly for those with high needs.

Over the course of the study, an average of 73% of participants in the Housing First group remained in stable housing, compared to 32% for the group receiving usual care.

This study also showed that Housing First is a sound financial investment that can lead to significant cost savings. For those participants who were the highest users of emergency and social services, every $10 invested led to an average savings to government of $21.72. Overall, participants in the project were less likely to get in trouble with the law, and those who received both housing and supportive services showed more signs of recovery than those who did not. Housing First is an approach that works really well, and it is innovative.

Our government wants to equip and empower people so that hopefully they can find healing and recovery, and then skills and employment as they become fully participating members of society. Our goal is to ensure that hard-working taxpayers' dollars are used to produce sustainable results for affordable housing and for those who are homeless.

I urge all members to carefully consider our government's record when this House votes on this motion.