Soraya Martinez Ferrada

[Housing, May 13th, 2022]

Mr. Speaker, we are well aware that there is a housing crisis across the country, in every riding of every member of Parliament.

There is no silver bullet.

However, we have taken concrete action in this budget, and the Conservatives have voted against it every time. It is all well and good to say one thing and then say something different, but there are concrete measures in this budget, such as doubling construction across the country and helping people buy their first home and get into housing.

[Housing, May 13th, 2022]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for her question. Again, it gives me the opportunity to name a few of the measures in budget 2022, namely, the bill to implement an annual tax on the value of non-resident, non-Canadian-owned residential real estate. We also announced a two-year ban on foreign investment in real estate.

We need to do something about access to home ownership. We need to make sure that every Canadian is able to buy a home, if they so desire, and more importantly, that every Canadian has a roof over their head.

[Housing, May 13th, 2022]

Mr. Speaker, again, I thank my colleague for her question.

I live in Canada, not in fantasyland. What I can tell her is that we need to work not only on access to home ownership and increasing the number of housing units, but also on buyers' rights and unfair practices in the real estate market.

The national housing strategies operate on several levels. I hope the Conservative Party will vote with us for once.

[Housing, May 13th, 2022]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for her question.

That is precisely why we need to work not only on home ownership, but also on buyers' rights. Considering the issue of renovictions and units that are unaffordable, we need to ensure not only that people can buy a home, but also that people can rent affordably across the country.

That is exactly what we put in our budget: concrete measures to help every Canadian have a roof over their head.

[Housing, May 13th, 2022]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question.

I myself have children who are millennials. I myself am having these discussions with my children about buying their first home.

The Conservatives only ever talk about buying a first property. Yes, that is important. However, they never talk about social housing. They never talk about affordability.

Ensuring that people can buy a house must not be our only focus. We also need to respect renters' rights to have a decent place to live. We need housing, not just home ownership.

[Housing, May 13th, 2022]

Mr. Speaker, the member's question gives me an opportunity to again talk about our housing measures, which his party has voted against several times.

In budget 2022, we have a lot of measures to help access a new house and build more affordable housing. I hope this time around members will support the measures this government is presenting.

[ESTim Awards, May 12th, 2022]

Mr. Speaker, I had the great pleasure of attending the 34th edition of the ESTim awards gala last week.

I would first like to congratulate the entire team at the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Montreal on this event. After two years of pandemic, the gala was finally able to take place in person with more than 500 entrepreneurs, organizations and businesses in attendance. This gala recognizes the determination, leadership and innovation of entrepreneurs, businesses and community organizations in the east end of Montreal. The people of eastern Montreal are proud people with a strong sense of belonging to the region.

I salute all of this year's winners, especially those from my riding. Congratulations to Dermadry Laboratories, winner in the manufacturing category; Annie Martel, of Terre à soi, winner in the women's leadership category; and the Hochelaga-Maisonneuve community kitchen, winner of the Orchidée Organisation award.

The ESTim awards recognize the talent and innovation of all these extraordinary people who contribute to the development of Montreal's east end.

[Housing, May 6th, 2022]

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question.

We are well aware of the fact that Canadians across the country think that their dreams of home ownership are out of reach and next to impossible to achieve.

In the most recent budget, we presented practical measures, namely $200 million to develop and expand rent-to-own programs, a tax-free savings account, a two-year ban on sales to foreign buyers and, of course, a homebuyers' bill of rights, which we are developing in co-operation with the provinces and territories.

We are dedicated to—

[Abortion Rights, May 3rd, 2022]

Mr. Speaker, access to abortion is important in Canada. A woman's right is well entrenched and, I hope, unassailable. We have a responsibility to speak out when this right is under attack. Today, our Prime Minister reiterated that the right to choose is a woman's right and a woman's right alone. It is my right, it is my daughter's right, and it is the right of all Canadian women, across the country, to have access to a safe and legal abortion.

Even today, there are members of the opposition who are not speaking out about what is happening. According to CBC, the interim leader has asked her MPs to keep quiet and not to comment on abortion. I hope that is not true.

Canadians across the country need to know that the members of this House will protect this fundamental right, today and always.

[Economic and Fiscal Update Implementation Act, 2021, May 3rd, 2022]

Madam Speaker, as I was telling my hon. colleague, our government has been there since the beginning of the pandemic to support the most vulnerable businesses, organizations and people. Out of every 10 dollars invested during this pandemic, eight came from the federal government. We will continue to be there for businesses for as long as they need us.