Human Resources committee  All partners in housing know that the ecosystem and intervention methods exist. However, we are worried about creating something of a parallel network or operation. We want to ensure that the money gets into the system to meet the needs. I can already tell you that we currently have in the system 10,000 homes ready to be built and funded through Quebec government programs.

Human Resources committee  The current average cost of housing in a program funded half by the government and half by municipalities and mortgages or tenant rents is about $115,000. However, I should remind you that the figure we are now providing is in anticipation of next year's budget, while construction costs will have increased and inflation will have adjusted.

Human Resources committee  After federal funding was discontinued in the 1990s, Quebec created its own programs to fund community housing. So today, half of the country's cooperatives are in Quebec. Housing associations, federations and offices have formed an ecosystem that is integrated into the health system and that includes all community partners [Technical difficulty—Editor] and Crown corporations.

Human Resources committee  On the first part about the urban and the community, when we look at the mobilization of people, people when they are isolated—and that's what we see in big cities—when you see people who don't have a social network to depend on, don't have neighbours they know or proof that they know, they will have difficulties getting through a crisis like this.

Human Resources committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you for having us as part of the committee business so that we can highlight the importance of housing during the current crisis. I'll start by introducing our organization. The Association des groupes de ressources techniques du Québec is made up of 25 technical resource groups, or GRTs, that serve the entire province of Quebec.

Finance committee  It is an investment because it reduces costs in the areas of health, education, public safety and many other things. We are saying that an additional $2 billion is needed to catch up. The amount depends on the regions. It is a bit like the complexity that we have to deal with when it comes to housing.

Finance committee  I don't have the exact figure on the connection between a person's health and investment. It varies. However, clearly, the benefits are huge in the long term. Let's take the example of a family living in a housing unit that is too expensive, inadequate and substandard. Parents often have to work two jobs to pay the rent, which prevents them from helping their children with school, and their children's education takes a hit.

Finance committee  Your second question is easy to answer. Since the federal government made the money available, if I am not mistaken, Quebec is the only province that has not signed an agreement, so we are losing out on $70 million a year. We understand that parliamentarians are responsible to their constituents for the proper management of money, but the Quebec government and the municipalities involved in the projects have the same reaction.

Finance committee  It is therefore important that the government's additional requirements, apart from the rules of the National Building Code, be accompanied by subsidies so that these conditions do not impede the development of the housing so eagerly awaited by the vulnerable population. In Quebec, we have a special ecosystem that, for the past 40 years, has worked in a complementary way with federations of co-operatives and housing NPOs, municipal housing authorities, cities, the health sector and housing committees.

Finance committee  Good afternoon, everyone. Thank you for welcoming us to the work of the committee and allowing us to highlight the importance of housing in the budget planning exercise. I will make my presentation in French but will happily answer questions in English or French. Let me start by introducing ourselves.