Human Resources committee  During the pandemic, the number of women in shelters was much lower because they could not leave their homes. The housing availability problem got worse during the pandemic. Some women were able to leave their homes during the pandemic and went to shelters, but it is always difficult to find housing after they leave an emergency shelter or a second-stage shelter.

Human Resources committee  What more needs to be done with regard to shelters and to help women find housing?

Human Resources committee  The shelter workers spend their day looking for housing so the women can get out of the shelters. Shelter space is very limited. Women who are in danger have to stay longer because we cannot find other housing for them. That's the problem.

Human Resources committee  No, finding housing is not easy at all. We practically have to go door to door to find it. In the Laurentians, for instance, finding housing requires very close follow‑up. Then the property owner has to be convinced to accept a single-parent family, since they might have problems paying the rent.

Human Resources committee  I heard part of the presentation earlier. The federal government does indeed have real power over taxation systems. In my view, that is a promising avenue. I don't know if Mr. Richter has something to add. Taxation is certainly a tool at the government's disposal. Knowing that, how...

Human Resources committee  You're saying that the vast majority of those kinds of evictions don't happen in the purpose-built rental buildings but tend to happen more in the secondary market.

Human Resources committee  Thanks.

Human Resources committee  In our view, that would be a double obligation. There is the right to housing, but above all the right to safety for women. That is in fact a right for all Canadians, but we are talking about women now. These are also recognized rights. It is more than a right, it is a government mandate, whether at the federal or provincial level.

Human Resources committee  There must be something I said, Mr. Chair. They knew I was going to start.

Human Resources committee  That's a great segue, actually, to John. Thank you for that. John, at the end of your comments, you said that renovictions are not nearly as common as I think maybe the hyperbole would suggest. Other witnesses said they are and that it's a major issue in this country. I'm hearing from Tim that sweeping changes in tax rules against REITs would maybe exacerbate the situation.

Human Resources committee  Hello. The Alliance des maisons d’hébergement de deuxième étape pour femmes et enfants victimes de violence conjugale, which is a group of second-stage shelters for women and children who are the victims of domestic violence, has 38 member shelters in Quebec and has been working on the issue of the social housing stock.

Human Resources committee  I want to elaborate a little more on that. Clearly, all levels of government have skin in the game and have some responsibilities here. Municipalities are definitely on the leading edge of this and on the front lines of the housing crisis and the housing situation—and also a lot of the solutions.

Human Resources committee  Could you speak as well to the concept of one of the things we've talked a lot about? The governing party and certainly our party have talked a lot about the concept of unloading underutilized federal buildings. I know that the conversion of office space to residential space can be difficult and doesn't always make sense in terms of affordability, but what about options like free land?

Human Resources committee  That's great. I think I'm out of time. Thank you.

Human Resources committee  Thanks, Mr. Chair. I want to go back to you, Mr. Brooks. You referenced the number of units that the CMHC says we need to get built by 2030 to restore affordability. It's a crazy number, and certainly what we would have to do is at least double a year than the best year we've ever had.