Finance committee  I would say that the rise in the cost of housing is often a result of flipping. Speculation means that we end up with housing that is more expensive for landlords, who pass the bill on to tenants. Some housing is referred to as “non-market”, as in the case of co‑operatives. That housing is here for good, so there are no resales, and it is the historic cost of construction that applies.

Finance committee  Yes. If I had my colleague François Bélanger, an economist, with me, it would definitely be easier for me to answer. I can tell you that in Quebec, the Commission des partenaires du marché du travail, which brings together employers and unions, is calling for the cuts to this funding to be cancelled, because they result in reductions in worker training budgets.

Finance committee  Thank you for the question. I just want to note that, as we said, we welcome the initiative that has been taken. Yes, we understand it is limited to contraceptives and diabetes medication. That said, what we would like is for it to be extended to other types of medications, because this is an important element of social policy.

Finance committee  This reform is urgently needed for the following reasons. The money that a person receives from employment insurance is not a very high income. Often, people who receive employment insurance are seasonal workers such as forestry workers: people who plant trees, which are sometimes burned down by forest fires.

Finance committee  Hello and thank you, Mr. Chair. I would first like to thank the Standing Committee on Finance for inviting us here. I would note that the CSN, the Confédération des syndicats nationaux, represents more than 330,000 members in all possible economic sectors, primarily in Quebec but also throughout Canada.

Finance committee  I will let Mr. Bélanger answer your questions. However, I just want to say that before, when the capital gains inclusion rate was at 50%, it did not prove to be the solution for creating more investment in Canada. Many other factors came into play.

Finance committee  I don't have any data on this topic. Certainly, some of them do, but it's definitely a small proportion. However, I know that a portion of capital gains is exempt. Moreover, even though some people have a second home, we believe in tax fairness and progressivity. We see taxation as a way to distribute wealth.

Finance committee  This plays a significant role in freezing the value of the building. The property can't be resold at a profit. As a result, the rents won't increase from $1,000 to $2,000 or $2,500 decade after decade. If a non‑profit organization owns a building, the organization can't resell it.

Finance committee  In our view, intergenerational balance means meeting the needs of the public. Many needs of the public are partially met. I said this earlier. Let me tell you what we think. Take the example of housing, which we heard about earlier. In our view, affordable housing should receive as much investment as possible.

Finance committee  Good afternoon, Mr. Chair. Thank you for inviting us. I would like to inform you that the CSN represents 330,000 members across Canada, in all sectors of activity. Let me start by saying that we support the government's proposal to increase the capital gains tax. First, we acknowledge that government must not only raise additional revenue, but also provide public services and social programs.

Environment committee  Thank you for your question. I would like to ask my colleague, Julien Laflamme, to answer it.

Environment committee  As Mr. Laflamme said, tangible examples have produced results. On our end, when the Petit Paris sawmill faced threats of closure, people received training. That's all very well, and we support that. However, it isn't enough. More funding is needed to meet all needs.

Environment committee  Take a look at what has been done historically in Scandinavia, where forest management has been done more intelligently, particularly through a large production of engineered wood. We could do the same thing with our wood fibre. We can make beams. We're already doing that—I'm not saying we aren't—but we need to do even more to move forward.

Environment committee  I will yield the floor to Mr. Laflamme.

Environment committee  Yes, it's true, but—