HANSARD: Will the Minister build 2 million units of social housing to meet the needs of the community?
House of Commons Hansard #223 of the 44th Parliament, 1st Session.
Oral Questions on Housing
September 25th, 2023 / 2:30 p.m.
Jenny Kwan Vancouver East, BC
Oral Questions on Housing
September 25th, 2023 / 2:30 p.m.
Jenny Kwan Vancouver East, BC
NDP
Mr. Speaker, then the minister should commit to creating an acquisition fund.
Let me say this: The Liberal plan is not working. The minister should know that relying on market forces will not solve the problem. That is what the Liberals and Conservatives have done for the last 30 years, and we can see where it got us. The average rent in Canada is now over $2,100 a month. In Vancouver, it is over $3,000. It is time for bold action.
Will the minister commit to building two million units of social housing to meet the needs of the community?
Sean Fraser Minister of Housing
Mr. Speaker, then the minister should commit to creating an acquisition fund.
Let me say this: The Liberal plan is not working. The minister should know that relying on market forces will not solve the problem. That is what the Liberals and Conservatives have done for the last 30 years, and we can see where it got us. The average rent in Canada is now over $2,100 a month. In Vancouver, it is over $3,000. It is time for bold action.
Will the minister commit to building two million units of social housing to meet the needs of the community?
Sean Fraser Minister of Housing
Liberal
Mr. Speaker, I agree with the member opposite that building market housing is not enough, but we must also increase the supply of market housing in the market. We need to encourage the construction of homes for low-income Canadians and for middle-class Canadians.
As we move forward with a measure that is going to allow people to build more market-based homes, we are also advancing measures that are going to disproportionately have a positive impact on builders who are seeking to build homes for low-income families outside of the traditional market.
There is no silver bullet to the housing crisis. We will pull every lever at our disposal to make things right.
Mr. Speaker, I agree with the member opposite that building market housing is not enough, but we must also increase the supply of market housing in the market. We need to encourage the construction of homes for low-income Canadians and for middle-class Canadians.
As we move forward with a measure that is going to allow people to build more market-based homes, we are also advancing measures that are going to disproportionately have a positive impact on builders who are seeking to build homes for low-income families outside of the traditional market.
There is no silver bullet to the housing crisis. We will pull every lever at our disposal to make things right.
