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Media Release: Liberals must invest in long-term housing solutions

Liberals must invest in long-term housing solutions

In response to the federal government’s announcement on shelters for refugees in Toronto, NDP critic for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Jenny Kwan issued the following statement:

July 21st, 2023

“Like many Canadians, I am deeply saddened and frustrated by the crises unfolding in Toronto’s shelter system. After fleeing conflict, violence, or persecution, people are relegated to the streets. The Liberal government has neglected its humanitarian obligation to ensure these individuals and families are treated with dignity, respect, and get the support they need. Every night where families are turned away from shelter is a damning indictment of this government’s failures.

While the NDP is relieved that the federal government has finally committed to providing $97 million for the Interim Housing Assistance Program (IHAP), the Liberals must recognize that this one-time injection of funds is only a stop-gap measure. It does not fix structural issues. Ongoing efforts must be made to work in collaboration with all levels of government and the community.

The newly elected Mayor of Toronto has offered solutions including increased federal funding, leveraging hotel spaces, partnerships with non-profits, faith groups, and community agencies. We have seen the federal government deploy similar measures before, as with the Syrian refugee initiative. It is my hope that the federal government can draw lessons from the past to inform an urgent, humane, and effective response today.

The federal government must consider all immediate options to put a roof over these individuals’ heads – but understand that cities like Toronto will require permanent and comprehensive long-term support.

The NDP also calls for enhanced investments to support long-term solutions. The current system is underfunded and underdeveloped. The standard set to support Ukrainians fleeing Putin’s illegal war should be adopted for other groups seeking refuge in Canada. The government must ensure equitable treatment for all.

The Liberals should also follow experts' advice and work in partnership with NGOs to build and add to the shelter stock so that newly arrived refugees or asylum seekers can have access to temporary housing until resettlement supports are made available.

This situation is not only a reflection of the government’s failures in the immigration and refugee system, but also a consequence of the housing crisis perpetuated by decades of Liberal and Conservative governments. This problem stems from the federal government abandoning responsibility for co-op and social housing since 1993. Liberals must make substantial investments in social housing to meet people’s needs nationwide. Moreover, they must take action to stop profiteering and protect our existing affordable homes.

The NDP calls for the government to adopt a rights-based approach. This means challenging corporate interests driving up home costs. We urge the government to place a moratorium on the acquisition of affordable homes by corporate landlords, and to end preferential taxation on real-estate investment trusts. We are further calling on the government to create and protect affordable homes through the creation of an acquisition fund to purchase at-risk units, and by tightening conditions for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) funding for private landlords. To increase transparency for tenants and allow for cooling in the housing market, this should be accompanied by a requirement for landlords to disclose property ownership, creation of a national rental registry, and progressively larger down payments for buyers purchasing multiple properties.

New Democrats will always defend people's right to find safe and affordable shelter, regardless of their class or background.”

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CPAC: HOUSE OF COMMONS PROCEEDINGS Tributes to the Late Kirsty Duncan

CPAC: HOUSE OF COMMONS PROCEEDINGS Tributes to the Late Kirsty Duncan

In the House of Commons, members of Parliament pay tribute to the late Kirsty Duncan. The former Liberal MP and cabinet minister died January 26, 2026, at the age of 59. Delivering remarks are MPs Michelle Rempel Garner (Conservative), Alexandra Mendès (Liberal), Claude DeBbellefeuille (Bloc Québécois), Jenny Kwan (NDP), and Elizabeth May (the leader of the Green Party).

Click image or link to watch the CPAC video, Jenny's speech starts at 21:44 - https://www.cpac.ca/house-of-commons-proceedings/episode/tributes-to-the-late-kirsty-duncan--february-6-2026?id=d0dbaf6f-e643-4e63-9f88-6ddc540ff2bb

 

National Post: Minister says new housing agency has no targets on number of homes it will build

National Post: Minister says new housing agency has no targets on number of homes it will build

OTTAWA — Housing Minister Gregor Robertson tabled legislation on Thursday to establish the federal government’s new affordable housing agency, but acknowledged Build Canada Homes has no set targets on how many homes it will build.

In December, the Parliamentary Budget Officer released a report that estimated the agency’s efforts would result in 26,000 directly funded units over the next five years. The federal government has said the report does not take into account the units that will result from Build Canada Homes’ partnerships with private developers and its $51-billion infrastructure fund.

Still, the PBO estimates federal spending on housing programs is set to decline by 56 per cent, from $9.8 billion in 2025-26 to $4.3 billion in 2028-29, due to expiration of funding for existing programs and cuts set out in Budget 2025.

“Canada’s non-profit housing stock has dwindled to only about four and a half percent of its total housing stock, well below the G7 average,” said NDP housing critic Jenny Kwan, in an interview with the National Post. “Countries that are doing well in addressing the housing situation is sitting at about 20 per cent.”

Click image or link to read the news story - https://nationalpost.com/news/minister-says-new-housing-agency-has-no-targets-on-number-of-homes-it-will-build

 

CBC: Government tables bill giving Build Canada Homes land acquisition power

CBC: Government tables bill giving Build Canada Homes land acquisition power

The federal government introduced legislation that would enshrine its housing agency as a Crown corporation on Thursday, giving it land acquisition authority as well as the ability to partner with private developers — as questions remain over the number of units it intends to build.

The Conservative Party, which has previously been critical of Build Canada Homes for adding a layer of bureaucracy to homebuilding, did not indicate whether it plans to support the bill.

"The legislation was just tabled. I look forward to studying it in detail and I look forward to discussing with colleagues and I look forward to participating in the debate," said Conservative MP Garnett Genuis, who represents the Edmonton-area riding of Sherwood Park-Fort Saskatchewan.

NDP housing critic Jenny Kwan criticized the bill for not defining the term "affordable housing," also noting in a statement it "grants extraordinarily broad powers to Build Canada Homes, allowing it to finance and partner with virtually any person or entity, acquire and develop land, own and operate housing and invest in third-party ventures, all with minimal constraints and limited parliamentary oversight."

She also said turning the agency into a Crown corporation "removes accountability from the minister of housing."

Click image or link to read the news story - https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-homes-crown-corp-9.7076495

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