OPEN LETTER: To Prime Minister and Housing Minister on Affordable Housing Commitment Details
OPEN LETTER: To Prime Minister and Housing Minister on Affordable Housing Commitment Details
June 3, 2025
The Right Honourable Mark Carney, P.C., M.P.,
Prime Minister of Canada
The Honourable Gregor Robertson, P.C., M.P.,
Minister of Housing and Infrastructure
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6
Dear Prime Minister Carney and Minister Robertson,
Open Letter Re: Request for Details on Federal Commitments to Co-op and Social Housing
During today’s session of Question Period, Minister Robertson stated that the federal government is committed to building co-operative and social housing with subsidies, alongside market housing. This statement is a welcome acknowledgment of the urgent affordable housing crisis facing communities across the country and the critical need for permanent, non-market housing solutions.
Given the significance of this commitment, I am writing to request further details on the federal government’s housing plan. Specifically:
What are the government’s targets for the number of new co-operative and social housing units to be built?
What levels of capital and operating subsidies will be provided to ensure these homes remain permanently affordable?
How does the federal government plan to work with provinces, municipalities, Indigenous governments, and non-profit housing providers to deliver on these commitments?
What proportion of the overall housing investment will be allocated to non-market housing relative to market development?
What timelines can Canadians expect for the rollout of these initiatives?
Will there be a commitment to purchase and renovate the remaining SRO hotels in the City of Vancouver?
As the Member of Parliament for Vancouver East—a riding deeply affected by Canada’s housing and homelessness crisis—I have long advocated for a return to federal leadership in building publicly funded, permanently affordable housing. Clear, concrete, and measurable plans are essential to ensuring these commitments are realized and to rebuilding the public’s trust in government action on housing.
I look forward to receiving in a timely way, a detailed response outlining your government’s plan to deliver on these urgently needed housing investments.
Sincerely,
Jenny Kwan
Member of Parliament
Vancouver East
NDP Critic for Housing and Infrastructure
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August 7, 2026
New Democrats Renew Calls on Canada to Ban the RSS and Deny Entry to its Chief
OTTAWA —New Democrats are calling on the federal government to deny entry to the head of the fascist paramilitary organization Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Network (RSS) and are renewing past NDP calls on Canada to ban the RSS entirely.
NDP Foreign Affairs Critic Heather McPherson and NDP Immigration and Public Safety Critic Jenny Kwan today wrote to the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Public Safety, and Immigration to urge action in advance of Mohan Bhagwat’s planned visit to Canada at the end of August.
“The RSS is an extremist group that advocates hate and violence towards religious minorities and marginalized in India and also engages in targeted intimidation of those who speak out against the organization in Canada,” said Heather McPherson, NDP Foreign Affairs Critic. “Multiple minority communities fear his presence in Canada could amplify hate and violence towards them and risk the safety of vulnerable individuals.”
In recent weeks, United Nations Human Rights experts have called on Canada to ensure members of the Sikh community are protected from violent threats by Hindutva extremist groups including the RSS.
“Canada must send a clear message that there is no place in this country for individuals who promote or enable hatred, violence, or intimidation against vulnerable communities or who are connected to activities that threaten Canada's security and democratic institutions. Pertinent sections of Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act must be applied to protect Canadians and declare the IRSS and its members inadmissible,” said Jenny Kwan, NDP Critic for Public Safety and for Immigration.
New Democrats have long called on Canada to ban the RSS from Canada, place the RSS on the terrorist entities list, and impose sanctions on connected networks. Despite strong evidence of foreign interference and incitement to violence against Canadians, the Liberals have refused to take action on the RSS. Instead, in recent months the Carney government has grown closer to the Modi regime, causing members of several minority groups in Canada to say their safety no longer matters to the Liberal government.
On August 6, over 200 Canadian civil society organizations released a joint letter calling for Mohan Bhagwat to be denied entry to Canada.
