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STATEMENT: People in northern communities can’t afford more broken Liberal promises on housing: NDP

"For years, people living in northern communities have been dealing with a devastating housing crisis while consecutive Liberal and Conservative governments ignored their basic human rights. Houses in northern communities are often overcrowded, in desperate need of repair and many are filled with mould. Despite the Liberals promising to deliver an Urban, Rural and Northern Indigenous Housing Strategy since 2017, Canadians are still waiting. Even these promises are not sufficient to meet the current housing needs which are hurting communities."

People in northern communities can’t afford more broken Liberal promises on housing: NDP

NDP critic for housing, Jenny Kwan, and the critic for northern affairs, Lori Idlout, made the following joint statement:

“For years, people living in northern communities have been dealing with a devastating housing crisis while consecutive Liberal and Conservative governments ignored their basic human rights. Houses in northern communities are often overcrowded, in desperate need of repair and many are filled with mould. Despite the Liberals promising to deliver an Urban, Rural and Northern Indigenous Housing Strategy since 2017, Canadians are still waiting. Even these promises are not sufficient to meet the current housing needs which are hurting communities.

People living in northern communities are tired of being treated like second class citizens and getting nothing but empty promises from this government. The mental health crisis in these communities is ripping families apart and is closely linked to this housing crisis; Liberal inaction is costing lives. When it’s wealthy investors and the super-rich asking, Justin Trudeau will move mountains, but when it comes to Indigenous people, they always have to wait.

This ad-hoc approach of making many smaller announcements distracts from the fact that Indigenous housing was an afterthought in the current housing strategy. The amount of funding the government is contributing to housing overall is far from enough. Canadians are seeing the inflation rate rise making it increasingly difficult for people to rent or buy a home. Instead of addressing the housing crisis like Justin Trudeau promised to do in 2015, Canadians are watching helplessly as the housing crisis gets worse due to the inaction of the Liberal government for the past six years.

New Democrats are calling for the Liberals to work with northern and Indigenous communities to address their specific needs in terms of new homes and necessary repairs and keep their promise of a ‘For Indigenous, By Indigenous’ housing strategy.

​Housing is a basic human right. Everyone should be able to find a ​safe and affordable place to call home.”

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City TV: Concerns raised about rising cost of rentals for low-income earners: Vancouver MP

City TV: Concerns raised about rising cost of rentals for low-income earners: Vancouver MP

A Vancouver NDP MP is sounding the alarm when it comes to rent-geared-to-income housing units, saying incoming changes by the federal government will lead to a severe shortage within the affordable housing market in this country.

Vancouver East MP Jenny Kwan says she’s learned that as of March 31, 2028, Ottawa will be cutting subsidy funding to non-profits that operate buildings that include units for those on a fixed income. Once those suites are vacated, she says the price of those units will be bumped to market rates.

For example, a rental suite that’s going for $650 right now could be increased to $1,800 or more.

Kwan adds these changes are happening right now at some buildings in Metro Vancouver as non-profits try to bank money to prepare for their funding to be slashed in the future.

 

Open Letter: Loss of Thousands Rent Geared to Income Subsided Units

Open Letter: Loss of Thousands Rent Geared to Income Subsided Units

Recently non-profits have been advised an Amending Agreement for some of those projects would come into effect on June 29, 2024, whereby Rent-Geared-Income (RGI) units will need to revert to market rent as soon as turnover of the existing tenant occurs as the subsidies for those units will not be renewed beyond 2028. It further stipulates that this conversion will be permanent. What this means is that Canada will permanently lose thousands of RGI units for low-income residents. This is in addition to the loss of 370,000 affordable units under the Liberal government’s watch and another 800,000 units under the Conservative’s watch.

 

This poses a significant risk to thousands of Canadians, especially Indigenous communities which are already overrepresented in homelessness and housing need. The non-market housing sector plays a crucial role in communities across Canada, offering not just shelter but stability, security, and a sense of community for its residents. Canada is already faced with a housing crisis. It is widely recognized that for every affordable housing unit built, 11 will be lost. Without the continuation of these subsidies, homelessness will be further exacerbated.

 

Canadian Press: RCMP still probing alleged meddling in federal elections

Canadian Press: RCMP still probing alleged meddling in federal elections

The hearings are part of the inquiry's examination of possible meddling by China, India, Russia and others in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections.

Deputy RCMP commissioner Mark Flynn provided few other details about the ongoing probes, but indicated to reporters that some of the leads emerged through individuals “speaking about their own experiences very publicly,” including in the House of Commons.

Former Conservative leader Erin O'Toole, Conservative MP Michael Chong and New Democrat MP Jenny Kwan have all been identified publicly as possible targets of foreign interference by China.

In a classified February interview with the inquiry, Duheme said the RCMP did not open any foreign interference-related criminal investigations during the last two general elections.

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