THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL FINANCE

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Wednesday, November 5, 2025
(17)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on National Finance met this day at 6:47 p.m., in room W110, 1 Wellington St., the chair, the Honourable Claude Carignan, P.C., presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Cardozo, Carignan, P.C., Dalphond, Forest, Galvez, Hébert, Kingston, MacAdam, Marshall and Ross (10).

Other senators present: The Honourable Senators Pupatello and Senior (2).

Participating in the meeting: Sylvain Fleury and Michaël Lambert-Racine, analysts, Library of Parliament.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, the committee continued its examination of federal programs and initiatives to support the creation of housing.

WITNESSES:

Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants:

Debbie Douglas, Executive Director.

Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives:

Marc Lee, Senior Economist (by videoconference).

As individuals:

Blair Feltmate, Head, Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation, University of Waterloo;

Carolyn Whitzman, Senior Housing Researcher, School of Cities, University of Toronto (by videoconference).

Blair Feltmate and Debbie Douglas each made a statement and answered questions.

At 7:45 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 7:49 p.m., the committee resumed.

Carolyn Whitzman and Marc Lee each made a statement and answered questions.

At 8:08 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 8:14 p.m., the committee resumed.

Carolyn Whitzman and Marc Lee continued to answer questions.

At 8:41 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Sara Gajic

Clerk of the Committee