QUESTION PERIOD — Infrastructure and Communities
Affordable Housing
September 17, 2024
Leader, for nine long years, the NDP-Liberal government has failed to build enough homes for Canadians and, as a result, the cost of housing has doubled.
A monthly report on the cost of rents across the country shows that in August the average cost of a one-bedroom apartment in Toronto stood at more than $2,400.
Across the GTA, rent remains unaffordable. The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Etobicoke rose almost 1% month over month and now stands at more than $2,200. In Mississauga, the average rent is more than $2,300, which is virtually unchanged from a year ago despite many housing announcements made by the NDP-Liberal government since then. Leader, who can afford this?
There is no question that Canadians, especially younger Canadians, have been feeling the pinch and pressure for some time. That’s why this government has introduced a series of initiatives in its area of jurisdiction, and is also working closely with provinces, municipalities and the private sector to address this multi-faceted challenge we face in Canada with a growing population and the pressures you properly underline.
Although there is no magic bullet and no one quick fix, the suite of measures the government has introduced, along with the collaboration they are enjoying with many municipalities and provinces, will bear fruit.
Senator Gold, unaffordable rent isn’t only a problem in the GTA. Asking rents for residential property types in Canada averaged $2,187 in August, increasing by 3.3% over the past year. Leader, why should Canadians have to live like this? When will we see a meaningful reduction in the cost of rent?
There is a supply-and-demand issue, as everyone understands. The government has delivered measures that will unlock over 600,000 new rental homes, including tens of thousands of affordable homes across the country. It is also cracking down on short-term rentals to rapidly unlock up to 30,000 more apartments for families to live in. These are some measures being introduced to address this issue.
