QUESTION PERIOD — Ministry of Public Services and Procurement
Federal Real Property
October 18, 2023
Minister Duclos, thank you for being with us today. I’d like to explore a topic I first raised with you in December 2020, when you appeared before the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance.
It has to do with the government’s real estate portfolio and its commitment to advancing the Office Long Term Plan, or OLTP. You’ve been tasked once again with studying this issue.
I know the Government of Canada wants to offer greater flexibility and agility by providing options for hybrid work environments that meet operational requirements and promote productivity. That’s a big mission to manage when you’re also looking to reduce the government’s real estate footprint. Are you in a position to provide us with an update on this matter?
Thank you very much. This gives me the opportunity to address a very important issue that many Canadians are concerned about. We’re in the midst of a housing crisis, similar to ones we’ve seen in other periods of Canadian history, including when veterans returned after the Second World War and following the baby boom in the early 1960s. We need to do everything we can to address it, and that includes, as you mentioned, making federal land or buildings available to Canadians, municipalities and non-profit organizations.
One way to do this is through the Federal Lands Initiative, which represents roughly $200 million from 2017 to 2026. So far, about half of that amount has already been committed for a total of 3,950 units that are completed, soon to be completed or under construction. About half of those units are affordable housing that will go to families, seniors or individuals in need of safe, affordable housing.
Thank you for the answer.
Last week, public servants from your department appeared before our committee, and we discussed the real estate portfolio. We learned that you want to accelerate your plan so that it’s carried out over 10 years rather than 25. They explained that there are many issues to consider. It’s not as easy or as cheap as people think to convert office space.
Once the government’s real property needs have been carefully assessed, do you think we’ll be able to sell some buildings and convert others into affordable housing?
Thank you. The answer is yes on both counts. The first “yes” is because we have already been doing that for a few years, and the second “yes” is because we need to do it faster. To summarize, in order to make federal land and buildings available more quickly, we need to deal with challenges primarily involving coordination between departments. Departments control 75% of federal buildings and land, and only about a quarter of those fall under my department’s jurisdiction.
Second, if we want to make this land and these buildings available more quickly than municipal bylaws or tools allow, as is the case here in Ottawa, then we need to work closely with the municipalities.
Thank you, minister.
