QUESTION PERIOD — Infrastructure and Communities
Homelessness Strategy
November 30, 2023
Leader, it has been reported that visible homelessness in your province of Quebec went up 44% between 2018 and 2022. The true percentage is likely higher because the term “visible homeless” only includes people sleeping in the streets, cars or in shelters.
In Greater Vancouver, a recent study showed homelessness has increased by almost a third since 2020, and a year ago, the Auditor General said the Trudeau government will miss its target of reducing chronic homelessness by 50% by 2028.
Leader, rent has doubled. Tent cities are spanning the country, and students are sleeping in shelters. Why didn’t your government listen to the Auditor General’s warning last year?
The Government of Canada takes the Auditor General’s warnings and advice very seriously. It also does its part, along with cities, municipalities and the not-for-profit sector, to do what we can to address this serious problem of homelessness that we see on our streets in big cities, small cities and everywhere in between.
The social determinants of homelessness, if I can use that term, are various. They include mental health challenges, institutionalization and lack of support in many quarters. These are multi-faceted, policy-centric problems that all citizens have the responsibility to address. The government is doing its part, as we all should.
Perhaps even worse than missing their own target, the Auditor General also reported — a year ago — that the Trudeau government didn’t even know if the $1.36 billion that they’ve already spent is actually reducing homelessness.
Leader, how is that possible? Have any steps been taken over the past year to fix this absence of accountability?
The difficulty in gathering data from the provinces and municipalities is a serious issue. We’ve seen it, studied it and pronounced upon it a great deal in this chamber and in committees. I think it is a misrepresentation of that challenge to put it in the terms that you did, with the greatest of respect, senator.
