QUESTION PERIOD — Ministry of Employment and Social Development
Affordable Housing
October 7, 2025
Madam Secretary, going back to the subject of affordability, young Canadians are not alone in their struggle to find affordable, accessible housing. We know that seniors are facing rising rents, property taxes and home heating costs that are forcing many to downsize or move far from their communities. Seniors’ advocacy groups have been calling for stronger federal investment in affordable housing, yet, as is often the case with your government, no concrete action has followed.
Would you explain your government’s plan to specifically address the housing affordability crisis facing Canadian seniors?
Thank you. I think it’s a bit odd to say that the government is not doing anything, given that Build Canada Homes is one of our marquee projects that we have taken on. This new initiative — with a dedicated group of folks to ensure that we are building 500,000 affordable homes per year — will make a significant difference for all Canadians, including seniors. We know that housing is not a luxury; it is a right, and this government has taken leadership that we have not seen since World War II.
When the Conservatives were in power, they built all of four homes. This country will see building at a rate that they have not seen since World War II.
We are doing so much on the housing front. We know that not all seniors are homeowners. Many are renters, and there is the $1.5-billion Canada Rental Protection Fund that helps protect affordable apartments for seniors at risk of losing their homes.
We are also partnering with provinces and territories to build and renew community housing, with over $15.4 billion in joint investments. These are initiatives that the Conservatives have voted against time and time over.
In regard to Build Canada Homes, I’m on the Senate Banking Committee, and we had witnesses who spoke about the timeline: Two years from now is when we will see the first homes.
I’m talking about affordability for seniors right now. Advocacy groups like the Canadian Association of Retired Persons have urged the government to invest in home and community care.
What is your plan to ensure seniors aren’t forced into long-term care facilities simply because home care is unavailable or unaffordable?
I’m happy to talk more about housing and what our government is doing. The Canada Housing Benefit is helping seniors right now by providing direct support. And through the Affordable Housing Fund and the Rapid Housing Initiative, we are building new homes and protecting the affordability of existing ones.
We know seniors deserve homes that are safe, secure and affordable, and this is about more than housing; it is about protecting the dignity of those who built this country and ensuring they have a safe and affordable place to call home.
We are also taking action to protect the most vulnerable amongst us, including seniors facing homelessness. Through Reaching Home, our government committed over $4 billion to address homelessness across the country.
I see that I am out of time, but I certainly have more to say on this.
