“I'm pointing out that this new federal housing agency is redundant. The CMHC already does this job. It's interesting the government never discussed targets with them. I want to know why the government is rushing to control and spend $13 billion without researching how many units are needed.”
What they said. What they meant.
Plain-language translations from the House of Commons.
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Build Canada Homes Act
A bill to create yet another federal housing agency, because apparently CMHC, the Crown corporation that's supposed to handle this, isn't enough. The Liberals insisted this is needed because of a housing crisis, while the Conservatives pointed out the Liberals have been in power for 8 years. Much of the debate consisted of the Housing Minister praising this new agency he gets to oversee.
“I'm filling time with kind words and saying nothing anyone could pin down later. I want two agencies. That means more jobs for my friends. CMHC will keep subsidizing market housing and Build Canada Homes will subsidize... non-market housing. Also, we're folding Canada Lands into Build Canada Homes for, um, synergy or something.”
“I'm filling time with kind words and saying nothing anyone could pin down later. I hope the government spends a lot of money on housing in my riding. That would really make me look good.”
“I'm ignoring your procedural point. Many groups want money from this program. We will spend a lot of money building these homes with your tax dollars. I just want you to know that we are doing something about homelessness.”
“Why make a new program? CMHC could do this. Quebec knows best. Just send the money to Quebec.”
“We need two separate agencies, not one. CMHC should focus on market housing. Build Canada Homes should focus on affordable housing. They do different things, with different partners. Quebec agrees with us.”
“You're wasting $13 billion with no targets. I asked why we need another whole agency with no clear plan. Stop listing them and answer the question.”
“The goal is to spend as much as possible and hope for the best. I don't want to set targets I might be held to.”
“The government keeps adding new programs and red tape. But it hasn't made a trade deal to keep Canadian sawmills open. We're losing the mills we need to build homes Canadians can afford. Is the minister even going to try to stop it?”
“I want to steer this away from our trade problems and make it about a totally different program. Maybe if I talk up spending on Canada Homes real Canadians will forget we've failed to open the U.S. market to our wood.”
“I want to cheer for a program my party is already doing and change the subject to one of our wins. My riding's provincial government got to play a big role in spending more federal money on housing, so I get to take credit. Let's talk about how great I am instead of these other problems.”
“I want to cheer for spending more federal money on housing and change the subject to a win. New Brunswick's provincial government got to play a big role, so I get to take credit. I'm thanking New Brunswick and its MPs for partnering with my government to spend lots more money.”
“The AFN says we need way more houses and repairs on reserves than this program will build. I want the minister to admit this program isn't enough and commit to bigger fixes, not just a band-aid.”
“I know you want more houses, but I'm going to talk about how great our existing program is instead of committing to more. Let me list off all the ways our program already helps indigenous people, and say how excited I am to see it keep helping them, so I can make it sound like we're doing enough without actually promising anything new.”