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Housing

Question period focused on housing affordability and home construction. Conservatives said young Canadians feel they will never own a home, noted the Prime Minister’s promise of 500,000 new homes against 19,000 committed so far, and cited CMHC figures showing fewer homes expected to be built this year than last; they urged the government to adopt their plan of cutting taxes on new homes and tying federal funding to faster permits. The Liberals pointed to removing the GST for first-time buyers, which they said the Conservatives opposed, and cited falling rents and rising housing starts in cities like Montreal and Vancouver, crediting lower development charges in Ontario and British Columbia.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

4 statements

Jacob Mantle

Conservative
“Young people feel they will never be able to buy a home. The Prime Minister promised 500,000 new homes, but the government has only committed to 19,000. Our plan would cut taxes on new homes and link federal money to faster permits. Why will the minister not use our plan?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, this summer, I hosted young Canadians to talk about planning and saving to buy their first home, but they feel they will never own a home. They are depressed. They are dejected. They are defeated. The Prime Minister promised he would build 500,000 new homes at speeds never seen, but last week, the Minister of Housing said that the government has committed to, not built, only 19,000 homes. The Conservative plan to save Canadians money on housing will tie federal dollars to faster permits and take the taxes off new homes. Minister, your plan is not working. Why not save Canadians money—

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Gregor Robertson

Liberal
“We are focused on building homes for young Canadians and removing the sales tax for first-time buyers, which the Conservatives opposed. Average rents have dropped for 23 months in a row, and we will keep building more homes.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, it is good to be back in the House and to see my colleagues. We are absolutely focused on getting housing built for young Canadians and making sure they are not paying GST on their first-time home purchases. This is a move that was not supported by the Conservatives across the way, unfortunately. They should be consistent, at least. Rents are coming down across Canada. Average rents have been down for 23 straight months. Affordability is coming our way. We are focused on building more housing. Build Canada Homes is rolling it out at pace. We will continue to do so.

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Jacob Mantle

Conservative
“The government is failing to get new homes built. Fewer homes will be built this year than last year, and home building is slowing down. Young people will not be able to own a home because of this.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the government is not focused on new housing. The minister’s own agency, CMHC, reports that fewer homes will be built this year than last year, and that housing construction is slowing down, not speeding up. That means the next generation is losing the dream of home ownership under your watch. The Conservative plan to save—

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Gregor Robertson

Liberal
“Our plan to lower building fees in Ontario and British Columbia is helping build more homes. Housing starts are up in cities like Montreal and Vancouver. We need that to happen across the country, and we are working to make housing affordable.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, CMHC also weighed in on the fact that the lowering of the development charges by this government in Ontario and B.C. is actually improving the prospects for housing supply in those provinces, and we are just getting started. There is a mix of housing starts across the country. Housing starts are up in critical markets such as Montreal and Vancouver. We need to see that across the country, and we are focused on affordability.

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