During Question Period on housing, the Conservative leader said the Prime Minister is out of touch and gave incorrect figures, citing the RBC affordability index that the average family spends 53 percent of disposable income on housing, and asked him to correct his statement. A Liberal minister replied that housing affordability is improving, citing RBC’s observations, rising new home sales in Ontario, falling rents, and more than 19,000 affordable homes built across the country.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .
3 statements
“The Prime Minister is out of touch because he is never here.”
“Mr. Speaker, I know the Prime Minister makes the excuse for being out of touch because he is not ever here—”
Mr. Speaker, I know the Prime Minister makes the excuse for being out of touch because he is not ever here—
“The Prime Minister gave the wrong housing numbers. The average family actually spends 53 percent of their income to pay for a home. That is near a record high. I want him to correct his statement and admit that Canadians cannot afford to buy homes.”
“Mr. Speaker, maybe that is why he misspoke a moment ago. He claimed that home ownership costs have gone down to the low 40s as a percentage of disposable income. I just pulled up the numbers from the RBC affordability index, and it actually takes 53% of disposable income for the average family to make payments on the average home. That is the highest it has been, outside of this Liberal government, since 1990. Will the Prime Minister stand up, correct himself and admit that a year and a half into his mandate, and 11 years into this Liberal government, Canadians cannot afford to own homes?”
Mr. Speaker, maybe that is why he misspoke a moment ago. He claimed that home ownership costs have gone down to the low 40s as a percentage of disposable income. I just pulled up the numbers from the RBC affordability index, and it actually takes 53% of disposable income for the average family to make payments on the average home. That is the highest it has been, outside of this Liberal government, since 1990. Will the Prime Minister stand up, correct himself and admit that a year and a half into his mandate, and 11 years into this Liberal government, Canadians cannot afford to own homes?
“Our housing plan is working. Housing is getting more affordable, rents have gone down for two years, and new home sales are up. We are already building more than 19,000 affordable homes across the country.”
“Mr. Speaker, I would like to point out that major players like RBC are observing improving housing affordability, brightening job prospects and stabilizing prices. Indeed, throughout the summer in Ontario, we saw that housing sales for new homes were up 130%. We have now seen across the country for 24 consecutive months that rents are coming down. Our plan is working. We are investing in Build Canada Homes to build affordable housing from coast to coast to coast, with more than 19,000 units under way. We care about affordability, and we are delivering.”
Government answer in Question Period
Relevance 94 of 100
Of this answer, 91% addressed the question that was asked.
See full analysisMr. Speaker, I would like to point out that major players like RBC are observing improving housing affordability, brightening job prospects and stabilizing prices. Indeed, throughout the summer in Ontario, we saw that housing sales for new homes were up 130%. We have now seen across the country for 24 consecutive months that rents are coming down. Our plan is working. We are investing in Build Canada Homes to build affordable housing from coast to coast to coast, with more than 19,000 units under way. We care about affordability, and we are delivering.
