“The government's housing agency says we are building fewer homes this year than last year. I want to know if the Prime Minister still plans to build 500,000 new homes a year, or if he has given up on that goal.”

“Mr. Speaker, when the Prime Minister promised what he called the most ambitious housing plan since the Second World War, Canadians can be forgiven for assuming that meant more homes, not fewer, but the Liberals’ own housing agency, the CMHC, says that housing starts are down this year and that Canada is on track to build fewer homes this year than last year. It says the key risk is that we will not build enough. Is it still the Liberal government’s promise to build 500,000 new homes per year, or has the Prime Minister abandoned that target?”

“The government talks about housing but gets little built. Only 2,000 homes are being built here right now, yet the government just spent $7.8 million on housing in the Dominican Republic. Canadians cannot afford homes. Why are their taxes paying for housing in another country?”

“Mr. Speaker, for all the talk and all the announcements, by the minister’s own admission there are only 19,000 homes, but only 2,000 are actually under construction. That is all talk and no action. This week, the Liberals announced a new housing project, and I thought maybe we are going to get some progress. The announcement was $7.8 million for affordable housing, but, oops, it is gender-equitable affordable housing in the Dominican Republic. Why are Canadian taxpayers paying for gender-equitable housing in the Dominican Republic when they cannot afford a home at all?”

“The government's housing plan is failing. Housing starts dropped 11% in September, and fewer homes are being built despite more government spending. I want the government to admit that its plan has failed.”

“Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister promised Canadians the most ambitious housing plan since the Second World War, yet his own government’s numbers tell a different story. According to CMHC, housing starts dropped 11% in the month of September. After a year and a half of more spending, more bureaucracy and more Liberal promises, fewer homes are being built, while home ownership slips further out of reach. How many more young Canadians must give up on the dream of home ownership before the Liberals admit their plan has failed?”

“Liberal housing programs push builders to make rentals instead of houses. This makes homes too expensive for young people to buy. The government needs to admit its housing plan is failing.”

“Mr. Speaker, I had a really interesting meeting this week with Quebec real estate professionals. They explained how CMHC’s programs, which are run by the Liberals, encourage the construction of rental housing. What does this mean? It means that developers are being encouraged to build rental housing; new single-family homes are at a disadvantage in the programs; existing homes that come onto the market cost a fortune; and when our young people want to purchase a home, the price is so high that they cannot get financing. Will the Liberal government acknowledge that its plan to help people access home ownership is not working?”

“Most Quebeckers believe buying a home is impossible. The government's housing programs focus only on big cities, not regional areas like mine. I want the government to fix its housing policies to fit the needs of ordinary people in the regions.”

“Mr. Speaker, the Liberals want facts, so here are a few: 85% of Quebeckers feel pessimistic about home ownership, while nearly 70% of Quebeckers believe that buying a home in their area is impossible and that the situation has gotten worse over the past five years. The Liberals’ answer to that problem is more red tape and even fewer results. Their programs are being designed around large-scale real estate projects in big cities, but circumstances are different in regions like mine. Our businesses are looking for workers. Our young people want to settle in the regions. Families want to own their own home, not continue renting for the rest of their lives. When will the Liberals realize that their programs are not working and design their policies to reflect what ordinary people, like those in Montmorency—Charlevoix, are facing?”