Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet presents housing recommendations

Today, New Democrat Housing critic Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet (Hochelaga) released the report from her cross-Canada housing tour. After a three-year tour of more than thirty communities, Boutin-Sweet reports that the situation is devastating.

“Throughout Canada, I met tenants who had to choose between paying rent and buying groceries. In a country as wealthy as ours, this situation is unacceptable,” said Boutin-Sweet. “Housing is a right for all of us and eliminating poverty starts with ensuring that everyone has a roof over their head.”

The recommendations in the report seek to end the status quo and get concrete results for the people. They include: maintaining funding for social housing, establishing a national housing strategy, investing further in the fight against homelessness, stimulating the construction of rental housing and acting quickly to address the housing situation in Indigenous communities.

Concerned by the lack of funding for social housing and cautious commitments in the last Liberal budget, Boutin-Sweet intends to re-table her motion on social housing to protect federal investments. She will also table two bills – one recognizing the right to housing and the other to establish a national housing strategy in close collaboration with all levels of government and civil society organizations.

“Investing in housing isn’t an expense – it’s an investment in individuals, communities, society and the economy as a whole. That’s why I think the recommendations in my report must be considered as soon as possible by the government,” said Boutin-Sweet.