Jagmeet Singh fighting for homes people can afford in Cowichan—Malahat—Langford

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh kicks off a Canada-wide tour to talk about how the NDP has been fighting and will continue to fight for Canadians

DUNCAN — Today, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, kicked off his Canada-wide tour to talk to Canadians about how the NDP has been fighting and will continue to fight for a future people can look forward to – more affordable, equal, hopeful, and secure. For his first stop, Singh is in Cowichan—Malahat—Langford to highlight Justin Trudeau’s failure to help families find a home they can afford in their communities. While Justin Trudeau says he recognizes the housing crisis, he acts as if there isn’t one and since his government has been in power, the housing crisis has only gotten worse for families.
“The housing crisis across Canada is hurting people and their ability to find a good home. From evictions to the lack of affordable homes, people are having to leave the communities they live and work in to find a place to live. And the pandemic has made things worse,” said Singh. “Justin Trudeau has been in power for six years and since then, housing prices have only gone up. He's focused on protecting the profits of the ultra-rich, while Canadian families are struggling to find homes they can afford. New Democrats will keep fighting to help families find a place to live.”
Under Justin Trudeau, Canada’s house price to income ratio is the highest in the world – by a large margin. Since 2000, housing prices in Canada have risen the most in the world. People in Cowichan—Malahat—Langford are finding it harder to afford rent with prices increasing significantly. Many families are forced to spend over 41% of their income to put a roof over their heads. People with good jobs are finding it harder to afford rent, let alone buy a home, despite working full-time. The Liberals failed to address this housing crisis. Just last month, they announced 4,500 affordable units across the country while more than 4,955 will be needed in the Cowichan Valley Regional District alone by 2025. Justin Trudeau’s Liberal are out of touch with what Canadian families are going through.
To help families, Singh reiterated the NDP’s commitment to invest in building half a million homes across the country, implement a 20 percent tax for foreign buyers and put measures in place to tackle money laundering that increases real estate speculation and makes it harder for families to find a home they can afford. Unlike the Liberals, the NDP has the courage to make the ultra-rich pay their fair share to help pay for better homes.
“The reality is that families, individuals, single parents and seniors in Cowichan—Malahat—Langford are finding harder to find homes they can afford in their own community,” said NDP MP Alistair MacGregor (Cowichan—Malahat—Langford). “No one should be struggling to put a roof over their heads. Liberals failed to address the crisis with the action it needs to help families find a place to call home. We need real leadership on the side of people, not the ultra-rich. The NDP will continue to fight for people.”

The NDP has also proposed that the federal government:

• Puts measures in place to tackle money laundering that increases real estate speculation.
• Stimulates the construction of co-op and non-profit social housing by establishing Quick Start Funds to streamline the application process and to help communities get the expertise and assistance they need to get their projects off the ground now.
• Encourages the construction of affordable housing by waiving the federal portion of the GST/HST on the construction of new affordable rental housing. This simple change will help build new housing faster and keep it affordable over the long term.
• Reintroduces 30-year CMHC-insured mortgages for first-time homebuyers. This will allow for lower monthly payments, leaving more money in the pockets of families to make ends meet.
• Helps people pay for closing costs by doubling the homebuyer's tax credit to $1,500.