NDP calls on Conservatives to support pan-Canadian housing strategy

To adequately address Canada’s many housing needs, the Conservative government must immediately implement the NDP’s pan-Canadian housing strategy.

NDP MP for Saint-Hyacinthe-Bagot, Marie-Claude Morin pointed to a Food Banks Canada report released this week that revealed food bank usage at an all time high across the country. According to the organization, increasing the availability of affordable housing is the key to solving the problem.

"The Conservatives' budget made no commitment whatsoever in this direction,” said Morin while presenting her proposal for a National Housing Strategy. “The NDP is proposing the solution so why aren’t the Conservatives supporting it?”

Canada is the only G8 country to have no long-term plan for housing, even though 1.5 million families live in inadequate housing. Morin’s proposed legislation would have the federal government work with all levels of government to ensure safe, accessible and affordable housing for all Canadians. The Federation of Canadian Municipalities, which represents more than 2000 cities, has also supported Morin’s bill, and thousands of Canadians have signed a petition supporting it.

"Will the Conservatives listen to Canadians for once?" asked Morin.