The Government of Canada firmly believes that everyone deserves a home that is
affordable and meets their needs.
Over the past four years, the Government of Canada investments have helped more than one million families find a home. These investments have also re-established the Canadian government's role as a leader and partner in the fight against poverty, vulnerability and homelessness.
In this context, I am pleased with the $1.8 billion agreement announced on October 6 between the Government of Canada and the Government of Quebec to provide long-term funding for social housing in Quebec.
This good news supports the implementation of Canada's first-ever National
Housing Strategy as of 2017.
This is an ambitious 10-year, $55 billion investment plan to provide safe and
affordable housing for an additional 530,000 families, build 100,000 new
affordable housing units, repair more than 300,000 existing units and help people
living with limitations or mental health challenges, seniors, women living with
family violence, and veterans live with dignity and independence in their
communities.
Thanks to the National Housing Strategy, the recent agreement with the Quebec
government ensures the renewal of federal assistance to low-rent housing, NPOs
and housing co-ops. These entities were threatened by the former federal government prior to 2015 to no longer receive this assistance.
In collaboration with the government of Quebec, the federal government is thus
committed to maintaining aid and to keep nearly 64,000 social housing units in
low-rent housing, cooperatives or NPOs affordable.
The Government of Canada is also firmly committed to ensuring that the
community housing stock it finances remains affordable and in good condition for
many years to come.
The issue of housing is dear to me. I myself founded an ecological housing cooperative, Coteau Vert, near the Rosemont metro station - a living environment based on mutual aid, cooperation and ecological values.
I started dreaming about this project many years ago. At the time, this type of project did not yet exist in Quebec, but there were a few examples elsewhere in North America, and many in Europe. People had decided to get together to set up a housing cooperative: more than just social housing, these were exemplary green buildings.
So I started working on a similar project here. It was no easy task: you had to try to find financing, find land to set up this new project - or an existing building that could be refurbished (not easy in either case, when we were in the middle of a real estate boom) -, find the right group of people to work with for years, etc.
I met a group of people who shared this vision. Our dream was ambitious: 95 units, plus a social housing project (not a co-op, but an NPO) of 54 apartments called "Un toit pour tous" (A roof for everyone). The whole project was developed in close collaboration, with the two projects occupying a whole block; what an opportunity!
The project was completed in 2006, after several years of work, then construction began in 2008 and was completed in 2010, and members arrived in their new living environment. The 95-unit housing co-operative now brings together some 300 residents from different social, economic, and cultural backgrounds.
Of all the projects I have worked on, the Coteau Vert project is certainly one of the ones I am most proud of. Perhaps because it combines housing, environmental protection, and the use of renewable energy, all based on an economic development model that puts the community before the individual.
For more information, I invite you to consult my book Le prochain virage, published by Éditions Druide in 2014.
These federal investments are another demonstration of our commitment to support the housing needs of people in our riding. There is still much work to be done, but with this new agreement, we are taking another important step towards a more just society where everyone can be safely housed.
Do not hesitate to contact my office for any information. We are here to listen and we are at your service!
Sincerely,
Steven Guilbeault
Member of Parliament for Laurier–Sainte-Marie
Minister of Canadian Heritage
