Premier François Legault maintains that his Minister of Housing, France-Élaine Duranceau, is the right person to solve the housing crisis in Quebec.
“She has a background in real estate. It’s a plus that she knows real estate. Her responsibility is to develop as much affordable housing as possible and I think that if there is one person who can succeed in getting the projects unblocked and that it gets built, by being very creative, it is her, ”replied Mr. Legault Monday during a press briefing on the sidelines of an announcement on food autonomy.
Mme Duranceau made headlines recently for having met a lobbyist friend, who is also his business partner, along with the Minister for Health and Seniors, Sonia Bélanger, to discuss a possible seniors’ residence project.
The Prime Minister said he wanted to set the record straight by recalling that the company that binds them no longer has any activities, but cannot be closed due to a dispute.
“France-Élaine met with the Ethics Commissioner, who told her it was okay,” he said.
Mr. Legault does not believe that the Minister contributed to the housing crisis in the past when she carried out a real estate “flip”, that is to say, she bought and modified a duplex to resell it in condos, much more expensive.
“The housing crisis is first and foremost a lack of housing,” he said. The problem is not that there was speculation. »
The Prime Minister also defended the bill recently tabled by Mr.me Duranceau, arguing that it “brings a balance between tenants and owners, because the objective is that more owners want to build”.
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