New Democrat leader Jagmeet Singh “appreciates” that the Legault government recognizes for the first time the existence of a housing crisis in Quebec.
“We don’t really want to create a squabble, but it’s clear that it’s been a problem for a long time, and the province hasn’t recognized that. Now there is a change. We appreciate that the province recognized that it was a problem, “said Mr. Singh Wednesday morning at a press conference.
“We know that the other parties have long raised this issue, that the cost of housing is rising very quickly, particularly in Quebec and Montreal,” he continued.
Mr. Singh was passing through a borough in the west of Montreal, accompanied by the deputy leader of the party, Alexandre Boulerice, to highlight the “victories” obtained by the New Democratic Party (NDP) to deal with the crisis.
From the outset, Mr. Boulerice welcomed the fact that “everyone now agrees that there is a housing crisis”.
“We will then everyone work to be able to improve the situation,” said the member for Rosemont-La-Petite-Patrie.
On Tuesday, the Quebec Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Andrée Laforest, agreed in an interview with the Quebecor media that, in certain cities, “we can say that it is a situation of housing crisis”, while the vacancy rate is below 1% in several places.
This statement contrasts with the remarks made last May, when the CAQ minister said that Quebec “is not at all in a housing crisis”.
According to Mr. Singh, the failure to recognize the existence of this problem has led to the absence of measures on the part of governments, which is now reflected in the current situation in terms of housing, with in particular a significant increase rents.
New Democrat gains
In front of an apartment building in the borough of LaSalle, Jagmeet Singh boasted of the gains obtained by his party as part of the agreement with the Liberals to ensure the survival of the Trudeau government during the votes on the budget.
The New Democrat leader was particularly pleased that the proportion of affordable units in a real estate project went from 20 to 40% in order to be eligible for a federal subsidy. A rent considered affordable is also revised, falling from $2,225 to $730 per month, Singh said.
He also highlighted the one-time $500 supplement to help families who are having difficulty finding affordable housing.
Mr. Singh also intends to put pressure on the Liberals to ensure the realization of 100,000 new housing units within five years, a promise that is also part of the New Democrat-Liberal agreement.
“If we had been in power, we would have done more, but it’s something that will really help people,” he said.
Acknowledging the challenges facing the construction industry in terms of labor and materials, the NDP leader believes the government has the power to deliver on its commitment if it shows courage.
National dental insurance: without the provinces
On establishing a national dental care program — another commitment the Liberals made to win the support of New Democrats — it can be done without the provinces, Singh said.
The initial part of this plan would apply for its first year to children under the age of 12, before extending to other categories of the population, and would aim to reimburse dental bills for families without coverage, said he explained.
“We don’t hire dentists, we don’t interfere in areas of expertise. We already have a system that pays for aboriginals and people in the Canadian Armed Forces. We are increasing this payment system, ”said Mr. Singh, comparing this assistance to employment insurance.
He mentioned that Quebec will have the right to withdraw with full compensation, but he hopes that the province will participate in the program. The Quebec Health Insurance Plan provides free services for children under 10 and recipients of last-resort financial assistance.
As for universal implementation, Ottawa and the provinces will have to work together, agreed the NDP leader.
This article was produced with the financial support of the Meta Fellowships and The Canadian Press for News.