This text is part of the special Real Estate section
“To seriously invest in social housing, it takes $1 billion per year,” estimates the Association of Technical Resource Groups of Quebec.
“We are no longer in a housing crisis, we are in a housing crisis,” insists the president of the Association of Technical Resource Groups of Quebec (AGRTQ), Ambroise Henry. His organization has just submitted 83 community housing projects which, if carried out, would add 4,881 housing units throughout the province. However, there is a long way to go, according to the president. “The CAQ has planned a budget for 1,500 social housing units, including 500 for the private sector. It is not with these thousand housing units that we are going to resolve the crisis. »
The figures prove him right: in a report published in September, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) estimated that 100,000 housing units would have to be delivered per year to Quebec by 2030.
How to get out of it? On the AGRTQ side, there is no shortage of ideas. The main one: “To seriously invest in social housing, it takes $1 billion per year. We should release 10,000 community housing units per year. » Quebec and Ottawa recently agreed to transfer $900 million.
Ready-to-apply solutions
There is also no shortage of ideas at the Association of Construction and Housing Professionals of Quebec (APCHQ). The vice-president of strategic development, public affairs and innovation, Isabelle Demers, believes that we must attack on all possible fronts. His association submitted around ten recommendations to the federal government last August, including a request to extend the maximum amortization period for mortgage loans, to increase it from 30 to 35 years. “This is already the case in Europe,” she notes.
Another proposed measure: “Making the RAP or CELIAPP intergenerational plans in order to allow parents to contribute to their children’s down payment,” we read in a press release. “Several young households do not have access to property, even if they want to,” she emphasizes. But in the current situation, their increase in income will never be enough to achieve this. » The idea is to streamline the process allowing young households who currently occupy rental accommodation to move into private ownership, thus freeing up their apartment for people with less means.
Finally, the recommendations tabled in Ottawa by the APCHQ urge the federal government to pay attention to the climate crisis in the solutions developed for the housing crisis. “Our rental stock is in poor condition,” laments the vice-president. It’s one of the worst in Canada. At the moment, owners have no advantage in maintaining it in good condition even though it is the most affordable housing. » Expanding the scope of renovation programs could encourage owners to renovate their buildings to make them more energy efficient and more pleasant to live in — a potentially win-win situation.
Pressure on Quebec
At the provincial level, a coalition was formed to put pressure on the government. Nine “action levers” were presented at the beginning of October, starting with the request to “develop a national strategy and a government action plan”. But is there really still time to talk? Wouldn’t it be better to take action? “There is no strategy currently,” retorts Isabelle Demers.
Once this task is accomplished, many options are available to elected officials. “We must start by lightening the regulatory and administrative structure in which entrepreneurs operate,” she says. We must also ensure better coherence, consistency and predictability in terms of municipal requests. » She points out situations where an entrepreneur who has submitted a project will see regulations change before being able to obtain his permit. “The project met all the criteria when it was submitted, but it was refused because they have evolved in the meantime. Meanwhile, costs are exploding. »
For Isabelle Demers, one thing is clear: “We cannot think that we will resolve the situation by doing exactly the same thing. » For Ambroise Henry, it is urgent to put solutions in place: “In Gaspésie and the Îles-de-la-Madeleine, for example, this is the number 1 socio-economic issue. If businesses want to to develop, it takes labor, but she has no place to live. Same for nurses. The government must act now, it cannot wait any longer. The wall is no longer coming: we have our noses in it. »
This content was produced by the Special Publications team at Duty, relating to marketing. The writing of the Duty did not take part.