The Coalition avenir Québec (CAQ) promises the construction of thousands of new affordable and social housing units in a second term. A number that is far from meeting demand, in the eyes of the opposition and a national group for housing law.
François Legault went there for a first commitment even before the start of the electoral campaign, scheduled for the end of August.
The CAQ leader promised Friday to build 11,700 social and affordable housing units over the next four years, if the CAQ forms the government again on October 3.
It also undertakes to subsidize 7,200 housing units through the Rent Supplement Program. In total, the CAQ intends to invest $1.8 billion to counter the housing shortage in all regions of Quebec for a new mandate.
The Ministries of Finance and Municipal Affairs and Housing estimate the lack of social housing at 23,500 in Quebec over the next 10 years, indicated Mr. Legault at a press conference in Laval.
But for various reasons, officials are unable to establish how many must come out of the ground annually.
“We therefore took it upon ourselves, the CAQ, to assess the needs for the next term at 11,700, so roughly half of the need for the next 10 years,” explained the Premier surrounded by his Laval candidates.
Mr. Legault wishes to work on this file jointly with the cities.
“We have given powers to the municipalities, we are going to give even more. It is important for municipalities to be able to have land that is well placed to develop this social and affordable housing,” he said.
Housing already promised: built, not built?
Mr. Legault praised his government for having completed or in the process of building the construction of 15,000 housing units which had been put on hold under the Liberals of Philippe Couillard.
An assertion refuted by the Popular Action Front in Urban Redevelopment (FRAPRU). “Less than a third have been achieved, among the others, some are still threatened by a lack of funding”, reacted on Twitter the organization for housing rights.
Like FRAPRU, the oppositions believe that the promise of the CAQ is insufficient to meet the needs.
There are 50,000 missing dwellings across the province, rather evokes the Liberal MP for Laval-des-Rapides, Saul Polo.
“Just for the Laval region, we are talking about 10,000 families who have housing needs. We currently have 1,300 families on waiting lists for social housing,” Mr. Polo told The Canadian Press.
“The Prime Minister is trying to minimize, once again, the needs and especially the impact of the housing crisis. This is another demonstration that he does not know and does not understand the housing needs of Quebecers,” he continues.
The Liberal Party of Quebec (PLQ) undertakes in particular to build 50,000 new units and to tax the owners of unoccupied non-resident housing in order to make them available on the rental market.
Québec solidaire also criticizes the CAQ government for denying the existence of a housing crisis for three years.
“François Legault launches his campaign with a wet firecracker by promising 12,000 housing units, while 37,000 people are on the waiting list and he was not even able to keep his promise from the last election,” said commented the spokesperson, Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, in a written statement.
Mr. Legault called for caution in the analysis of waiting lists. According to him, there are “duplicates”, since some people are registered in several places at the same time.
“Fair” rules for all parties
By announcing a first commitment before he launched the election campaign, Mr. Legault also had to defend the relevance of fixed-date elections.
According to the electoral law, the trigger falls to the government by decree. The campaign must last between 33 and 39 days.
The caquiste leader hammered that the rules are “fair for everyone” and do not benefit the party in power.
“Perhaps it is the quality of fixed-date elections that is lacking. We cannot say that governments take advantage of the element of surprise, everyone knows that there is an election on October 3rd. […] But indeed, we see it, and it is not only the CAQ, we are already in the pre-election campaign, ”supported Mr. Legault.
“It is up to each party to decide on its strategy,” he added, recalling that the PLQ has already presented its electoral platform.
In the eyes of Mr. Paulo, the CAQ is only fueling cynicism within the population by making such an announcement on the eve of an election campaign.
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This dispatch was produced with the financial assistance of the Meta Exchanges and The Canadian Press for the news.