Context : Question
Mr. Peter Julian (New Westminster—Burnaby, NDP): Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Prime Minister misled Parliament and all Canadians when he said in this House that he has already “helped more than one million Canadians find affordable housing�. We checked the CMHC record and it says only 14,703 new units have been or are even being built. Therefore, the government gave away $14 billion in corporate tax writeoffs in the mini-budget, but has only built a few new housing units.
Why is the Prime Minister deliberately misstating the facts? When will the government find new affordable housing for Canadians?
Right Hon. Justin Trudeau (Prime Minister, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, Canadians deserve housing that is safe, affordable and accessible. That is why we have made unprecedented investments in housing across this country since day one, including with our national housing strategy. We have already helped more than almost one million Canadians access homes. Our plan is for stable housing and financing now and for the next decade. We know that quality of life, better opportunities for kids, for families, for everyone relies on housing. That is why we are investing in a national housing strategy.
Mr. Peter Julian (New Westminster—Burnaby, NDP): Mr. Speaker, let us be clear. Doing routine repairs and maintenance is not finding new housing for Canadians. That answer shows appalling disrespect for Canadians in Burnaby and everywhere else who are suffering through the worst housing crisis we have ever had. Canadian families are struggling under the worst family debt crisis in our history and in all the industrialized world. Forty-six per cent of Canadians are $200 away from financial insolvency in any given month.
Why does the government not build affordable housing? Why does the Prime Minister not start to care as much about Canadians as he does about Bay Street billionaires?
Right Hon. Justin Trudeau (Prime Minister, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I would suggest that the NDP be careful about maligning the idea of repairing or refurbishing existing housing stocks. Far too many Canadians live in housing that is unacceptable and the investments we have made that have helped rebuild, refurbish, renovate, improve housing for Canadians right across this country is making a real difference. That is part of the money we are flowing to communities and to Canadians to make sure they have safe and affordable places to live. Yes, there is much more work to do, but we are doing it with unprecedented investments in housing.
NDP Critic for Canadian Heritage Peter Julian issued the following statement:
"It has come to our attention that a consultant for a federally funded anti-racism project has a disturbing track record of spewing hate speech online against Jewish and francophone communities. This is completely unacceptable. We call on the Minister of Heritage to take drastic action and terminate his contract.
NDP Heritage Critic Peter Julian issued the following statement:
“Today’s announcement by Hockey Canada is another attempt to delay the important and urgent work to deal with the toxic culture in this organization. While a former Supreme Court Justice is a credible appointment to conduct the review into Hockey Canada, this won’t be the first time the organization undergoes this process.
NDP critic for Canadian Heritage, Peter Julian, made the following statement:
“Canadians are horrified by the incidents of sexual assault and by what they’re hearing from Hockey Canada. They are left with many questions about how this toxic culture is allowed to persist in our sports organizations and what the government is actually doing to ensure this doesn’t happen again.