Ensure Affordable Housing - QP
CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : I was driving down Robie Street with my daughter on the weekend, and at the site of the QEII Hospital, where I went to high school, there was a tent. My daughter asked me, is someone living in that tent? I said, yes, I think there is someone living in that tent. She said, does the Premier know? I said, I don't know. I think so. She said, will you ask him about it? I said yes.
My question to the Premier is: Will his government ensure that no Nova Scotians need to weather this Winter in a tent?
THE PREMIER « » : I thank the member for this important question. We can certainly assure your daughter that not only does the Premier know about it, the Premier spends a lot of time focused on this very issue. The concerns around homelessness are shared by all Nova Scotians. Every single Nova Scotian is concerned about homelessness.
We know that homelessness is a complex issue. Different life situations impact people in different ways. We know that there are mental health issues. We know that there are employment issues. We know there are family issues sometimes. We know these are complex.
I want to assure the member and her daughter, and all Nova Scotians, that this government is very focused on the issue. We are committed to supporting every single Nova Scotian the best possible way we can.
CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : Despite a rent cap, this government has presided over a 35 per cent increase in annual rent crisis. They have not closed the fixed term lease loophole despite the explosion of rental costs and the doubling of the number of people finding themselves homeless. They've also not implemented a permanent system of rent control that would bring stability for tenants and for landlords.
When will this government implement policies that will ensure that regular Nova Scotians can afford a place to live?
THE PREMIER « » : The issues around the housing crisis, the issues around homelessness are very real. That's why we have a certain approach to that. That's why we are so focused on building more homes, building more development. We believe that the solution to a housing crisis is more housing. That's why we've taken steps with the housing task force. That's why you get our attention when we see a municipality putting up by-laws to slow down housing.
We know that more housing is the answer to a housing crisis, and we are very focused on that. We will continue to be focused on making sure that we have appropriate housing stock in this province.
CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : Let's be crystal clear. Addressing the affordable housing crisis is going to be hard when this government has said that they will build exactly zero new public housing units. It will also be difficult to build affordable housing when they won't even agree to the CMHC definition - that is housing that costs not more than 30 per cent of a person's monthly income.
They think that giving away $22 million in a forgivable loan to build unaffordable housing is going to help this situation. It won't. When will this government seriously address the housing crisis in this province and actually build affordable housing?
THE PREMIER « » : This is just a philosophical disagreement between two members. We know that when there is more housing, there will be more housing at various price ranges across the spectrum. (Interruption)
THE SPEAKER « » : Order, please. The Premier has the floor.
The honourable Premier.
THE PREMIER « » : If you have more housing, then there will be more housing across the spectrum at every price range, and certainly some of that will be affordable. The answer to a housing crisis is more housing. That's why we're focused on building housing.