What do Vaughan-Woodbridge federal election candidates have to say about addressing affordable housing?

Yorkregion.com
Sept. 10, 2021

We’ve asked Vaughan-Woodbridge’s federal election candidates this question:

What’s your plan to address the affordable housing crisis in Vaughan-Woodbridge?

Liberal candidate Francesco Sorbara’s answer:

With rent increasing and housing prices continuing to rise, many young Canadians don’t see a clear path to affording the same lives their parents had. That’s why our plan will help to ensure that whatever situation or stage of life you’re in, a place to call home will be within reach, for everyone.

A re-elected Liberal government will move forward with a three-part housing plan. A Home For Everyone will:

Unlock Home Ownership: Liberals will help save a family buying their first home up to $30,000.
Build More homes: Liberals will build, preserve or repair an additional 1.4 million homes in four years.
Protect Your Rights: Liberals will create a Home Buyers’ Bill of Rights to make the process of buying a home fairer, more open and transparent. Young Canadians aren’t asking for a free house; they’re asking for a fair shot.
If we’re going to build a better Canada for everyone, then the deck can’t continue to be stacked against young Canadians. We have a real plan that will create jobs, grow the middle class and help ensure Canadians can get a home of their own, and this is just one component of it.

Conservative candidate Angela Panacci’s answer:

The last few months have seen an alarming increase in prices. The current government does not seem to care about the skyrocketing cost of living being imposed on Canadians through the rise of inflation, because they don't want to focus on monetary policy, making it nearly impossible for families to afford a home.

As part of the Conservative Recovery Plan, we will help families to own or rent a home, by

• Providing more Canadians with a path to home ownership by making it easier for more families to get a mortgage.
• Building one million homes in the next three years to meet the demand of Canada’s growing population.
• In addition, we will review the extensive real estate portfolio of the federal government -- the largest property owner in the country with over 37,000 buildings -- and release at least 15 per cent for homes.
• Address the soaring cost of renting a home by partnering with municipalities and the private sector to bring new rental units into the market.

The NDP candidate Peter Devita’s answer:   

Canada has a national housing crisis with the fastest growing house prices of G7 nations and no signs of slowing.

The Jagmeet Singh ambitious plan includes:

1- Creating at least 500,000 units of quality, affordable housing in the next ten years.

2- Spurring construction by waiving the federal portion of the GST/HST on new affordable rental units.

3- Getting new units built faster and affordably.

4- Helping families that are hurting now. We’ll provide immediate relief of up to $5,000 per year while we reduce wait lists.

5- Reintroducing 30-year mortgage terms for first-time home buyers to reduce monthly payments.

6- Helping people with closing costs by doubling the Homebuyer’s Tax Credit to $1,500.

7- Creating a 20-per-cent Foreign Buyer’s tax on homes for individuals who are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents.

I am counting on your support now, because you deserve better.

Green party candidate Muhammad Hassan Khan’s answer:

I believe that everyone has a right to safe and affordable housing. It’s important that housing is not only treated as a commodity to buy and sell. Housing is a place for individuals and families to live. Increasing incentives and streamlining approvals for permanently affordable housing developments is an approach that can build new affordable supply. Additionally, more affordable housing units reduce pressure across the spectrum of housing. Investing in affordable housing can make market rental and ownership options more affordable by decreasing demand for those units. Offering permanent, affordable housing as quickly as possible for individuals and families experiencing homelessness can also reduce pressure on our public services and enhance the lives of thousands of residents. Supporting non-profit organizations can help keep housing affordable over time.

It’s time for bold action so we can build a world where everyone has access to safe, good quality and affordable housing