Dear Editor,
Re:
As we mark National Housing Week from November 19 to 23, I find it extremely odd that Candice Bergen, a Conservative MP from Manitoba would visit the Cloverdale-91原创 City riding and voice her party鈥檚 support for affordable housing.
After a decade of inaction on housing on the part of the Conservatives, our Liberal government is stepping up and taking meaningful action. We have launched Canada鈥檚 first-ever National Housing Strategy 鈥� an ambitious 10-year plan that invests in Canada鈥檚 most vulnerable. The NHS aims to reduce homelessness by 50 per cent; will create four times as many new housing units than were built under the Conservatives; and will repair three times as many homes than were repaired under the previous government.
Ms. Bergen鈥檚 vague suggestion that private sector expertise needs to be applied is unhelpful and won鈥檛 address the very real challenges that people in 91原创 and Surrey face in accessing affordable housing. Meaningful action and investments are needed, and that鈥檚 exactly what our government is delivering.
Through the National Housing Strategy we鈥檝e already provided funding to four housing projects in 91原创 alone.
We are putting the most vulnerable first, including women and children fleeing family violence, seniors, Indigenous peoples, people with disabilities, those dealing with mental health and addiction issues, veterans and young adults.
Platitudes won鈥檛 fix the housing affordability issues that our communities face, but a real plan, like our government鈥檚 National Housing Strategy can and is.
John Aldag,
MP Cloverdale-91原创 City
