Close X
Sunday, September 22, 2024
ADVT 
National

NDP calls on feds to give study permits to institutions with 'credible' housing plan

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 17 Aug, 2023 09:45 AM
  • NDP calls on feds to give study permits to institutions with 'credible' housing plan

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh announced a plan to address student housing shortages on Thursday.

The party is calling on the federal government to allocate student permits to post-secondary institutions that demonstrate they have a credible and affordable housing plan.

The proposal comes as the number of international students enrolled in Canada skyrockets, putting more pressure on housing shortages.

Immigration Minister Marc Miller said in a recent interview with The Canadian Press that the federal government is reconsidering international student flows, particularly since some students have been victims of fraud. 

"Landlords are asking for a whole year's worth of rent as a deposit," Singh said. 

"What student can come up with that type of liquidity? It's impossible."

Singh is also calling on the federal government to establish a funding model to get more student housing built, which would see the federal government, provinces and territories and post-secondary institutions contributing money in equal parts.

He said Ottawa should incentivize partnerships to help convert empty office spaces for residential use, including for dormitory-style student housing.

"We have to tackle this problem," he said.

Singh highlighted a Toronto project that was a collaboration between a not-for-profit organization and businesses, which he said will house more than 500 students with "deeply affordable rents."

MORE National ARTICLES

Woman injured in Manitoba bus crash dies in hospital, bringing death toll to 16

Woman injured in Manitoba bus crash dies in hospital, bringing death toll to 16
A woman injured in last week's crash between a minibus and a transport truck in Manitoba has died in hospital, bringing the death toll to 16. RCMP said the woman, who had been in hospital since the crash, died Tuesday.

Woman injured in Manitoba bus crash dies in hospital, bringing death toll to 16

Police say fiery collision on major GTA highway leaves 2 dead, shuts down traffic

Police say fiery collision on major GTA highway leaves 2 dead, shuts down traffic
OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt said there was a collision involving two transport trucks and a passenger vehicle on a part of the highway going through Pickering, Ont., which resulted in an explosion and fire that consumed all three vehicles 

Police say fiery collision on major GTA highway leaves 2 dead, shuts down traffic

Police arrest 45, seize 440 weapons in Canada-wide raids targeting 3D-printed guns

Police arrest 45, seize 440 weapons in Canada-wide raids targeting 3D-printed guns
Police carried out 64 raids and seized 440 guns, including 3D-printed handguns, long guns and silencers, as well as other guns and 3D printers. The raids took place in Quebec, Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, and resulted in 45 arrests.

Police arrest 45, seize 440 weapons in Canada-wide raids targeting 3D-printed guns

Manslaughter conviction in Abbotsford

Manslaughter conviction in Abbotsford
A man has been convicted of manslaughter in the death of an off-duty Abbotsford police officer in the Kootenay community of Nelson three years ago. Constable Allan Young died at the age of 55 several days after he sustained a critical injury when he was struck in the head with a skateboard in July 2020.

Manslaughter conviction in Abbotsford

Richmond RCMP warn about grandparent scam

Richmond RCMP warn about grandparent scam
Richmond -R-C-M-P say the scam -- in which fraudsters try to convince seniors that a loved one is in trouble and needs money -- has been around for years. But recently they say scammers have started using artificial intelligence and digital manipulation to alter the voice in the phone call in order to sound more authentic.

Richmond RCMP warn about grandparent scam

Two dead, two injured in Vancouver Island plane crash

Two dead, two injured in Vancouver Island plane crash
Mounties on Vancouver Island say two people have been killed in the crash of a small plane northwest of Tofino.  The B.C. Ambulance Service says two others were injured. 

Two dead, two injured in Vancouver Island plane crash