Close X
Friday, November 29, 2024
ADVT 
National

Not Ottawa's job to build houses, Freeland says

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 13 Apr, 2022 04:30 PM
  • Not Ottawa's job to build houses, Freeland says

VANCOUVER - Canada's finance minister says it’s not the federal government’s job to build all the houses Canadians need, but it will try to remove roadblocks with a $4-billion fund earmarked to help boost housing construction announced in the budget.

Chrystia Freeland told the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade on Wednesday that some of the funding will be used to work with provinces, territories and local governments to determine what’s stopping more homes from being built and create the right incentives.

Freeland says there are many technical challenges across the country, including an example she found “enraging” when she first learned of it.

She says many municipalities have systems that don’t allow them to issue permits as quickly as they’d like because they are using paper rather than digital approvals.

Freeland says that type of example isn’t a billion-dollar problem, it’s just ensuring that the right people have the right resources and incentives.

The so-called accelerator fund in the budget is part of $14 billion in new spending on housing that includes a first-time homebuyers tax credit and money for affordable housing.

Freeland says a national effort needs to be made from local governments on up.

“This is not going to be fixed by one budget in one year. This is a long-term challenge. And we're going to have to keep on investing in it year after year after year.”

More homes will need to be built as the economy gains strength and more immigrants move here, she says.

“So, I don't want people to sort of come away from this thinking, OK, they're going to fix housing this year. It's done,” she says. “We're going to have to think about it every year and that's OK.”

MORE National ARTICLES

Kinder chocolate recalled due to salmonella risk

Kinder chocolate recalled due to salmonella risk
The recalled chocolates include Kinder Schoko-Bons, Happy Moments - Kinder Confections Assortment, Kinder Mini Eggs, Kinder Egg Hunt Kits, Kinder Mix 7 Easter Treats, Kinder Surprise Miraculous, Kinder Surprise Natoons and Kinder Surprise.    

Kinder chocolate recalled due to salmonella risk

Liberals set to unveil 2022 federal budget

Liberals set to unveil 2022 federal budget
The economy has fared better than anticipated over the past few months, which along with higher prices for oil is expected to pad the government's bottom line and help offset any new spending to be announced.

Liberals set to unveil 2022 federal budget

How to evaluate risk in sixth wave of COVID-19

How to evaluate risk in sixth wave of COVID-19
Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada's chief public health officer, said last month it's important to look at the amount of COVID-19 in your community and what activity you are undertaking.    

How to evaluate risk in sixth wave of COVID-19

Liberals still face several key votes on budget

Liberals still face several key votes on budget
Only this time, there’s a formal agreement to make sure Canadians aren’t going back to the polls any time soon. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has promised his caucus will shore up the Liberal voting numbers for this year’s budget and the three after that.

Liberals still face several key votes on budget

Who is eligible for a fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose

Who is eligible for a fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose
BRITISH COLUMBIA: A fourth dose is being made available to seniors, starting with residents of long-term care and assisted-living homes. People over age 70 in the community, Indigenous people 55 and up and those who are clinically extremely vulnerable will also be included in the vaccination campaign that will ramp up through the spring.

Who is eligible for a fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose

Calls grow for wider PCR tests as COVID cases rise

Calls grow for wider PCR tests as COVID cases rise
Experts say rapid antigen tests are a useful tool to help Canadians make safer decisions in navigating rising COVID-19 cases, but warn that results should be read with caution.

Calls grow for wider PCR tests as COVID cases rise