Canadian Housing and Renewal Association - 50th Congress on Housing and Homelessness

Delta Hotels Ottawa City Centre

101 Lyon Street North
Ottawa, Ontario
April 25, 2018

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Thank you Jeff, for that introduction.

Before beginning, I want to acknowledge that I am speaking on the traditional territory of the Algonquin People.

As the Minister responsible for housing, I want to say how pleased I am to be here as the Canadian Housing and Renewal Association celebrates its 50th anniversary.

It’s a remarkable milestone and it speaks to the pivotal, sustained role CHRA has played in housing in this country.

To all of the delegates, I commend the dedication you bring to your work.

Every day, whether you’re working directly with Canadians or shaping housing policy on their behalf, you’re making a difference.

This Congress brings together people from communities across the country, where you face unique housing challenges.

The housing needs faced by people in Iqaluit are very different from those in Hamilton. Just as the housing needs in Vancouver are different from those in St. John’s.

All of us share a common goal – to give more Canadians a stable, affordable, accessible place to call home.

A place where they can build a better future for themselves and for their families.

Currently 1.7 million households in Canada are in housing that is overcrowded, unsafe, or unaffordable.

This is unacceptable in a country like Canada, and it is an issue that the federal government should not – and will not – ignore.

That’s why one of our government’s top priorities was to deliver a comprehensive plan to address housing issues.

That’s why, over the last two years, I met with many of you, and the organizations you represent.

And that’s why, last year on the 22nd of November – National Housing Day, appropriately enough – I was pleased to announce Canada’s first-ever National Housing Strategy, a 10-year, $40-billion plan that will strengthen the middle class, fuel our economy and give more Canadians across the country a place to call home.

I’m here today to thank you all for helping our Government develop such a bold ambitious Strategy.

By now, many of you here today know the broad strokes of the National Housing Strategy.

The investments focus where the need is most urgent, and on our most vulnerable populations.

The ambitious goals are to reduce chronic homelessness by 50% and remove more than 530,000 households from housing need. Our plan will create 100,000 new housing units, repair and renew more than 300,000 others, and maintain some 385,000 community housing units.

What’s new is that, starting this month, we’ve begun rolling out details on National Housing Strategy Initiatives that will directly benefit the lives of hundreds of thousands of Canadians.

On April 4th, we launched the first phase of our new Federal Community Housing Initiative. This will help preserve 55,000 federally-administered community housing units across the country.

On April 9, our Government signed a multilateral housing partnership framework with our provincial and territorial partners – the first such agreement in more than a quarter of a century.

This framework provides details on how the National Housing Strategy programs will be cost-matched by the provinces and territories, resulting in better housing outcomes for all Canadian.

One such program is the Canada Community Housing Initiative, which will maintain the affordability of some 330,000 homes across the country that are administered by the provinces and territories.

The National Housing Strategy agreement also includes funding to address provincial and territorial housing needs and priorities that are specific to each jurisdiction.

We are now working with provinces and territories on the development of the Canada Housing Benefit.

Starting in 2020, it will provide direct income support to some 300,000 low-income families. I’m also pleased to say that we’ll be working with our partners in the territories to address the unique housing challenges in the North.

Over the coming days and weeks, we will be providing even more details on new initiatives being rolled out as part of the National Housing Strategy.

Our goal is to prioritize projects that are affordable, accessible, that promote social inclusion and environmental sustainability, and that meet the needs of the most vulnerable Canadians, including survivors of family violence, Indigenous peoples, low-income seniors, persons with developmental disabilities, among others.

As we roll out the National Housing Strategy, we want to establish an innovative partnership between all levels of government, along with our partners in community organizations, and private and non-profit housing providers.

In the coming months, our Government will be introducing legislation that enshrines a rights-based approach to housing.

We have been gathering feedback and insights as part of this legislation’s development, both online at placetocallhome.ca, and in person at roundtable discussions.

In fact there is a workshop on the topic right here at the Congress later this morning.

I would invite you to make your voices heard, whether online or in person.

I would also encourage all of you to spread the word about our consultations, and to share them widely with your networks, to ensure that we have the most informed legislation possible.

Together, we can ensure that housing policy is rooted in the principles of inclusion, accountability, participation and non-discrimination.

Of course, these consultations are only part of the larger housing dialogue in Canada.

A dialogue that I have every day meeting with leaders like yourself from coast to coast to coast – and a dialogue that I am sure will continue here at this Congress and back in your own communities.

I have one last “ask” of you before you begin your Congress: use your voice as housing leaders and advocates to ensure housing remains a priority for all partners.

Together, we have started a new era for sustainable, affordable, inclusive housing in Canada.

It’s been made possible in part by your dedication, and it will continue to be possible thanks to your energy and your engagement.

Speaking before all of you today, I have to say that I’m looking forward to what comes next.

Together we make the most of this unprecedented opportunity to effect change and to give more Canadians a place to call home.

Thank you.