Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland is dismissing concerns that her government’s ambitious plan to spend billions of dollars to increase the supply of housing across the country is unrealistic or unsafe.
Ms. Freeland spoke to reporters in Mount Pearl, Newfoundland, on April 24 and was asked how Ottawa expects to build 10,000 homes per year in Newfoundland and Labrador when the province’s home builders association says just 3,300 homes were built in the best year of construction.
Alexis Foster, executive director of the Canadian Home Builders’ Association in the province, told CBC last week: “Historically our best year was 3,300 homes. So it’s a huge gap that we’re faced with right now.”
Ms. Freeland replied to the question on whether the plan was too ambitious, saying: “I think the issue is supply, supply, supply. And I think every day we have to get more and more and more ambitious on housing.”
She added that while it was “a more ambitious plan than we have ever seen,” she believes home building can move faster with all levels of government working together along with the private sector.
“We’re working closely with the province. And then most importantly, the people who do the actual building are stepping up here and building things. But of course, we have to keep on going, we have to do more, faster,” Ms. Freeland said.
Safety was another concern raised when she was asked whether rushing construction to unprecedented levels could lead to corners being cut and safety standards not being upheld.
Ms. Freeland rejected the concerns, saying, “I know that builders across the country, I know that municipalities across the country, I know that building inspectors across the country are not cutting any corners when it comes to the health and safety of Canadians.”
The CMHC noted that the construction sector is struggling to replace workers as more retire than are being replaced.
