The Alliance to End Homelessness (ATEH) invited all Federal Election Candidates in Ottawa to join the lunch line-up at an emergency shelter

on April 26, 2011

Media Release - provides details on why ATEH saw this candidates’ lunch as an important undertaking in the context of homelessness and affordable housing in our community

Candidates' answers in a PDF format

After dining candidates were asked what their parties had to say in response to three Yes/No questions.

Each party was asked for comments after the questions.

(2 minute limit for remarks)

Question 1

ATEH recommends creating a National Housing Strategy that includes, committing $2 billion per year on new social housing units, protecting the 600,000 existing social housing units across Canada, and reinvesting money from expiring social housing operating agreements.

If elected or re-elected, will you commit to a national housing strategy that makes these three things happen?

Question 2

ATEH knows that the 2011 Federal Spending Estimates show the government making a 39% cut in Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation spending (Canada’s national housing agency) from 3.1 billion in 2010 to $1.9 billion in 2011.  

If elected or re-elected, will you commit to reversing this 39% cut?

Question 3

ATEH knows that the 2011 Federal Spending Estimates show an
11% cut in Canada’s Homelessness Partnering Strategy from $124 million in 2010 down to $110 million in 2011.

 

If elected or re-elected, will you commit to reversing this 11% cut?

Each Party’s Answers*

Conservative

Not in Attendance

Not in Attendance

Not in Attendance

Not in Attendance

Liberal

Mauril Belanger,

Ottawa-Vanier

YES

YES

Added

The Liberal Party opposed the previous cuts too.

YES

NDP

Paul Dewar,

Ottawa Centre

Trevor Hache,

Ottawa Vanier

Marlene Rivier, Ottawa West-Nepean

YES

YES

Added

The mandate of CMHC needs to be realigned and strengthened with more access to affordable housing for lower income brackets. The NDP opposed the previous cuts too.

YES

Green

Jean-Luc Cooke, Nepean Carleton

Mark MacKenzie,
Ottawa West-Nepean

YES

YES

Added

CMHC needs to be expanded with an annual rate to build affordable housing so housing is no longer a factor in homelessness by 2019. Will also create 20,000 new units per year for 10 years. The Green Party opposed the previous cuts too.

YES

Comments*

(2 minutes of remarks after the questions)

Conservative

• Not in Attendance

Liberal

• An initiative to help create affordable homes must be acted on
• The priority for the portion of the Gas Tax Fund for use in communities should be housing and transit
• The social determinants of health – food, education and housing – show clearly why affordable housing is important
• While applauding the City of Ottawa’s commitment to spend a new 14 million on housing and poverty reduction, it is very important that the city also commit to a percentage policy to ensure new housing that is developed includes affordable housing, e.g., 2% for affordable housing could have made a big difference in the amount of housing available in the downtown area.

NDP

• In the dining hall spoke with young women and men, seniors and others, all of whom need a national housing strategy now
• Will introduce a Bill for housing strategy like C304 and will ensure $100 million is spent on affordable housing
• Will put efficiency plans in place to reduce energy costs in social housing
• Wants surplus federal lands used for affordable housing, like Le Breton Flats and land around Bronson and Carling in Ottawa Centre
• Everyone needs to be on board for it to work – federal, provincial and municipal governments. Work such as the information provided by ATEH in its Report Card needs to be supported to make it happen

Green

• Committed to making it easier for those with low incomes
• Eliminate income tax for the impoverished
• Add more low income housing for those with low incomes to help address homelessness and make that housing energy efficient