The NDP is revealing more of its plans to address housing.
A day after announcing measures to bring in a national rental control program, NDP leader Jagmeet Singh is promising measures that help build 3 million new homes over the next five years.
It includes doubling the amount of money available through a federal housing fund and renaming it the Canada Homes Transfer.
“This is a transfer that’s actually going to give the power to build more homes in communities across this country,” says Singh.
“It’s going to speed up the process. It’s going to support municipalities. It’s going to help build more homes that people can actually afford.”
Singh says he will also tie the funding to ensuring the homes stay affordable.
He says the investment will help create jobs and stimulate the economy.
“Investing in building more homes will give people a place to live and also fights back against inflation by building homes that are affordable. So these are investments to fight back against inflation by creating local jobs in our country and building up our economy,” says Singh.
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre wants to reduce the time it takes to approve resource projects.
His proposal includes a new agency that would handle all approvals, including those necessary from municipalities and the province.
“One desk called the Rapid Resource Project Office will handle all regulatory approvals across all levels of government so businesses don’t have to waste time navigating through dozens of different agencies at three different levels of government,” says Poilievre.
“We will do this in partnership with provinces, first nations and municipalities, getting them to sign on to merging together their various processes. We will get rid of the double process right now where you have to do the exact same environmental review three different times for three different levels of government.”
Poilievre says he will guarantee decisions on major projects are made within a year, with the target set at six months or sooner.
“No more delays, no more uncertainty, no more caps on Canadian growth and ambition.”
Liberal leader Mark Carney’s campaign promise on Monday was in direct contrast to that of the Conservative leader.
Carney aims to protect more land.
“A new Liberal government will move forward with 10 new national parks and marine conservation areas, along with creating 15 new National Urban parks across Canada,” says Carney.
“At the same time, we will make national parks and historic sites free for all Canadians this upcoming summer.”
Carney says $100 million would be invested into technologies that protect Canada’s freshwaters and enshrine First Nations’ right to water into law.
The federal election takes place on April 28th.
