Jennifer McKelvie
Ajax, Ontario · Liberal · Canada
“Mr. Speaker, I would like to share the good news that the build Canada homes act, Bill C-20 , has just passed the Senate. This is another great initiative we have under way to bring down the cost of housing and, in particular, rent.”
“Mr. Speaker, there is some good news. I would like to point out that housing starts are 3% higher than in the same period last year. Completions have increased by 10%, meaning more homes are being finished. We are seeing growth in places like B.C., Ontario and Montreal. New construction is up by about 18%.”
“Mr. Speaker, I want to start by thanking all our partners in housing, the municipalities, provinces, indigenous communities, planners, builders and everybody else who is working together, because the trends are indeed moving in the right direction. Housing starts are up, housing sales are up, and rents are down.”
“These federal funds would be transferred to provinces and territories to be used exclusively for measures that increase housing supply, including but not limited to reducing development fees or levies on new home construction and making incremental investments in provincial and territorial programming already in place to spur housing deve…”
“A tangible example of this is a recent agreement with the Province of Ontario that reflects our commitment to help municipalities reduce development charges by 30% to 50% or more. These types of costs directly affect whether housing projects move forward.”
“In response, our government remains focused on solutions and on doing the hard work to support our communities, our industries and Canadians. The current government was elected on a strong mandate to build, and a key area of focus for the Prime Minister and our whole caucus is easing the housing crisis.”
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“Mr. Speaker, the government cares deeply about affordability for young Canadians. That is why the Build Canada Homes act is before the House right now. Build Canada Homes is about strengthening Canada's future by creating a modern, resilient housing industry. We are building an industry that protects our economy, empowers our workers and gives Canadians, especially young Canadians, the affordable housing they need. The Build Canada Homes act is before the House. We hope the members opposite will support it.”
“The government is committed to making housing more affordable and more attainable, while growing the strength and resilience of Canada's economy at the same time, because every Canadian deserves a place to call home so they can focus on building a successful future for themselves and for their families.”
“Mr. Speaker, this government is focused on restoring affordability and lowering housing costs. Build Canada Homes will build and finance affordable housing by partnering with builders and housing providers focused on long-term affordability. It will prioritize Canadian-made materials and modern methods of construction, such as factory-built housing, to catalyze a new Canadian housing industry, one that builds faster and more sustainably. We are working closely with provinces, territories, municipalities and indigenous communities to improve affordability and build the supply Canada needs.”
“We are putting affordability front and centre, and we will innovate, invest and remove barriers so that every Canadian can find a place to call home.”
“The federal government is also reducing barriers to home ownership so that young people are not priced out of the housing market. Measures like the tax-free first home savings account and the homebuyers' plan help Canadians save for their first home. We have also made changes to mortgage financing rules to help more buyers qualify. Importantly, we are eliminating the goods and services tax, the GST, for the first time on homebuyers of new homes at or under $1 million and reducing GST on new homes up to $1.5 million. Young Canadians deserve the same opportunities that previous generations enjoyed, and we are making that happen. The Government of Canada will continue to work closely with home builders, indigenous partners and all levels of government to deliver results.”
“Build Canada Homes will prioritize large-scale, long-term solutions to build on the successes of existing housing initiatives with a team Canada approach. These programs include the affordable housing fund and the apartment construction loan program, which have built hundreds of thousands of new homes and repaired hundreds of thousands more. We have also seen how the $4.4-billion housing accelerator fund is eliminating barriers to development. So far, we have signed agreements with more than 240 communities across the country that have committed to cutting red tape and streamlining the development process. The Government of Canada is dedicated to making Canada's housing market work better for everyone. We are focused on affordability, and we are building a stronger Canada. We are not stopping there.”
“Mr. Speaker, the Government of Canada is taking action to build the infrastructure communities need and to make housing more affordable for Canadians. Budget 2025, “Canada Strong”, delivers generational investments to meet these goals. It includes $51 billion for a new infrastructure program, with $17 billion dedicated to housing enabling infrastructure. This will allow cuts to development charges that will significantly bring down the cost of housing for Canadians. We are also addressing the housing crisis head-on with the recent launch of Build Canada Homes. This new federal agency will finance and build affordable housing at scale. It will leverage public lands, offer flexible financial incentives, attract private capital, facilitate large portfolio projects and support manufacturers to build the homes Canadians need.”
“Mr. Speaker, Build Canada Homes is focused on building affordable housing at scale. Through this newly launched agency, Build Canada Homes, we are taking a team Canada approach and strengthening our relationships with key partners in the housing sector. This government will leverage every tool at its disposal to address our country's housing crisis, deliver on our ambitious housing agenda and make housing more affordable and attainable for all Canadians. We are also helping new homebuyers enter the market by helping make home ownership more affordable, including by eliminating the GST for first-time homebuyers on new homes at or under $1 million and lowering the GST for new homes between $1 million and $1.5 million. These measures are all part of our bold approach to build the homes that Canadians need.”
“We will strengthen our relationships with key stakeholders and continue to leverage a team Canada approach with our municipal, provincial, territorial and indigenous partners. Together with our partners, we will develop innovative programs and take targeted action to increase housing supply, lower housing costs and transform the housing sector.”
“This new federal agency will finance and build affordable housing at scale and deploy modern methods of construction to catalyze a more productive homebuilding industry. It will leverage public lands, offer flexible financial incentives, attract private capital, facilitate large portfolio projects and support manufacturers to build the homes that Canadians need. Build Canada Homes will focus on catalyzing a new Canadian housing industry, one that builds faster and more sustainably. It will help generate demand for innovative and sustainable building methods, like factory-built and prefabricated construction, helping industry scale up and strengthen supply chains. Moving forward, we will continue to identify and implement innovative solutions to build more homes faster for Canadians.”
“To help new homebuyers enter the market, we are delivering savings of up to $50,000 for first-time homebuyers by cutting the GST on new homes at or under $1 million and lowering the GST on new homes between $1 million and $1.5 million. To eliminate barriers to development and build more homes faster, the Government of Canada has invested $4.4 billion in the housing accelerator fund. Over 240 communities across the country are benefiting from this funding and implementing changes that will help us grow the supply of housing faster. We are also working alongside provinces, territories and municipalities to invest in critical infrastructure that is needed to support growing communities. These initiatives are complemented by the recent launch of Build Canada Homes, the government's bold new approach to building affordable housing.”
“Mr. Speaker, I thank the member opposite, a fellow Durham region MP, for the question. The Government of Canada is focused on delivering change and ensuring that the country's housing system works for everyone. We know many Canadians are struggling to get ahead and buy their first home. Budget 2025, Canada strong, is making generational investments of $25 billion over five years for housing and $115 billion over five years for infrastructure. These strategic investments will build major infrastructure and homes and create lasting prosperity, empowering Canadians to get ahead. We are working in collaboration with provinces, territories, municipalities and indigenous communities to build a stronger economy, lower housing costs and make life more affordable for Canadian families.”
“Mr. Speaker, generations of underinvestment and systemic discrimination have created a serious shortage of safe, affordable housing and of supports for indigenous peoples across Canada. Build Canada Homes will help address this by financing affordable housing at scale across the housing continuum, in collaboration with provinces, territories and indigenous partners. The program offers flexible incentives to support non-market and indigenous housing providers to build the affordable housing people need. Build Canada Homes is actively engaged with indigenous governments, provinces, territories and builders to identify early investment and shovel-ready projects.”
“Mr. Speaker, Canada is facing a housing crisis. Rent and mortgage costs are still unaffordable. During the last election campaign, Canadians told us loud and clear that it is time to build. This means building housing at a pace not seen in generations. That is why we launched Build Canada Homes, a program focused on building and financing affordable housing at scale to meet the needs of Canadians across the housing spectrum.”
“Mr. Speaker, the Government of Canada is building on our successes and continuing to make historic investments in housing. Build Canada Homes will leverage public lands, offer flexible financial incentives, attract private capital, facilitate large portfolio projects and support manufacturers to build the homes Canadians need. We encourage the opposition to work with us so that we can build the homes Canadians need. As the Prime Minister has said, it is time to build. That means building housing at a scale and pace not seen in generations. That is exactly what we are going to do.”
“The Government of Canada is working closely with builders, investors, indigenous partners and all levels of government to implement innovative solutions to address these complex issues. We are using every tool at our disposal and taking coordinated action to help ensure that more Canadians have access to affordable and attainable housing.”
“This new federal agency is part of a broader series of federal measures to double housing construction, restore affordability and reduce homelessness. It will focus on using Canadian-made materials and modern construction methods, such as factory-built housing, to catalyze an entirely new Canadian housing industry, one that builds faster and more sustainably. Build Canada Homes complements the national housing strategy and Canada's housing plan by adding a bold new federal approach to building affordable housing. It will build on the success of these initiatives while focusing primarily on non-market housing and catalyzing a more productive homebuilding industry.”
“Young families and first-time homebuyers deserve the same opportunities to own a home that their parents had. Restrictive planning policies, rising municipal fees and insufficient support for housing at all levels of government have contributed to higher costs, construction delays and a lack of affordable housing. The Government of Canada is committed to lowering housing costs and restoring affordability. Since 2017, funding delivered through the national housing strategy has reduced or eliminated housing needs for more than 655,000 households. We have created or committed to more than 170,000 new housing units, but we know there is still more work to do, and we are not stopping there. On September 14, the Prime Minister and the Minister of Housing launched Build Canada Homes.”
“Mr. Speaker, the Government of Canada is taking action to solve Canada's housing crisis. We are making housing more affordable and attainable for Canadians because everyone deserves a place to call home. Too many Canadians across the country are struggling with the high cost of housing, and the federal government is focused on solutions. We are starting to put money back into Canadians' pockets by reducing middle-class taxes and saving two-income families up to $840 a year. We are cutting the goods and services tax on new homes at or under $1 million for first-time homebuyers, delivering savings of up to $50,000. We are also lowering the GST on new homes between $1 million and $1.5 million. We have also made it easier for Canadians to save for their first home by raising the limit on the tax-free home savings account.”
“Madam Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for his question. Canadians have asked us to take action. This is why we launched “build Canada homes” in order to meet housing needs across the country. The program will ensure co-operation with the provinces, cut red tape and help small communities build housing more quickly. We are working closely with Quebec, where local organizations are key in making these projects a reality. We have a good working relationship with Quebec, and we intend to keep it that way.”
“Madam Speaker, our government is always committed to working with provinces to ensure that Canadian residents are safe. We look forward to ongoing discussions in this regard continuing so that we can find a solution that works for everyone.”
“Mr. Speaker, the Liberal Party is the party of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, so it will come as no surprise to anyone that our government is doing its job, which is to defend the charter. The Supreme Court's decision will determine how federal and provincial governments can invoke the notwithstanding clause in the years to come. As this case is before the courts, it is important to keep an eye out for this decision.”
“Mr. Speaker, using it pre-emptively is not giving due justice to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. I think it is important that the laws are passed and that citizens can challenge them when they need to, and certainly that is the case. There are many citizens challenging Bill 21, saying that it is not respecting their rights and freedoms. They have the right to be heard in court. There is a great T-shirt I saw, and I always think of it; it says, "Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie." We have to keep that in mind. It is possible to protect the rights of Quebec—”
“Mr. Speaker, we know the notwithstanding clause can be challenged, and we have seen that in Ontario. It has been tried in courts, and in some cases it has been overruled and in other cases it has been ruled as justified. What we have before the Supreme Court is an assessment of the use of the notwithstanding clause and whether or not it does infringe upon the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. It is important that this judgment is done before the Supreme Court to answer those four questions that I laid out. Have we done our due diligence? Is it being applied in a way that is respectful of the rights and freedoms of Canadians? By that, I mean the rights and freedoms of all Canadians.”
“If the use of section 33 becomes normalized, we may have more regrets. For the sake of all Canadians, we should not find out. We should all commit to governing while respecting all rights and freedoms guaranteed in the charter. We should commit to resisting the temptation to resort to the unnecessary and extraordinary powers of section 33.”
“This is as true of governments and Parliaments as it is of any other institution in Canada. These all-too-human tendencies allowed us to think at one time that it was right, good and in the public interest to do several horrible things, including impose a head tax on Chinese immigrants; force generations of indigenous children into residential schools; in 1939, turn away Jewish refugees from Germany on the MS St. Louis ; and intern Japanese Canadians during and after the Second World War. As a nation, we have come to regret these decisions, and we have apologized for them. The discipline that the charter imposes on government decision-making and law-making helps to avoid tragedies like these ever happening again in Canada. What new decisions will we come to regret in the future?”
“Instead of thoughtfully considered, well-reasoned, logical and evidence-based laws that limit rights and freedoms and that are subject to strong checks and balances in the form of judicial review, as is happening before the courts, the use of section 33 does away with this disciplined approach to law-making. The use of section 33 can amount to a raw assertion of power over the rights and freedoms of people in Canada that is directly opposed to the way in which federal governance has worked for over 40 years. Despite Canada's being one of the best countries in the world in which to live, we are far from perfect. We have made grievous mistakes in the past. Biases, blind spots and prejudices are inherent in human beings and in the institutions we create and operate.”
“However, if section 33 is in play and the Charter of Rights and Freedom does not need to be respected, a government will, for example, be able to say without consequence that a law pursues a purpose that it really does not. A government will be able to assert that a law will have benefits, without any evidence to support that assertion. A government can ignore more rights-respecting approaches to law-making, and a government can discount the interests of a minority group or non-popular group that poses no threat to it at the ballot box. This is what we have to worry about if the use of section 33 becomes normalized in Canada.”
“These questions and the answers to them are posed and assessed through the policy development process, from the initial discussion within a department of options to highlight a problem, through to cabinet's consideration of the options, to the drafting of a bill and finally, in the most important step of Parliament, to debating and enacting a bill. Weak answers to any of these questions should raise alarm bells and lead to heightened scrutiny and a consideration of alternatives. Having good answers to the questions that the charter requires us all to ask leads to more thoughtful and considered policy and to better laws for all people in Canada. The absence of good answers and the weakness of arguments and evidence leads to poorly developed law, and when that happens, the government should be held accountable for its choices.”
“This is the ultimate cost-benefit assessment, and it is a fundamental one. This element of the section 1 standard prevents laws with marginal benefits that have real impact on Canadians' rights and freedoms. It does not tolerate laws that are dismissive of the rights and freedoms of people who may be unpopular, such as those charged with or being punished for a crime, or laws that fail to properly value the negative effects on members of a minority group who have limited political power and weak or fleeting public sympathy. I think everyone can agree that the questions the charter requires us to ask when considering a new law are good and proper ones.”
“If we are being honest, the evidence-based solutions to some problems are counterintuitive, and governing with an attitude of respect for charter rights and freedoms helps us to realize this and come up with better, more effective approaches. The third question asks whether there is another effective way to achieve important objectives while doing less harm to a right or freedom. Satisfying this standard means doing the homework on the different options available to advance a goal and choosing the reasonable one that does the least harm to Canada's fundamental values and Canadians' whose rights and freedoms may be limited. (1800) Finally, the last question asks whether the benefits of a proposed law in furthering an important objective outweigh the harms to the exercise and enjoyment of the right or freedom.”
“Let us take the first question of whether the government's objective in proposing a new law is sufficiently important to justify limiting a right or freedom. This can prevent governments from proposing trivial or merely symbolic laws that would limit rights and freedoms. The second question asks whether the proposed way of achieving the government's objective is rational, or in other words, if it is the right tool for the job. This prevents reliance on, for example, common sense that may not be well-founded or well-informed. Saying, for example, that public safety will be enhanced by doing a particular thing does not make it so, especially if the weight of evidence demonstrates that it is not the case.”
“Finally, if the answer to each of these questions is yes, is the overall harm to the exercise or enjoyment of the right worth it when weighted against the benefits of the rights-limiting measure? If so, then in Canada, we can consider such a limit to be reasonable, and, assuming that a government is well-armed with supporting evidence, logic and reason, demonstrably justifiable as well. When potential impacts on charter rights and freedoms are identified in the policy development process, governments need to carefully evaluate whether any limits on rights and freedoms are reasonable and can be demonstrably justified in Canada's free and democratic society. As I outlined, this requires asking a series of questions that ultimately go to the reasonableness of what is being considered.”
“The charter expressly provides for limits in its all-important section 1, which guarantees the rights and freedoms, subject only to such reasonable limits prescribed by law as can be demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society. What are these reasonable limits that can be imposed on Canadian rights and freedoms? In essence, the standard boils down to a deceptively simple set of questions. Is the government's objective sufficiently important to justify limiting a right? Is the limit a rational way to achieve that objective? In trying to achieve that objective, does the law use the option that causes the least harm to the right being limited?”
“This means that every law and action of the government must be consistent with the charter. Within a country founded upon principles that include the rule of law, governments must take to heart the need to ensure that the actions they take and the laws they propose respect the charter. Undoubtedly, governments prior to 1982 were mindful of the values fundamental to a free and democratic Canada, which were ultimately entrenched in the rights and freedoms guaranteed in the charter, but after 1982, respecting those values became a matter of constitutional imperative. To be clear, respecting rights and freedoms does not mean never limiting them. The rights and freedoms guaranteed in the charter are not absolute.”
“Section 33 of the charter, which is known as the notwithstanding clause, has never been used at the federal level. Today, I want to speak further about some of the less well-understood ways that governing under the charter supports good governance and better policies and laws. I do this to highlight the thoughtful and considered practices that may be at risk if the use of section 33 is allowed to become more routine and less taboo. The main point I want to make today is that the charter imposes an essential discipline on government policy development and law-making,a discipline that would be lost if resorting to section 33 were to become normalized. Let me explain. The charter is part of the Constitution, and the Constitution is the supreme law of the land.”
“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in response to a motion calling on the government to fully withdraw from litigation involving Bill 21. In effect, the motion would have the House agree that the Government of Canada, the government of all Canadians from coast to coast to coast, should not participate in one of the single most important constitutional appeals in recent memory before our Supreme Court. This appeal certainly concerns Quebec legislation directly, but the legal issues it raises, and which the Attorney General of Canada has addressed, are of overarching interest and concern the role of the importance of the charter in our modern system of governance. At issue at the Supreme Court is what it means when section 33 of the charter is used by Parliament or a provincial legislature.”
“Mr. Speaker, we share in the disappointment that BC Ferries has gone forward with this procurement. It is important to note that no Canadians bid on this work. We are now laser-focused on buying Canadian. What we need to do as a government is ensure that work is being done by Canada, in Canada, by Canadian workers, using Canadian materials. It is time to build. It is time to buy Canadian.”
“Mr. Speaker, Canada is facing a housing crisis. During the last election campaign, Canadians made it clear that the time has come to build housing. This means building housing at a pace not seen in generations. That is why we have launched “build Canada homes”, a program focused on building and financing affordable housing at scale to meet the needs of Canadians by bringing together all aspects of housing. This includes the first six sites to be developed, which will create 4,000 homes with a total potential for—”
“Mr. Speaker, CMHC is getting to work on building supportive housing and affordable housing. We have financing that is being released at a scale that has not been seen in generations. We know CMHC has a proven track record of delivering. We have seen that over the last 10 years with affordable housing and supportive housing that is being built in this country at a scale not seen before.”
“Mr. Speaker, our new government has a credible and ambitious plan to tackle the housing crisis and to build at a scale not seen since the Second World War. We are going to get affordable homes built with “build Canada homes”, which will be using Canadian skilled trades, Canadian materials and modern methods of construction. This is building on the work we have already done to stimulate the housing economy by getting the federal government back into the business of building affordable homes, by cutting the GST for first-time homebuyers and by cutting municipal development charges. We look forward to doing that work with all members.”
“Mr. Speaker, “build Canada homes” will bring together the right people with the right mandate under one roof. Importantly, a focus of “build Canada homes” will be to use modern construction methods with Canadian skilled trade workers and Canadian materials. The six sites that we have mentioned are just the first tranche of projects, which will build 4,000 new homes. We are looking to build hundreds of thousands of homes for Canadians. We look forward to the proposals and the applications from the members opposite for supportive housing in their communities.”
“Mr. Speaker, Canadians made it clear in the last election campaign that it was time to build, and that means building more housing at a pace that has not been seen in generations. That is why we have launched “build Canada homes”, which will be focused on building and financing affordable housing at a scale not seen in generations. This includes the first tranche of projects: six sites on Canada federal lands that will create 4,000 units. We are also releasing $1 billion for supportive housing and $1.5 billion for the Canada rental protection fund.”
“Mr. Speaker, Canadians expect action, and that is exactly what the Government of Canada is delivering. I am so happy that our program will have a strong focus on affordable and supportive housing, something that is so very needed in our country. The new federal agency “build Canada homes” will finance and build affordable homes at scale and will supercharge homebuilding across the country by leveraging modern methods of construction such as factory-built housing. It will support more affordable housing for low- and middle-income households so that Canadians can have access to a home within their means. We have a real plan to build up our country. We want everybody to participate. We look forward to more information being shared about “build Canada homes“ in the weeks ahead. It is time to build.”
“This is a real plan, one that Canadians elected us to act on. On day one, we announced the acceleration of 4,000 units on six sites, with a potential for 45,000 more on those sites. It is just the beginning. Our plan builds on the successes of existing initiatives such as the national housing strategy, which has reduced or eliminated housing issues for so many Canadians. The federal government is making historic investments in new housing with a new team Canada approach.”
“The Government of Canada understands the urgency of the housing crisis and that it will take a collaborative effort to boost supply and restore affordability. That is why we launched “build Canada homes”, a new federal agency that will finance and build affordable housing at scale across our country. It will leverage public lands, offer flexible financial incentives, attract private capital, facilitate large portfolio projects and support manufacturers to build the homes that Canadians need. “Build Canada homes” will build affordable housing by partnering with builders and housing providers focused on long-term affordability. It will focus on using Canadian-made materials and modern construction methods, such as factory-built housing, to catalyze an entire industry, one that builds faster and more sustainably.”
“Together, these measures will lower housing costs for Canadians and help young families buy their first home, a dream that was attainable for their parents' generation that we are working hard to help them realize. We are committed to building a housing system that works for everyone. The Government of Canada has already signed over 240 agreements under the $4.4-billion housing accelerator fund to incentivize municipalities to cut red tape, increase housing densification and speed up building. These actions are expected to support the permitting of more than 800,000 new homes over the next decade. While there is more work to do, the Government of Canada is putting affordability front and centre because every Canadian should have access to a home they can afford.”
“Mr. Speaker, our new government understands that housing affordability is important and that it is important for us to make life more affordable for Canadians. That is why we implemented tax cuts for middle-class, dual-income families, effective as of this past Canada Day. This will allow 22 million hard-working Canadians to save up to $840 per couple per year, totalling $27 billion for Canadians over five years. That is why we are eliminating the goods and services tax on first-time home purchases at or under $1 million, saving buyers up to $50,000 on their first home, and reducing the GST for homes priced between $1 million and $1.5 million. These measures are on top of changes to mortgage rules, like allowing 30-year mortgage amortizations for first-time homebuyers.”
“Mr. Speaker, I think it is very dangerous to use words like that. This is a country to which we want to attract people as tourists. We want our communities to know that they have amazing correctional service officers and amazing police officers who are out there keeping them safe. When we say things like that, it really negates the great work being done by all those great people, the public servants who keep us safe.”
“Mr. Speaker, importantly, our public safety minister has been consulting from coast to coast to coast over the summer, talking to police chiefs, talking to victims, talking to everybody who is involved in the justice system. He will be bringing forward comprehensive legislation this fall to strengthen Canada's bail system, increase sentences for the most serious repeat violent crimes and address court delays so that serious cases can proceed quickly and victims will not be retraumatized by procedural backlogs. We will be introducing this bill based on evidence, consultation and important reforms that will keep our community safe. Additionally, there is an option for people in the House to support public safety right now. That is Bill C-2 , which is before us.”