Conservative MPs Request Housing Fund Despite Party Leader's Opposition

Five Conservative Members of Parliament (MPs) have taken the initiative to write letters to the Liberal Housing Minister, Sean Fraser, requesting funding for their communities from the Housing Accelerator Fund. This comes after Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre labeled the program as disastrous and vowed to cancel it altogether.

Liberal Government's Commitment to Housing Development

Minister Fraser revealed in the House of Commons that at least five members of the Conservative party are seeking support for their constituencies through the Housing Accelerator Fund. His office noted that 177 municipalities have already formed agreements with the federal government, allowing them to receive funding in exchange for expediting the building process for residential homes.

During a question period, Fraser commented, "What Poilievre doesn’t know is his caucus colleagues have been going behind his back, writing me letters advocating for their communities to receive funding through the Housing Accelerator Fund because they believe it will get more homes built." He challenged Conservative MPs to show courage in affirming their belief in the program.

The letters, which show a mix of support for the fund, were sent by MPs Dan Albas, Michael Cooper, Adam Chambers, Lianne Rood, and Rob Moore. These MPs represent regions across British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, and New Brunswick. The letters were sent between September 2023 and February 2024 and emphasize the need for more housing.

Conflicting Views on Housing Policy

In recent exchanges, Poilievre and Fraser engaged in a heated discussion regarding their respective housing plans. Poilievre has promised to remove the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on new homes sold for less than $1 million but has criticized the Housing Accelerator Fund for adding bureaucracy without resulting in more homes being built.

The Conservative MPs argued that the fund is essential for their municipalities. For example, Cooper advocated for St. Albert, Alberta, to receive federal funding for a mixed-income housing project. He stated that the funding is crucial for addressing the community's significant shortage of affordable housing. Similarly, Moore and Chambers wrote letters supporting applications from their respective areas for the same program, emphasizing the high demand for housing.

Minister Fraser mentioned that though the applications supported by the Conservative MPs have not yet received funding, the program still has $400 million available to allocate.

Despite the apparent division within the Conservative party, public opinion polls suggest the party maintains a significant lead over the Liberals, largely due to widespread concern over housing affordability. Recently, the Liberal government promised to take further action on the housing crisis, proposing a plan to increase housing availability significantly by 2031, with the Housing Accelerator Fund being a key element of that strategy.

Conclusion and Future Actions

As the situation develops, it remains to be seen how Poilievre's promise to eliminate the Housing Accelerator Fund will align with the requests from his own party members. The mixed messages could pose challenges for the party as they navigate the ongoing housing affordability crisis in Canada.

Conservative, Housing, Funding