With the upcoming federal election, it is important to understand each party’s stance on the subject of affordable housing. Below is a quick guide on what Canada’s federal parties are promising to bring to the housing sector.

Liberal Party

The Liberal Party’s platform proposes the creation of a new Affordable Housing Framework. This Framework will feature a long-term commitment by the federal government to replace the current collection of temporary programs. The three main goals of the framework are to reduce homelessness; stimulate new construction of affordable housing and maintain and renew existing affordable housing stock. In its first two years, the Liberal government claims it will increase federal investment in affordable housing by $550 million.

New Democratic Party

The NDP platform promises to increase the supply of affordable housing by restoring funding for the homeowners Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program (RRAP) and the Affordable Housing Initiative in partnership with the provinces and territories. The NDP also proposes “significant new funding” for affordable and social housing and the introduction to reduce household heating costs.

To address affordability and environmental sustainability, the NDP also promises a home heating federal sales tax rebate; a permanent Eco-energy Retrofit program and an inter-generational Home Retrofit Program to help families retrofit their homes to accommodate senior family members.

Conservative Party

The Conservative Party platform makes no statements concerning new investments in housing. However, it does commit $400 million to continue the Eco-Energy Retrofit program for one year. The continuation of this program would provide homeowners with grants of up to $5000 per unit to offset the cost of energy efficiency upgrades from 2011-2012.

Bloc Québécois

The Bloc’s platform focuses on insisting that the elected government make an annual investment of $2 billion to construct and renovate affordable housing via the surplus generated by the Canada Housing and Mortgage Corporation.

Green Party

In its Vision Green document, the Green Party states that it intends to implement a National Affordable Housing plan to radically increase the supply of affordable housing and resolve the issue by 2019. Under this plan, the government would build 20,000 new and 10,000 rehabilitated, subsidized affordable units per year for the next 10 years through capital grants and changes in tax and mortgage insurance regulations.

The Greens also promise:

• Rent supplements or shelter assistance for an additional 40,000 low-income households per year, for ten years
• Funding to community groups through a National Affordable Housing Plan to renovate 10,000 new units per year for the next 10 years
• The appointment of a federal Minister of Housing
• The development of a national energy retrofit standard that would ensure 100% of Canada’s buildings are retrofitted to a high level of energy efficiency by 2025

Additional Resources:

• Canadian Housing Renewal Association Platform Analysis
• Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association Election 2011 webpage