“It is no longer acceptable for Canadians that any of us should live without adequate housing,” says Elizabeth May, leader of the Green Party. May was unveiling her party’s housing plan as part of her campaign for the federal election on October 19.
“Housing is a human right. And in Canada as a wealthy country we simply have no more excuses for our failure to ensure housing.” Canada is the only country in the OECD without a housing strategy, notes the party website.
‘An ongoing scandal’
“An ongoing scandal” is how May characterized the shortage of housing for indigenous people. And she criticized the incumbent government for welcoming foreign investors who have bought up properties and created a grave shortage of affordable housing for Canadians.
Eliminating homelessness is one aspect of the Green platform. Two non-profit groups issued a report in 2013 indicating that at least 200,000 Canadians experience homelessness in any given year. May also announced strategies to make housing affordable, particularly to first-time buyers and seniors.
Energy efficiency incentives promised
If elected, May says she would ensure a percentage of new housing units are reserved for affordable housing and she would take steps to improve energy efficiency in homes.
May is predicting that no party will win a majority in the election. So she is urging Canadians to elect Green Party representatives who she says will work collaboratively with a minority government. In the last election, two members of the Green Party were elected to Parliament.
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