New housing minister says he lacked tools to tackle homelessness as Vancouver mayor

By Canadian Press on May 14, 2025.

OTTAWA — Canada’s new housing minister says he didn’t have the tools he needed to address housing affordability issues when he was mayor of Vancouver — the country’s most expensive housing market.

Gregor Robertson is attending his first cabinet meeting today as Prime Minister Mark Carney’s minister of housing.

Robertson is defending his record as Vancouver mayor — despite the surge in housing prices during his time in office — by arguing that many cities across Canada saw similar surges during that period.

Robertson says he wasn’t getting the help he needed from higher levels of government when he was mayor.

He says he’ll be focused on expanding the housing supply and partnering with cities to get more affordable homes built.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has attacked Carney’s decision to appoint Robertson to the housing file, arguing it shows nothing will change under the new Liberal government.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 14, 2025.

Craig Lord, The Canadian Press

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