Ongoing cost-of-living crisis should trigger another housing benefit payment: Singh
By The Canadian Press on August 31, 2023.
OTTAWA – NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says the federal government needs to issue another $500 benefit payment for low-income families struggling to keep a roof over their heads. Last fall, the government announced a $500 payment for low-income Canadians who spend more than a third of their income on rent, alongside a temporary boost to the GST rebate. The one-time housing benefit payment was among the items in the supply-and-confidence agreement reached between the Liberals and NDP in March 2022. The agreement lists policy items the two will collaborate on in exchange for the NDP supporting the Liberals on key votes to prevent the minority government from being defeated. The agreement says the government should consider a second round of the housing benefit payment if cost-of-living issues continue, and Singh says in an interview there is no doubt in his mind that they are. He says overall, the federal Liberals have done an “abysmal” job dealing with the housing crisis, and he intends to spend this fall pushing for significant policy action to build thousands of houses as quickly as possible. He wants more co-operation between Ottawa, provinces and post-secondary schools to build student housing, as well as a fund to buy-up affordable homes that are at risk of being sold to developers and builders who won’t keep them affordable. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 31, 2023. 9-8
