NDP pushing for Canadians’ right to affordable housing to come before CEOs’ profits

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 11, 2024

OTTAWA – On Wednesday, NDP Infrastructure and Communities critic Bonita Zarrillo (Port Moody-Coquitlam) tabled a bill that would put people before corporations by guaranteeing the right to adequate and affordable homes for people, not corporate landlords.

“Working-class people are having a harder time finding homes they can afford,” said Zarrillo. “Homeownership seems out of reach, and rent is unaffordable even when places are falling apart because rich corporate investors have found a get-rich-quick scheme - buying up homes and gouging people. It is past time to end this free ride for billionaires. It’s time for real people to come first.”

Zarrillo’s bill would make affordability, accessibility, and protection from evictions key points in defining Canadians’ right to housing. It would also make it so that the government must put this right ahead of corporate landlords’ profits in their National Housing Strategy.

“Canadians rightfully feel let down by the Liberals. Under Justin Trudeau’s leadership, rent has doubled, buying a home feels impossible, and it’s all because the Liberals keep caving to CEOs and corporate landlords,” added Zarrillo. “Meanwhile, Pierre Poilievre’s plan is to cut housing funding and hand over housing to corporations who only care about profits. With Conservatives, you get less, and billionaires get more.

“New Democrats believe that it’s the people’s time. That you should come before corporations and CEOs. That’s why we want to see a people-first approach in Canada’s housing strategies.”