Prime Minister Justin Trudeau toured the Waterloo region on Wednesday to discuss housing policy and meet with local Muslim leaders for Ramadan.
Trudeau’s first stop was a home in Kitchener, where he highlighted measures in the federal budget for 2022 aimed at making housing more affordable.
“We know housing is a real challenge, not just here in Kitchener, but across the country,” Trudeau said. “And we have to work together to solve it.”
Trudeau said the federal budget for 2022 focuses on three main pillars to combat the housing crisis – supply, savings and reducing speculation.
“I’ve heard from Canadians all over the country who are really worried about the housing market, who are wondering if they will ever be able to afford a home,” Trudeau said.
“One of the challenges we face in Canada is our population with immigration and other things growing in recent years, and housing is not up to par.”
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau talks about housing after meeting two families in private at the MacDonald family home in Kitchener, Ont., Wednesday, April 20, 2022. Canadian Press / Peter Power
The prime minister said the federal government would work with provincial and municipal governments to spend $ 4 billion to help cities increase housing supply.
He also highlighted the introduction of a new first tax-exempt housing savings account, where Canadians can set aside up to $ 40,000.
Trudeau also said that “too many” homes in Canada are being bought by foreign investors, and this is something the government has to contend with.
“We will ban foreign home buyers for the next two years to make sure Canadians have the opportunity to buy their homes,” he said.
Trudeau’s next stop was Cambridge, where he visited a school and met with Muslim leaders before joining Ramadan.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke with a third grader during a visit with members of the Muslim community to the Cambridge International School in Cambridge, Ont. on Wednesday, April 20, 2022. CANADIAN PRESS / Peter Power
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