Duranceau proposes measures to ensure there is more affordable housing

Jacques Boissinot The Canadian Press “We want to build more, faster, faster, declared Minister France-Élaine Duranceau Thursday. There will be more for vulnerable customers. »

The Minister responsible for Housing, France-Élaine Duranceau, tabled a series of amendments to her bill on Thursday to directly tackle the housing crisis. These additions would notably allow cities to authorize affordable housing projects more easily.

Bill 31 has made headlines several times since the spring. Due to the housing crisis, articles aimed at further regulating lease transfers have aroused the ire of several groups.

However, paradoxically, the project has not until now contained any measures to directly attacking the housing crisis. It is now done.

On Thursday, Ms. Duranceau suggested changes to the law that would accelerate the construction of affordable housing. “We want to build more, faster, faster,” the minister declared Thursday during discussions in the parliamentary committee. There will be more for vulnerable customers. »

It therefore proposes to give cities the power, in certain circumstances, to authorize affordable housing projects even if they deviate from the regulations in force.

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The amendments would also systematically legalize the construction of accessory dwellings within urban perimeters, unless elected officials decide to subtract certain zones to this right.

Finally, the bill would allow the government to more easily transfer buildings to organizations dedicated to social and affordable housing.

These measures coincide with the filing Thursday of another bill expanding the fiscal powers of municipalities. Bill 39 was presented in the morning by the Minister of Municipal Affairs, Andrée Laforest.

So far, France-Élaine Duranceau has tabled 43 amendments to her bill, and the exercise is not finished. Some concern the construction of student housing, and others, divided co-ownership, in particular. The study of the articles relating to the transfer of lease has not yet begun.