Courtenay-Alberni MP Gord Johns invites Parksville Qualicum Beach residents to join himself and local housing advocates for a public discussion on solutions for affordable housing at the Parksville Community and Conference Centre, 132 Jensen Ave, on Thursday, Sept. 6 at 7 p.m.
“In Courtenay-Alberni, one out of every four people struggle to afford a place to call home, and that’s far too many,” Johns said.
Data from the 2016 Census shows that more than a quarter of Canadians are paying more than 30 per cent of their total household income towards housing. This means Canadians are using their budget for food, medication, clothing and transportation instead to pay for their rent or their mortgage.
“While the Liberal government has recognized there is a housing crisis, it has chosen to wait two years before addressing it,” said Johns. “This is not the time for delays. Now is the time to act.”
Presenting at the public discussion will be speakers from BC Housing, the BC Non-Profit Housing Association, the Aboriginal Coalition to End Homelessness and the Alberni Valley Stakeholders Initiative to End Homelessness.
“Communities are doing great work, and the federal government has the ability to bring these invaluable resources together to build a national plan and find solutions,” said Johns.
Canadians everywhere are worried about the high costs of housing. New Democrats believe that by working together we can hear perspectives and gather solutions from across Canada, including community and local partners, national housing and homelessness organizations, Indigenous peoples, provincial and municipal governments and other experts and leaders.