At least 17 Conservative MPs advocated for money from a housing program Poilievre vows to cut
Conservative MPs Call for Funding Cuts to Housing Accelerator Fund
More than a dozen Conservative Members of Parliament have written to the federal government advocating for communities in their ridings to receive funding through the Housing Accelerator Fund. This program, which Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has promised to cut, provides financial support to towns and cities that commit to reducing red tape in order to facilitate the construction of more homes.
Housing Minister Sean Fraser revealed that approximately a dozen Conservative MPs had reached out to him in recent months on behalf of their communities. However, Poilievre’s office released the names of 17 Conservative MPs who wrote letters supporting local funding initiatives through the Housing Accelerator Fund. Additionally, the office stated that Conservative MPs will no longer endorse municipalities seeking funding through this program.
The Housing Accelerator Fund, a $4.4 billion initiative, has facilitated 177 deals between the federal government and municipalities, resulting in over $1 billion in funding being dispersed to communities. Despite its success in supporting housing development, Poilievre has criticized the program as bureaucratic and intends to eliminate it to help finance the removal of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on newly-built homes priced under $1 million. His office cited data showing that the fund has incurred administrative costs of $80.9 million since 2017, slightly exceeding the recent funding allocation to the City of Halifax.
Among the Conservative MPs who advocated for local funding through the Housing Accelerator Fund are Dan Albas, John Barlow, Michael Barrett, Kelly Block, Frank Caputo, Adam Chambers, Michael Cooper, Branden Leslie, Rob Moore, John Nater, Rick Perkins, Blake Richards, Lianne Rood, Gerald Soroka, Karen Vecchio, Ryan Williams, and John Williamson. Fraser’s office confirmed that other Conservative MPs, including Clifford Small from Newfoundland, have also requested funding support, though their names were not disclosed.
In response to the Conservative MPs’ decision to withdraw support for the Housing Accelerator Fund, Mayor Alan Brown of Butternut Valley, New Brunswick, expressed disappointment. The municipality had applied for funding through the program to build essential infrastructure, including a sewer system and municipal water supply, to facilitate the construction of multiplex homes. Brown emphasized the importance of local advocacy and criticized the MPs’ decision as irresponsible, noting that their primary duty is to represent their constituents’ interests.
Fraser’s office reported that following Poilievre’s announcement to eliminate the fund, over 100 municipalities with existing funding agreements have been notified of potential funding cuts. Liberal MPs and ministers highlighted the program’s impact on housing development, particularly in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, where it is expected to result in the construction of over 250,000 homes. Minister of Defence Bill Blair cautioned that canceling the program could expose municipalities to legal and financial risks associated with terminated agreements.
