Conservative MPs frustrated after Poilievre bars them from promoting housing fund: sources

Conservative MPs are expressing frustration after their leader, Pierre Poilievre, prohibited them from advocating for a federal housing fund in their ridings, according to sources who spoke to Radio-Canada. The Housing Accelerator Fund, a $4-billion initiative designed to assist cities in building housing-related infrastructure, has become a point of contention within the Conservative party.

Poilievre has directed Conservative MPs to refrain from promoting the fund, citing his intention to abolish the GST on sales of new homes under $1 million as a priority. This decision has left some MPs feeling hamstrung in their ability to assist municipalities in securing funding through the program.

“It’s extremely frustrating,” one Conservative source shared with Radio-Canada. “MPs are being prevented from supporting their cities for partisan reasons.” The Housing Accelerator Fund has already facilitated 177 financing agreements outside of Quebec as of June 30, demonstrating its impact on housing infrastructure development.

The controversy surrounding the fund escalated when a press release was issued by Poilievre’s spokesperson, on behalf of 17 Conservative MPs, without consulting the MPs involved. The release criticized the Liberal government’s handling of the program, alleging that it failed to deliver on promises to build homes. The MPs listed in the release had reportedly written to Housing Minister Sean Fraser seeking funding for their communities through the Housing Accelerator Fund.

However, the MPs named in the press release were not informed that their names would be made public, leading to concerns about the lack of consultation and transparency in the process. Several of the MPs declined to comment on the situation when approached by Radio-Canada, underscoring the sensitivity of the issue within the party.

Critics of Poilievre’s directive argue that now is not the time to play politics with housing, emphasizing the importance of providing support to cities in need of infrastructure funding. While many Conservatives support Poilievre’s plan to abolish the GST on new home sales, they also believe that municipalities should have access to available funds to address housing challenges.

The mayors of towns in the ridings represented by the 17 Conservative MPs named in the press release expressed disappointment with the party’s approach to housing. They highlighted the importance of bipartisan support for housing initiatives and called on MPs to prioritize the needs of their constituents above political considerations.

Overall, the situation underscores the challenges of balancing partisan priorities with the responsibility to advocate for community interests. As the debate over the Housing Accelerator Fund continues, stakeholders are hopeful that a resolution can be reached to ensure that cities receive the support they need to address housing issues effectively.