Housing is a federal responsibility, Poilievre says

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre fired back at Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's assertion that housing is not a primary federal responsibility, laying the blame for the housing crisis squarely at the Liberal government's feet.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre fired back at Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's assertion that housing is not a primary federal responsibility, laying the blame for the housing crisis squarely at the Liberal government's feet.

At an announcement in Hamilton, Ont., on Monday, Trudeau said that housing is not a "primary federal responsibility," but something the federal government "can and must help with."

"That's funny because eight years ago he promised he was going to lower housing costs," said Poilievre, at a press conference in Ottawa on Tuesday.

"No wonder he wants to wash his hands of his horrendous and unprecedented record."

He pointed out that the federal government is responsible for policies that affect housing, like immigration, infrastructure and taxes, and certain institutions, like the federal Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.

"All these things are federal, yet the federal prime minister claims he has nothing to do with it whatsoever," he said.

Poilievre offered some of a Conservative government's plan to help solve the housing crisis, saying he would require cities to give out more building permits, require approved transit stations be surrounded by high-density housing and sell off federal buildings and land to build housing.