For his announcement Wednesday, New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh was in Pointe-Saint-Charles, near Peel Basin, where a project to build a baseball stadium for the return of a professional team is in the works. boxes.
This project, led by the real estate developer Devimco and the investment company Claridge, which also provides businesses and housing, has been criticized by community organizations, which are demanding a place to accommodate new social housing.
A criticism that the New Democrats fully support.
The housing crisis is hitting hard across the country, but particularly here, in Montreal, where we have people who cannot find affordable housing. It’s impossible for young people and young families to find something. Often they are forced to move
, a dit M. Singh.
We must use these federal lands to work together with non-profit organizations to develop social and affordable housing.
, he continued.
But instead, Justin Trudeau seems to want to prioritize the granting of these lands to a wealthy developer, someone who has ties to the Liberal Party.
, he added in English, referring to the businessman Stephen Bronfman, who owns Claridge and who carries this stadium project, but who is also the head of the financing of the Liberal Party of Canada.
The NDP promises the construction of 500,000 social and affordable housing units in the country in 10 years, which would require the injection of 10 billion dollars, specifies Mr. Singh.
“Promoters can find other grounds for a stadium”
What does it offer as an alternative solution to baseball fans who want a team to return to the metropolis and the associated economic benefits?
We support the idea, I know it’s so popular in Montreal, to have the Expos back here, a professional baseball team. It’s a good idea, we support it
, he said.
But for me the choice is clear […]. I don’t help private groups build a stadium. We must always use federal land to help people, to invest in social and affordable housing. There are other grounds, private groups can find other places to build a stadium
, he argues.
A journalist wanted to know how his training intended to encourage developers to build social housing.
Mr. Singh replied that one of the tools would be a GST exemption when the developer meets all the criteria for affordable housing. On big projects, it makes a big difference
, he assures.
We will also establish partnerships with non-profit organizations, housing cooperatives
, in addition to working with the provinces and territories.
We are ready to do everything possible to combat this housing crisis
, concludes the NDP leader.
