Mr. Tako Van Popta (Langley—Aldergrove, CPC):
Madam Speaker, Canada's economy needs to improve productivity, and for that we need to grow our workforce, with more highly skilled immigrants and more people with the skills, training and knowledge that employers require. However, here is the problem. People cannot afford to live in some of our economic-generating cities because of out-of-control housing inflation.
When will the government take concrete steps to
curb inflation, increase the housing supply and get Canada back into a leadership position in the G7?
Hon. Sean Fraser (Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Lib.):
Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his enthusiasm for immigration as a strategy to grow the economy. I look forward to tabling my plan with immigration levels for the next few years in Canada sometime next week.
He is right.
We need to manage immigration in an appropriate way so the workers who come here to fill gaps in the labour force to maximize our economic potential have a place to live. With record labour shortages, despite the fact we have more jobs in Canada now than before the pandemic, immigration is going to be an important part of Canada's growth strategy. I look forward to working with our
Minister of Housing to ensure the national housing strategy makes housing more affordable for Canadians, including those who come to Canada.
Ironically enough, the job with one of the biggest shortages is Truck Drivers
@IncredibleCanada why did you remove the link?