Hon. Rodger Cuzner: My question is for the Government Representative in the Senate. It is about the Housing Accelerator Fund.

With the demand for housing that exists across the country, the vast majority of leaders who have accessed this fund or benefited from it have reacted with enthusiasm and excitement. It seems to be reaching communities from coast to coast to coast, big cities — I think the investments in Montreal are obviously impressive — but smaller jurisdictions and First Nations as well. We’re hearing this consistently from mayors across this country.

Can the Government Representative provide the chamber with some actual data on the number of communities involved nationally, the amount of money being leveraged, the number of homes built and the number under construction? Could you share with us the pertinent performance metrics being driven by this fund?

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you. I don’t have all of the information that you asked because things are at various stages of negotiation and development. As I mentioned in an answer to a previous question, I think it’s 179 such agreements.

You are quite right to underline the enthusiasm with which communities across the country have received it, and indeed, the enthusiasm with which elected members in those communities have also applauded the initiative of this government to work with municipalities to accelerate the building of much-needed housing.

I will certainly make inquiries as to the status of it. It’s a work-in-progress. I have every confidence that the government will continue to work with municipalities as they will with provinces and territories, as they have been, in order to provide the housing that Canadians absolutely need.

Senator Cuzner: Thank you very much. In my home province of Nova Scotia, I understand there were 16 municipalities and First Nations that have accessed the fund. I read a quote recently from Mayor Lennie White from Westville, where he referred to the program as a “game changer” for his community. They received a significant investment, but it’s spread over four years.

Senator Gold, should there be a change in government, can you assure the chamber and those civic leaders who are driving these projects that these game-changing financial investments will continue?

Senator Gold: Just as I am not able to provide guarantees for future funding under the current government, I certainly am not in a position to comment on what a future government, were there to be a change in government, will do except it is not without importance to note that the leader of the Conservative Party has made quite ado about slashing the funding to this and many other programs to help housing.