Bill C-227, An Act to establish a national strategy on housing for young Canadians, would create a new law. The supplied text does not show whether the bill has passed or come into force, so the duties described here are proposed, not confirmed as in force. Its stated goal is to give young Canadians greater access to affordable and secure housing.
The Governor in Council may designate a federal minister to carry out the Act.
That minister must develop a strategy in consultation with representatives of provincial and territorial housing governments, housing-service organizations and communities, municipalities, young Canadians, youth-serving organizations and other relevant groups. The minister must hold at least one conference with those people.
The strategy must assess housing affordability and availability for people aged 17 to 34 in Canada, including rental housing, student housing and entry-level home ownership. It must include measures to consider in areas such as affordable rentals, first-home purchases, housing construction, coordination among governments, and reducing barriers.
The strategy must take account of existing federal housing strategies and relevant provincial, territorial and municipal initiatives.
The minister must report the strategy to Parliament within 18 months after the Act comes into force. A report on the strategy’s effectiveness, conclusions and recommendations is due within four years after the first report is tabled in both Houses. Both reports must be published online within 10 days after tabling in both Houses.
Young Canadians aged 17 to 34: The bill would require a strategy about housing access, but it would not itself give you a right to housing, change housing eligibility, or provide a benefit.
Governments, municipalities and housing groups: Their representatives would be consulted during strategy development. The bill does not require them to adopt or deliver the strategy’s measures.
Federal government: The designated minister would have to develop the strategy, hold a conference and prepare the two reports. The bill does not require the government to carry out the strategy’s proposed measures.
The minister must hold a conference and prepare and publish reports, but the bill gives no estimate for those tasks and specifies no funding or staffing levels.
The bill does not itself provide housing funding, set fees or create a tax.
A national assessment could bring information about young people’s access to rentals, student housing and first homes together in one strategy.
Requiring consultation with multiple levels of government, housing groups and young Canadians could help identify barriers and areas where coordination is needed.
Reports to Parliament and online publication would make the strategy and a later assessment publicly available.
The bill requires a strategy and reports, but does not require construction, financial support or other direct action to improve housing access.
It sets no funding, deadlines for carrying out measures, or requirement to act on the minister’s recommendations.
Without definitions or a required method for measuring effectiveness, it may be difficult to judge what counts as affordable housing or whether the strategy worked.