As part of its comprehensive coverage of the federal election, the Review invited each of the Flamborough-Glanbrook candidates to weigh in on a particular issue. This is the first in a three-part question-and-answer with your local candidates. Their responses are featured in alphabetical order.

HOUSING: The average price of homes in Flamborough is a whopping $818,000, while the average home price in Glanbrook, Binbrook and Mount Hope is $576,879 — roughly 14 per cent higher than the national average. Home ownership is out of reach for many and some first-time buyers are priced out of this riding entirely. What strategies would you support to make housing more affordable for Canadians?

ALLISON CILLIS • NDP

This issue has come up regularly at doorsteps across our riding. We know that for young people in particular, owning their own home feels more and more out of reach. Too many young people are unable to stay in the communities that make up Flamborough-Glanbrook because of the high cost of housing.

The NDP will reintroduce 30-year terms to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation-insured mortgages on entry-level homes for first-time buyers. We’ll also give people a hand with closing costs by doubling the homebuyer’s tax credit to $1,500. Finally, we’ll create a foreign buyers’ tax to crack down on the speculation that is driving home prices out of reach for young people. We also need to take urgent action now to build affordable places to live in communities across the country. That’s why we have a plan to build 500,000 affordable homes in the next 10 years.

JANET ERRYGERS • GREEN PARTY

This is an issue that I am very familiar with, having lived in Flamborough my entire life and being recently priced out as a homebuyer. My husband and I both have good jobs and we’re still unable to afford to live where we grew up.

The average home price in this riding is far out of reach for young families and other unestablished people; pricing people out is not good for our economy or the community.

The Green party will appoint a minister of housing to strengthen the National Housing Strategy, to meet each province’s needs for affordable housing. This recognizes that housing is provincial jurisdiction. The target would be 25,000 new and 15,000 rehabilitated units annually for the next 10 years. We will also provide financing to non-profit housing organizations and co-operatives to build and restore quality, energy-efficient housing for seniors, people with special needs and low-income families.

JENNIFER STEBBING • LIBERAL

Over the past four years, the Liberal government has taken a number of significant steps to ensure all Canadians have a safe place to call home. We launched Canada’s first-ever National Housing Strategy, a 10-year plan that will help more than 600,000 Canadians find safe and affordable places to live; funded the construction of nearly 140,000 more housing units to be built by 2028; created the new Canada Housing Benefit to help 300,000 Canadians with the high costs of rent; launched the First-Time Homebuyers Incentive, which will save first-time homebuyers hundreds of dollars each month on their mortgage payments.

The Liberal party will move forward with the new First-Time Home Buyer Incentive, which gives people up to 10 per cent off the purchase price of their first home. We will also increase the qualifying value to nearly $800,000 in the places where houses cost more.

DAVID SWEET • CONSERVATIVE

I believe every Canadian should have the reasonable opportunity to own their own home. To support first-time homebuyers, Canada’s Conservatives will fix the mortgage stress test to make sure that they aren’t prevented from accessing a mortgage. We will also increase amortization periods on insured mortgages for first-time homebuyers to 30 years, in order to lower their monthly payments and make breaking into the housing market easier.

To address the issue of skyrocketing home prices, we will also launch an inquiry into money laundering in the real estate sector and work with our industry partners to root out corrupt practices that inflate housing prices, while also making surplus federal real estate available for development to increase the supply of housing. These are all policies that are going to help first-time buyers get into the market here in Waterdown in particular. These measures will help make housing more affordable for all.

DAVID TILDEN • PEOPLE’S PARTY OF CANADA

Being able to purchase your own home is one of the best investments Canadians can make for their financial future. Increased home value has helped many families finance larger projects or help them secure their retirements. First-time homebuyers are looking forward to having a place of their own and enjoy a solid investment as well.

The People’s Party of Canada plan is to lessen the financial burden of all Canadians. Our plan is to lower taxes, stop deficits and increase our economy. More money, a better economy with better jobs.

First-time homebuyers would benefit under a People’s Party of Canada government and finally have the financial freedom to pursue home ownership while enjoying an unprecedented quality of life unattainable under the previous governing parties.

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