The two major party candidates in Timmins for the provincial election answered questions today from a mostly business audience. The Liberals have no candidate registered. The Green Party declined the invitation, and the two other parties were not invited, based on the Elections Ontario Reimbursement of Expenses criteria
The local real estate association asked about the affordability of housing under major cost increases in the city.
PC candidate George Pirie says that’s because the city is the busiest it’s been in 50 years, and housing is still far more affordable than in Toronto.
“The PC government has already built 100,000 new homes,” he stated. “That’s more than any other government in the past 17 years.”
Pirie says the solution is building even more.
New Democrat Gilles Bisson says the planning process must be streamlined, and getting financing made easier, when prospective owners need a down payment.
“So one of the things that we’re talking about is putting in place a type of incentive necessary to be able to assist people to afford their first home and to be able to get into the housing market in itself,” he affirmed.
Bisson added that more non-profit housing is also needed.
