OTTAWA — NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is announcing a plan in Toronto today to address student housing shortages.
The party is calling on the federal government to allocate student permits to post-secondary institutions that demonstrate they have a “credible” and “affordable” housing plan.
The proposal comes as the number of international students enrolled in Canada skyrockets, putting more pressure on housing shortages.
Immigration Minister Marc Miller said in a recent interview with The Canadian Press that the federal government is reconsidering international student flows, particularly since some students have been victims of fraud.
Singh is also calling on the federal government to establish a tri-funding model to get more student housing built, which would see the federal government, provinces and territories and institutions contributing money in equal parts.
Singh says Ottawa should also incentivize partnerships between businesses, non-profits and post-secondary institutions that would help convert empty office spaces for residential use, including for dormitory-style student housing.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 17, 2023.
The Canadian Press
