2007 PAC Strategy
Various housing initiatives and programs have been put on the national policy agenda during the years of Liberal government. The new minority parliament in Ottawa provides both challenges and opportunities to keep them there. Housing advocates, including CREA, made significant advances with the last minority Parliament. In addition to the new Conservative minority government, there are more than 180 MPs - in effect a "silent majority" - who belong to three opposition parties. Each of those opposition parties has major housing issues in their election or policy platforms.
Canada also has a minority government that will want to win a majority mandate in the next election. To do that, the Conservatives will have to make inroads in urban areas, and housing policy is one way they can do that. For example, the issue of affordable housing is a key concern in major cities including Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver.
Strategically, the Conservative Party will be in a challenging situation because of their minority government status. CREA is recommending REALTORS® not challenge the Conservatives to deliver their platform promises, simply because in this minority position compromises may be required. Rather, our strategy is to recommend REALTORS® are ready to work with the new government on the identified issues.
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