The federal housing minister has asked Kelowna’s mayor to let residents know about Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s plan to cut a significant housing fund if elected to government.
An Oct. 30 letter to Mayor Tom Dyas from Minster Sean Fraser notes Kelowna has a $31.5 million Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) deal with the federal government.
“By your analysis, you have told us that this funding will lead to an additional 20,680 permits issued for new homes in your community over a 10-year period,” the letter says.
Fraser announced Kelowna’s share of the fund during a visit to the city in October 2023.
Earlier this week, Poilievre called the HAF a “disastrous program that has led to less home building and more local bureaucracies.” He said that he would abolish the program and use the money to fund a plan to scrap the federal sales tax on new homes sold for less than $1 million.
Fraser told the House of Commons on Tuesday that Poilievre’s “caucus colleagues have been "going behind his back” and writing him (Fraser) letters advocating for their communities to receive HAF funding.
The letters reviewed by The Canadian Press were sent between September 2023 and February 2024 were sent by five Conservative MPs including Dan Albas who represents Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola.
Fraser’s letter to Dyas states he is interested in learning more about the impact of the Official Opposition’s plan to cut HAF funding from Kelowna.
"I would also encourage you to take this opportunity to inform members of your community about the impact this cut would have to your plans to build more homes," Fraser writes.
Black Press Media has reached out to Mayor Dyas and MP Albas for comment.
With files from The Canadian Press
