Earlier, we reported provincial and federal construction, rental and real estate development interests have long lobbied for rent supplements. But, apparently, they're not the only ones. In a comment posted on Public Eye, Canadian Real Estate Association external relations director James Brennan writes "support for rent supplements and shelter allowances form a signifcant part of our industry's position on federal housing policy, and have been included in each of our Pre-Budget Submissions to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance in 2004 and 2005." The following is a complete copy of his comments.

Name: James Brennan
Email Address: jbrennan@crea.ca
URL: http://www.crea.ca
Comments:

Mr. Holman,

Your recent comments on the subject of rental allowances have been drawn to the attention of the Canadian Real Estate Association in Ottawa by one of our British Columbia real estate boards. We appreciate the attention you are giving to this topic in advance of an anticipated debate this spring in your legislature.

Support for rent supplements and shelter allowances form a significant part of our industry's position on federal housing policy, and have been included in each of our Pre-Budget Submissions to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance in 2004 and 2005.

We include our own thoughts on the topic as presented to the Government of Canada in our 2006 Pre-Budget Submission last fall:

"Income subsidies: short-term solution, long-term need: REALTORS would welcome a commitment to the use of income subsidies as a permanent tool of federal policy under the new Canadian Housing Framework, including an analysis of the potential effectiveness of subsidization of mortgage payments for low-income homeowners."

"CREA recommends that the federal government ask CMHC to design the most efficient form of income subsidy that can alleviate housing need."

"CREA recommends that the government incorporate income supplements into the Canadian Housing Framework; and that the government allocate a portion of the annual housing budget for income subsidies."

We were subsequently delighted when Liberal Housing Minister Joe Fontanna announced last year that federal monies could be used for this purpose by the provinces.

Sincerely,

James W. Brennan
Director, External Relations
The Canadian Real Estate Association