Yes, it really is. Right? Think about that for a moment, Madam Speaker. There was resistance the entire time that they had been in office to eliminating a tax, which we believed, if we eliminated that tax—because Progressive Conservative believe that. We believe that if you eliminate taxes, you help unleash the economy. And do you know what that brings in? That brings in more revenue so you can support the programs that are vital to the people of the province of Ontario.

But think about how important it was, that acknowledgement. I give Minister Fraser credit. Even if the rest of the federal government is not on side, I give him credit for recognizing that by reducing taxes in this instance, we could see more housing starts across the province of Ontario—purpose-built rental housing. And that is a huge acknowledgement.

Again, I will say very vocally and in a very public fashion that that same spirit of tax-cutting, I think, would benefit the entire country if we looked, for instance, at the carbon tax and some of the other taxes that are standing in the way of us really tackling this housing crisis not only across Ontario, but across the country. I am very heartened to see that in other parts of Canada, they are starting to follow some of the things that we have done.

We’re starting to hear it more often, building houses around transit. We call it transit-oriented communities, but we’re starting to hear about it more and more often, that other jurisdictions are doing that. We’re hearing about British Columbia, how they have now set housing targets for their larger communities. Of course, we have done that, and that’s something that we have championed for a long time, but there’s no point in setting a housing target if you don’t give your communities the opportunity to succeed. So that is a very real part of what this is.

Now, on top of that, you will recall we brought in the Building Faster Fund. The Building Faster Fund is another tool that is put on the table for our municipal partners who not only meet their housing targets, but if you exceed the housing targets—and we want everybody to participate. There should be no community across the province of Ontario that isn’t willing to participate—and frankly, Madam Speaker, they are willing to participate. They are willing to participate. We’re hearing this from our partners across the province who are reaching out to me, each and every day, saying, “We want a housing target. We want to be able to participate and help provide housing for the people in our community.” I’m hearing from a lot of communities that are saying, “Look, we’re bringing jobs and economic development into our community for the first time.” Lower energy prices and the work that the Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade is doing have helped unleash the economy, and people want to participate.

For the first time, we’re seeing people staying in communities that they would have otherwise left. I look at southwestern Ontario and the extraordinary work that our farmers are doing, the greenhouse growers in that community. They need housing to support what is an incredibly important part of our economy. The tourism industry, responsible for billions of dollars of economic activity—all very important and part of the reason why people want to come to the province of Ontario.

So at its heart, Madam Speaker, this is another step in the way of eliminating obstacles to building more homes across the province of Ontario. It’s not the final step; let me be very, very clear on that. It is not the final step, just like none of the other bills that we’ve presented have been the final step. It is another step. There will be more to come.

But I can tell you this, Madam Speaker, that unlike the opposition, who were in government for 15 years, we will not let the people of the province of Ontario down. We will meet our goals, we will build 1.5 million homes and we will ensure that the next generations of Ontarians, those who are living in their parents’ basements right now, have the opportunity to realize their Ontario and Canadian dream, like so many generations did before.

With that, I will yield the floor to the associate minister.

In fact, what we’re doing is highlighting for the people of the province of Ontario that this government is focused on their priorities. Housing is a priority not just for Progressive Conservative voters, but it’s a priority for all Ontarians. Regardless of what side of the House you come on, you should be focused on that.

Mr. Speaker, we know that the NDP and the Liberals have voted against every single measure that we have put on the table to help unleash the housing sector in the province of Ontario. In fact, it has literally taken us five years to undo the damage that was done by the Liberals, supported by the NDP. And it’s going to take us still even more, because we’re going to be bringing even more bills forward to help ensure that we can get homes built in communities across Ontario, who are calling us and saying that they want to participate.

I don’t know why the NDP are against—well, I do know why the NDP are against building homes, because it’s the same thing: They want people to be dependent on government. We want people to be able to flourish on their own with the support of the government when they need it. That’s the difference between us and them.

But here, it comes down to one thing: Over and over and over and again, tax, spend, doom and gloom. What we’re going to focus on is building Ontario stronger than it was before. We’re going to be working with those businesses that want to invest here, the people around this country who are looking at Ontario and saying, “We need you to continue to prosper,” because it’s not only for the people of the province of Ontario; it is good for all of Canada when Ontario prospers.

We will not be deterred in our mission to build more homes, to get kids out of their parents’ basements so they can have all the same benefits that we have had. Only the NDP want to keep them in the basements, and of course the Liberals will help them do it.

I was just in Ottawa, actually, last Thursday, speaking with Mayor Sutcliffe, and he is every bit as excited as we are to help build more homes in his community because he understands how important it is. Now, the one thing he did say to me is that federal government policies are hurting his city. There’s not a return-to-work in a lot of instances, so it’s really hurting the people of downtown Ottawa. So we’re going to do our part to ensure that Ottawa prospers, that Ottawa grows. We have incredible members—the member for Nepean and the member for Carleton—who are helping every single day.

Despite the fact the member opposite does nothing to help us, we’re building long-term care homes, we’re building transit, we’re building transportation, we’re making incredible investments in Ottawa to help the city grow, Mr. Speaker. I hope he’ll get on board and help us do the same.