2019 federal election candidates shared their affordable housing plans in Sarnia-Lambton Tuesday.
The Rotary Club of Sarnia hosted an all candidates meeting at the Dante Club for those running in the October 21 election.
Green Party candidate Peter Smith said his party would introduce a minimum liveable income.
"Everybody, regardless of their ability to work, will have a minimum amount of money that will allow them to live, not necessarily comfortably, but reasonably," said Smith. "That gives them the ability to purchase housing or to pay rent into moderate housing."
New Democratic Party candidate Adam Kilner said his party has pledged to build half a million affordable housing units, among other things.
"We're also talking about pay equity in the workplace, we're also talking about a living wage," said Kilner. "At one time we had a minimum wage where you could also afford housing, but if we don't have livable wages, then one can not purchase housing."
Brian Everaert of the People's Party said his party wants to eliminate sending taxpayer money overseas.
"We'll use some of that money to help create a better economy, to keep people out of poverty," said Everaert.
Incumbent Conservative candidate Marilyn Gladu said about 2,500 affordable housing spaces are missing in Sarnia, due to the success of expansions and jobs, and an increasing number of foreign students at Lambton College.
She said about $40 million dollars is needed to maintain existing affordable housing, and then the supply of affordable housing needs to be increased.
"The Conservatives have a housing first program that was helping to eliminate homelessness and get people into affordable housing," said Gladu. "There are people building homes that will allow folks who are in larger seniors homes to move into smaller places, and put thousands of dollars back in the pockets of Canadians so they can afford to move up and get first time home buyers, buying houses."
Liberal candidate Carmen Lemieux said it's one of her signature issues.
"I was an advocate for obtaining affordable housing back in the 90's and early 2000's and was successful with the Ontario Municipal Board, twice, to prevent developers from tearing down homes in the city core. Homes that would have been destroyed to make way for offices and medical facilities," said Lemieux. "This is an issue that's important to me."
She said the national housing strategy needs to be opened up to smaller municipalities.
"That would be one of the issues that would be my prime focus, is getting us access to that national housing strategy fund locally, because I live down the street from a homeless shelter, I walk through our community in the mornings and see people sleeping in gazebos and that doesn't sit well."
Christian Heritage Party candidate Thomas Laird didn't attend Tuesday's meeting.
