Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she's willing to go to court to block the federal government from going straight to municipalities to make deals on housing. The federal government says that approach will only slow down construction.Federal officials and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith clashed again on Friday over steps Ottawa is taking to boost housing construction across the country, as Smith raised the spectre of a legal battle.
This week, Smith introduced what she called a "stay out of my backyard bill" in the Edmonton legislature. The legislation would require provincial oversight of future housing deals between the federal government and municipalities in the province ., Smith said she simply wants to see her province treated in the same way as Quebec, which signed a housing deal with the federal government in October of last year.
Smith said Friday that while Edmonton and Calgary have enjoyed some success under the fund, she has to think of smaller municipalities as well.Canada is facing a persistent housing crisis. The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation estimated last year that Canada will need to build 3.5 million additional homes — above projected construction — to restore affordability to the housing market.
"So we are. Provinces should be careful what they wish for. They want the federal government to fix this housing crisis? We are, we will." Smith was also asked Friday about concerns she expressed about language in the housing plan referring to "climate friendly housing."