Under Poilievre and the Conservatives Home Prices Jumped 70% and Rental Market Slashed

During the federal leaders’ debates, Jagmeet Singh claimed Pierre Poilievre only built six homes when he held the housing file. That number comes from a 2015–16 report showing just six non-profit homes were built that year using direct federal funds—all in Quebec. But that’s not the full picture.

The real number of homes built with federal help during Poilievre’s time is 3,742. That includes non-profit housing supported by federal funds, even if built by other groups. The 200,000 number Poilievre cited during debates refers to all housing built in Canada at the time—mostly by private developers with no federal connection.

Under the Harper government, home prices jumped 70%, and 800,000 affordable rentals were sold off. Poilievre also voted against affordable housing measures several times.

Sources:

Did Poilievre only build 6 homes when he was housing minister?https://www.nationalobserver.com/2025/04/18/analysis/did-poilievre-only-build-6-homes-when-he-was-housing-minister

Singh accuses Poilievre of only building six homes in his time as housing minister: https://www.ctvnews.ca/video/2025/04/17/singh-accuses-poilievre-of-only-building-six-homes-in-his-time-as-housing-minister-2/

English-Language Federal Leaders' Debate: https://www.cpac.ca/leaders-debates/episode/english-language-federal-leaders-debate?id=feea0543-1feb-4cfd-bdad-bfb82960f5f6

Toronto Star NEWS: Justin Trudeau claims Pierre Poilievre built just six affordable homes when he was housing minister. Here’s what actually happened: https://www.jennykwanndp.ca/toronto_star_justin_trudeau_claims_pierre_poilievre_built_just_six_affordable_homes_when_he_was_housing_minister_here_s_what_actually_happened

MSL composite house price index in Canada from 2005 to 2023: https://www.statista.com/statistics/198847/consumer-price-index-of-housing-in-canada-since-2001/

Poilievre Calls Pharmacare for All 'Radical,' Said He’ll Reject It if Elected

“No parent should have to stare at an emergency airlift and wonder if they can afford the drugs and medical supplies to keep their child alive.”

That line hit me like a punch in the gut. It comes from a recent CBC interview with Scott MacMillan, a dad in New Brunswick whose 15-month-old daughter almost died in 2022. She was rushed to Halifax in diabetic ketoacidosis — her tiny body shutting down because it couldn’t produce insulin.

Thanks to Canada’s medicare system, the hospital stay, emergency airlift, and specialists were covered. But the insulin and glucose monitors Rosemary now needs to survive every single day? Not covered. Not unless you're lucky enough to have a good job with good benefits. And even then, it’s hit or miss.

This is the gap in our healthcare system that pharmacare is meant to fix.

Canada is the only universal health-care country in the world that doesn’t cover prescription drugs. The new pharmacare law — passed in late 2024 is a step forward. It covers some diabetes medications and birth control, and provinces like Manitoba, B.C., and P.E.I. have already signed on.

But it’s still fragile. It needs more political will to survive — and grow.

Pierre Poilivre and the Conservative Party have been against the pharmacare act all along.

Poilievre voted against the pharmacare bill. Poilievre called it a “radical single-payer drug plan” and said he’ll reject it if elected.

As the CBC feature on Scott McMillan and his daughter Rosemary sums it up best when it comes to the Poilivre and pharamcare:

"We haven't yet seen the full benefit of pharmacare — it's still in its infancy. It needs nurturing to grow into something that can care for us and care for my daughter long after I'm gone.

And yet, its future feels uncertain."

It goes on:

"The Conservative Party voted against the act initially and its leader, Pierre Poilievre, said he would "reject the radical plan for a 'single-payer' drug plan.'" Since the election was called, he said that no one currently receiving benefits, such as dental care, would lose them. Because no pharmacare benefits have been technically issued yet (given that provinces and Ottawa are still working out the details), his wording leaves the door open to ending the program before it even begins."

Anti-Union Lobby Groups are Endorsing Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives

Labour reporter Emma Arkell provides an in-depth look at Pierre Poilievre's past voting record on labor issues and the Conservative's close ties to so-called "open shop" groups with a long history of anti-union lobbying.

Key takeaways:

• Pierre Poilievre has been endorsed by Merit Canada and other “open shop” lobbying groups that have a long record of opposing unions. These groups promote non-union workplaces and have pushed policies that make unionizing harder.

  
  

• Merit and its affiliates have close ties to conservative politicians and have received tens of millions in public funding for training programs, while also lobbying to reduce union influence in construction projects.

  
  

• Despite claiming to support workers, Poilievre has supported anti-union laws in the past, including legislation to weaken union dues and force unions to reveal private financial details, raising concerns about his true stance on labour rights.

You can read the entire article by Arkell here: Anti-Union Lobby Groups are Endorsing Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives.