Housing industry partners meet with Longueuil mayor

Montreal, April 17, 2023 – The Association de la construction du Québec (ACQ), the Association des professionnels de la construction et de l’habitation du Québec (APCHQ), the Corporation des propriétaires immobiliers du Québec (CORPIQ) and the Urban Development Institute of Quebec (UDI) met with Catherine Fournier, Mayor of Longueuil.

“I commend the steps taken by the partners,” said Catherine Fournier. “Housing affordability is a huge challenge, and the key to addressing it is to rally all stakeholders around a vision and a clear, focused and results-oriented action plan. We hope to have this action plan in place as soon as possible so that we can meet the urgent needs of the population. Longueuil is fully committed.”

The spokespersons for the housing industry partners—Guillaume Houle of the ACQ, David Dinelle of the APCHQ, Marc-André Plante of CORPIQ, and Jean-Marc Fournier of the UDI—said: “Like many cities in Quebec, Longueuil is facing a major housing problem with a vacancy rate of 1%. In response, the city has decided to take action using a comprehensive approach that goes beyond buildings to include people and their living environment. We believe that this is a promising approach to mitigating the crisis.”

Concerted action is needed

As the housing shortage pushes up rental prices and makes it harder to buy a home, the only way to sustainably cool the overheated housing market is to increase supply. The housing industry partners will work with municipal leaders on identifying solutions to further stimulate housing construction and review the many mechanisms that are holding back housing starts.

The partners believe that “improving the supply situation and creating a long-term vision to overcome the crisis requires all players in the industry to roll up their sleeves and work together to find solutions that will increase and accelerate the development of new housing units. The voice and role of municipalities are key to this approach.”

Towards a national housing action plan

With municipalities facing critical housing issues without adequate funding sources, the partners believe that the different levels of government must work together to conduct an objective review of the challenges and issues driving the housing crisis.

The partners agree that it is essential to carry out such a review so that government authorities at all levels can then develop a real action plan that will address the housing shortage throughout Quebec and in which their respective measures are complementary and coherent. With objective findings and such an action plan, government authorities will be able to bring together all relevant social and economic players to meet the housing challenge.

 

 

About the ACQ

The Association de la construction du Québec (ACQ) is the main group promoting and defending the interests of contractors in the Quebec construction industry. Over the years, it has become the largest voluntary multi-sectoral group in the industry. As the sole employer bargaining agent for all employers in the institutional, commercial and industrial sectors, the ACQ represents nearly 18,000 companies that generate more than 60% of the total hours worked and reported in the industry. In addition to playing an active and credible role in industry-wide decision making, the ACQ offers its members a wide range of tools and services through an extensive network of 10 regional associations in 17 cities across Quebec.

For information, contact:

Guillaume Houle | Media Relations

Phone: 514-354-8249, extension 2173

Cell: 514-607-7210

Email: houleg@acq.org

 

 

About the APCHQ

Founded in 1961, the APCHQ is a private, non-profit organization whose mission is to promote and develop the expertise of its 20,000 member companies in 13 regional associations. Through its technical, legal, occupational health and safety, labour relations and training services, as well as its government and public affairs activities, the APCHQ helps its members develop their skills and thrive in a highly competitive environment. In addition, the APCHQ has the mandate to negotiate on behalf of 16,000 employers in the housing industry for the renewal of collective agreements in the construction industry. Since 2018, the APCHQ has helped thousands of consumers find a contractor that meets their needs through trouverunentrepreneur.com, the largest directory of construction and renovation contractors in Quebec.

For information, contact:

Émilie Hermitte

Communications and Public Relations Advisor

Cell: 514-237-7096

Email: emilie.hermitte@apchq.com

 

 

About CORPIQ

CORPIQ is a non-profit organization that brings together 30,000 landlords and property managers who own nearly 500,000 rental units and condos. It is the largest association providing services to landlords and has been defending their interests for over 40 years. CORPIQ serves all regions of Quebec from four offices with a total of 70 employees. Quebec landlords, seven out of 10 of whom own a duplex or triplex, provide housing for 1.4 million tenant households. They are an essential link in Quebec’s housing ecosystem and social fabric, often acting as first responders to increasingly serious social problems.

For information, contact:

Marc-André Plante

Director, Public Affairs and Government Relations

Phone: 514-249-1691

Email: maplante@corpiq.com

 

 

 

About the UDI

Founded in 1987, the Urban development institute of Quebec (UDI) is an independent, non-profit organization and the leading representative of the commercial real estate industry in Quebec. The UDI develops content related to real estate and the urban landscape. It acts primarily as a partner to industry members, public authorities and all stakeholders in the commercial real estate ecosystem.

For information, contact:

Emmanuella Tchanga

Marketing and Communications Manager

Phone: 514-866-3625, extension 4

Cell: 514-291-6093

Email: etchanga@idu.quebec