Standing on a downtown Calgary corner, Liberal Leader Kevin Taft unveiled what he called six steps to tackle homelessness in the province.
Taft and deputy leader Dave Taylor proposed a policy that focuses on preventing homelessness in the first place, including a two-year rent cap.
Liberal Leader Kevin Taft, left, and Dave Taylor, right, release the party's homelessness platform.
(CBC)
"The landlord couldn't put your rent up by any more than 10 per cent a year for two years. And then we get rid of the program," explained Taylor, who is running to win a second term in Calgary-Currie.
"Because over the long term, rent control does skew the market just like over the long term, rent supplement programs that we crutch on too heavily skew the market."
Last year, the Conservative government rejected a recommendation by an affordable housing task force to introduce rent control to stem skyrocketing housing costs.
Taft said the Tory approach of opening more homeless shelters does not address the problem.
The Liberals' homelessness platform was launched in front of the Calgary Urban Project Society, a non-profit community health centre. Standing at a podium erected in the middle of the sidewalk, the Liberals also proposed:
- A director of housing and human services to co-ordinate efforts in towns and cities across Alberta.
- An early intervention program to prevent at-risk children from becoming homeless.
- Better outreach services for homeless people.
Taylor didn't specify what the plan would cost taxpayers.
This woman stopped at the Liberals' news conference and said nothing has been done to fix homelessness in Calgary.
(CBC)
"Because the question that we should ask is how much is that going to save," he said.
"At about the seven- or eight-year mark you start to reach a break-even point and cost-recovery point. And in fact, it costs us far more not to do this as a government, as a province, as a society than it will cost us to implement this plan."
A few passersby stopped and told the two politicians they were glad attention was being paid to the homeless issue because they felt nothing has been done to alleviate it.
About 3,400 people in Calgary and 2,600 in Edmonton are estimated to be homeless. The Calgary Committee to End Homelessness projects there could be as many as 15,000 people without homes in that city alone by 2018.
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Riding Profiles
More Alberta Votes Headlines »
- It's 'Ed's Empire' after Alberta election sweep
- Political observers in Alberta are calling it remarkable and opposition politicians are wondering what hit them after Ed Stelmach guided his Conservative party Monday to one of its biggest majorities ever.
- Low voter turnout in Alberta election being questioned
- As Premier Ed Stelmach and Alberta Conservatives savour their sweeping election victory, some people are raising a nagging concern: why so few people bothered to vote.
- Albertans elect historic 11th straight Tory government
- Voters in Alberta stuck with tried-and-true blue, giving the Progressive Conservative party an unprecedented 11th consecutive majority government in Monday's provincial election.
- Political tide turns in Edmonton
- Alberta Progressive Conservative Leader Ed Stelmach has proven true to his word, putting the "Ed" back in Edmonton.
- Conservatives' Calgary fortress resists change
- The Progressive Conservatives' fortress in Calgary stood strong as the party took 18 of the city's 23 ridings Monday night.
