P.E.I. government discloses details of properties bought for social housing

P.E.I.'s housing minister finally revealed details Friday about properties the provincial government is buying to use as social housing, but the Opposition says the province still didn't provide enough information to satisfy Island taxpayers.

During question period Friday, Housing Minister Rob Lantz said the Progressive Conservative government has bought 104 existing housing units around P.E.I. since 2021, and plans to close on 100 more in the weeks ahead.

The 104 units are part of 33 properties, and the government paid $25.7 million for them.

Just over half the units are in Charlottetown, and the others are spread around many P.E.I. communities, ranging from Alberton to Souris.

Lantz says the Progressive Conservative government has bought up more than 100 existing housing units, and plans to close on 100 more in the weeks ahead. (Legislative Assembly of P.E.I.)

Despite repeated questions from CBC and the Opposition, Lantz said he wouldn't disclose exact addresses for the properties, or their appraisal prices.

"Most of the properties we buy are virtually brand new," Lantz told CBC news.

"We have a process we go through: they're appraised, there's inspections done where necessary and we have a checklist we go through to evaluate the properties."

Rob Lantz, P.E.I.'s housing minister, says the amount of information he shared about the 104 units is appropriate. (Rick Gibbs/CBC)

Lantz said he wouldn't reveal the building's addresses because he wants to respect people's privacy, and insisted the amount of information his department has shared about these properties is appropriate.

"Unfortunately there's still a certain stigma attached to social housing and people who live there, and we respect their privacy," he said.

Liberal Opposition leader Hal Perry said the information Lantz shared is a step forward, but is still lacking.

Perry has been asking for details on the acquired housing for the past four months.

"I wanted to know about the process in which they purchased these homes, and make sure inspections were done on the houses and that Islanders were getting the best bang for their buck," said Perry.

Liberal Opposition leader Hal Perry says Island taxpayers need to know that the government is getting good value for the properties. (Ken Linton/CBC)

In particular, Perry is concerned that without knowing the appraisal value of the properties, taxpayers don't know if the government is getting value for the purchases.

"Until we see that information, I can only assume they were done," said Perry.

"These are millions of taxpayers' dollars … [and] taxpayers deserve to know how their money is being spent."

Lantz said buying up properties is just one part of the government's strategy to add to the inventory of social housing in P.E.I.

The government is also tendering new builds and using modular technology to try to help solve the province's housing crisis, he said.