Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre is calling on the House of Commons ethics committee to investigate a joint federal-British Columbia program that would purchase more than 2,200 unsold condominium units and convert them into affordable housing. In a letter dated June 27, 2026, addressed to ethics committee chair and Conservative MP John Brassard, Poilievre described the initiative as a “condo bailout” that benefits developers rather than homebuyers.
Program details and costs
The Canada-British Columbia Partnership on Condo Conversion was announced on June 19, 2026, as part of a 10-year infrastructure development plan. The federal government is expected to cover 10% of the estimated $1.45 billion in costs, while the B.C. government will pay the remaining balance. The Prime Minister’s Office stated the program is “one of the fastest and most efficient ways to increase housing supply” and will use “innovative financing tools” to convert condos in priority growth areas.
Poilievre's criticism
In his letter, Poilievre argued that the plan prevents a necessary price correction in the housing market. “Under the Liberals’ plan, taxpayers would be on the hook to buy more than 2,200 ‘vacant’ units that British Columbians can’t afford or don’t want at their current price,” he wrote. “Far from making housing more affordable, the bailout prevents a price correction from taking place, preserving high prices for developers rather than lowering them for buyers.”
Poilievre also accused Prime Minister Mark Carney of lining the pockets of Liberal insiders. “In his economy, well-connected insiders, power brokers, and corporate lobbyists get all the benefits while sticking Canadians with the losses. The Liberal club shouldn’t benefit from the public’s expense,” he stated.
Government response
Speaking at a news conference in Ottawa on June 25, 2026, Carney defended the plan, saying the idea originated from the B.C. government. “No developer asked for this from me directly,” he told reporters, adding that the announcement and explanation of the program had been poorly handled. Both Carney and federal Housing Minister Gregor Robertson said further details would be released in the coming months.
The program is part of a broader 10-year infrastructure plan that includes more than $5 billion in federal investment in B.C. Poilievre concluded his letter by urging Brassard to “hold an urgent meeting of the ethics committee so it can investigate this bailout.”
