Pay attention — politics and home ownership go ‘hand-in-hand'

For many Canadians their homes are their most important possessions, their biggest asset — their castles — to borrow from the cliché.
And that makes it only natural that government should think of us, at least to some degree, when it formulates policies that affect, regulate or benefit home ownership.
And what better time is there than the middle of an election campaign to take a look at what the political parties want to offer homeowners?
Brian Ledoux, president of the Kamloops and District Real Estate Association, said people need to pay attention to government and what it does and how those measures and changes affect their ability to purchase, keep and maintain their homes.
Ledoux said citizens should ask candidates questions about policies affecting home ownership."It's important everybody pays attention to what the government does and how it affects them. I do think they pay attention. The HST came across and people were watching."Politics and home ownership should go hand in hand. It should be top of mind for politicians to be talking about."Here's a look at each party's home ownership platform highlights and candidate perspectives, listed in the order they were reached by The Daily News.Cathy McLeod, ConservativeThe Conservatives have announced an extension to the EcoEnergy home retrofit grant, which provides up to $5,000 to people to make their homes more energy efficient.Homes must have an energy audit done first, which identifies worthwhile improvements. After the work is completed, the government issues rebates.The more popular renovation tax credit will not return, McLeod said, as it was a very expensive program created when the economy needed a kick start."The focus on home renovation, we felt, is more appropriately the focus of the eco-energy program," she said.
The Conservatives will continue to support a first-time homebuyer tax credit worth $750.
"Our philosophy is to leave money in people's pockets — to provide as much tax relief as possible — and let people make their own housing choices."
McLeod also said the federal government has worked in partnership with provincial governments to improve low-income housing options, particularly for seniors.
Donovan Cavers, Green Party
The Green Party wants to create a two-cent per kilowatt-hour subsidy for those who generate more electricity than they need and return power to the grid.
The Greens also support environmentally based retrofit programs based on energy audits.
Cavers said his party wants to introduce legislation that would require new construction to be pre-wired for solar panels and create tax credits for the use of green building techniques and materials.
Michael Crawford, NDP
The NDP believes Canada needs a national housing strategy.
"We are the only major G8 country without a national plan for housing," he said. "We see ordinary Canadians just struggling with the cost of housing. Those kind of broad discussions are important as a nation, in order to make sure everyone has (housing)."
He said the NDP is disappointed the Conservatives will not make its EcoEnergy program permanent, saying the program stops once the money runs out.
"It is extremely popular, and the money is used up to quickly. Concerns for the environment won't end when $200 million gets spent. We think it is something that will stimulate the economy, return funds to the government (in taxation) and be good for the environment."
The NDP wants to create funding to help people renovate their homes so they can take in and care for elderly relatives.
"Many people find it difficult to find care for senior family members. The program will allow people to renovate their homes by adding rooms or building suites. It will keep seniors more independent and out of more expensive assisted living."
The NDP also supports the involvement of government in guaranteeing low-down payment mortgages for entry-level buyers.
"We know when the Conservatives raised the minimum required for deposit, it shut a lot of people out of the market. We know the CMHC backstops an awful lot of money for private banks in the country. We think it's the right thing to do to support young people getting into the market."
Murray Todd, Liberal
The federal Liberals also see a need for a national housing strategy, said Todd.
"Affordable housing means low- and medium-income housing, and rental housing. People can live in affordable and solid housing and save for a down payment. It would be a way for people to get an entry in to the housing market."
The Liberals also propose the creation of a refundable eco-tax credit, which would allow homeowners to deduct up to $13,500 in green renovations from their taxes. The Liberal program would work much like the current government program, but offers more money to homeowners.
Murray said the Liberals also oppose increasing lengths of mortgage amortizations, or measures allowing high-risk, low down payment mortgages.
Chris Kempling, The Christian Heritage Party

The CHP would fund  co-operative and social housing programs for low-income families, Kempling said.

The party also proposes amending national legislation to allow young people a better chance to enter the housing market. The CHP plan would allow young people to build small "starter" homes that could be expanded into a larger home later, as their financial situations improve.
rkoopmans@kamloopsnews.ca
Source http://www.kamloopsnews.ca/