Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has recently issued an apology to a woman in Niagara Falls, Ont., for referring to her home as a “tiny little shack” during a press conference.
Poilievre had intended to illustrate the impact of high housing costs in the area under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s tenure.
Poilievre’s Remarks and Apology
During the press conference, Poilievre shared an example, mentioning that a particular house was priced at $550,000.
However, the home in question is a three-bedroom, two-bathroom, 1.5-story residence on a half-acre lot, currently listed for $539,900.
The tenant of the house, Asha Letourneau,
Who works as a waitress, found Poilievre’s comments embarrassing.
Asserting that while it may not be the grandest house on the street, it certainly isn’t a “shack.”
The house’s listing emphasizes its positive attributes, describing it as a “fantastic north end property” with potential for personal touches, featuring a finished basement and a spacious yard that could accommodate a pool.
After facing criticism for his comments, Poilievre reached out to apologize directly to Letourneau.
In his statement, he clarified that his intention was to highlight the urgent need to make housing affordable for all working-class individuals, such as waitresses, welders, barbers, and factory workers.
Housing Affordability Concerns – Pierre Poilievre
During his remarks, Poilievre drew attention to the stark contrast in housing prices on the American side of the Niagara River.
He highlighted that across the river, prospective buyers could find homes with more features and amenities, all available for nearly half the price of similar properties in Canada.
Critics, including NDP MP Charlie Angus, have chimed in online.
Drawing attention to Poilievre’s privileged living situation in contrast to his remarks about ordinary Canadians’ housing conditions.
Comparative Housing Prices
Many people on Twitter have also pointed out that Letourneau’s home is seemingly built in
The “victory home” or “strawberry box” architectural style popularized after World War II to accommodate returning soldiers.
This style was used to quickly construct houses for factory workers during the war and later for veterans.
And similar homes can still be found across the country.
Ultimately, the incident has sparked conversations about housing affordability and the challenges faced by working-class individuals in the current real estate market.
