Liberals hide from accountability

 

Liberals shut down debate over Carney condo 'bailout' probe at ethics committee.

On July 7, 2026, a motion at the House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics (ETHI) arose from a government announcement to take ownership of thousands of unsold condos in BC. There were also claims that several condominium developers attended a recent Liberal party fundraiser in Vancouver, paying $1,775 per ticket, which appeared to be insider government access and benefit for a price.

The Liberal MPs of the House Ethics Committee blocked debate with a 5 to 4 vote, limiting transparency on the government's plan to buy unsold BC condominiums from stressed developers. Recent MP floor crossers over to the Liberal Caucus changed the voting membership on all Commons Committees. Now the manipulation of Parliament is under Liberal control.

The partially explained plan would see ‘Build Canada Homes’ and ‘BC Housing’ partner to convert 2,200 unsold condo units into affordable housing. The plan received significant criticism from housing advocates and political commentators who have called it a "bailout" for developers who had speculated on rising prices.

However, a Liberal MP moved a motion to adjourn debate on the issue, arguing that summer is not the best time to tackle it and that committee members should be in their constituencies. They claimed that a more fulsome plan will be released in a few months.

Conservative MP Aaron Gunn called for testimony from Vancouver developer Bob Rennie, Housing Minister Gregor Robertson, and others, noting that Prime Minister Mark Carney's previous role as chairman of Brookfield Asset Management raises questions about conflicts of interest in the condo plan.

Gunn’s motion also called for Duncan Wlodarczak, chair of the Liberal Party of Canada in British Columbia, to testify. Wlodarczak worked for Vision Vancouver, the party Robertson represented while the city's mayor.  Wlodarczak is currently chief of staff to the president of Onni Group, a Vancouver-based real estate developer.

Canadians' trust in government transparency is at stake with the Liberal plan to bail out billionaire condo developers in the fifth-most-unaffordable housing market. This raises serious ethical questions that the public deserves clear answers to.

The prime minister and BC. Premier David Eby has also said that these purchases would be for distressed assets bought at "below market rate," although no details have been made public. Eby also said the city of Vancouver would not be included in the program, which would target the Fraser Valley, Vancouver Island, and the Okanagan.

The condo initiative appears to be is a massive bailout for developers, raising questions about accountability and conflict of interest. The public's confidence in the government's commitment to responsible affordable housing is at risk, and many see the maneuver as a failure of ethical standards.

Conservative MP Gabriel Hardy also noted that on June 3, Brookfield Asset Management, the firm Carney chaired before becoming prime minister, partnered with Concert Properties to invest in eight industrial properties in British Columbia. The $1 billion-deal occurred just a few weeks before the condo conversion program announcement. Hardy pointed out that Concert Properties owns interests in several condo properties in Burnaby, B.C. Consequently, the ETHI Committee should involve the Lobbying Commissioner, for even the appearance of a conflict of interest warrants a proper investigation. Canada is still a land of law and ethical rules and standards.