The he urban agenda is back on the main stage!” Liberal housing critic Adam Vaughan proclaimed to cheering supporters at his re-election party in Toronto’s Spadina-Fort York riding, launching into a speech in which he began by thanking residents of a local public housing project “where this campaign starts.”
In the wake of his party’s decisive majority victory, affordable housing issues are set to play a big role in Prime Minister-designate Justin Trudeau’s pledged $20-billion, decade-long social infrastructure program, the former Toronto city councillor said in an interview the day after the election.
“I ran federally to get housing built in particular,” he said, “and I’m looking forward to making sure that happens.”
Vaughan, a 54-year-old retired TV journalist, dodged questions about whether he’s been tapped for a post in cabinet (to be announced Nov. 4), or whether any discussions are afoot to re-create a position akin to the Minister of State for Urban Affairs that existed until 1979 under the previous Trudeau government.