Alberta’s minister of seniors and housing says the province needs to sell off some of its existing affordable homes in order to fund 25,000 new units by 2032, a plan that has drawn criticism.

Josephine Pon proposed a private-public partnership (P3) last week which could see Alberta assess all publicly-owned housing so undesirable assets can be sold to private companies or non-profit groups.

She added that all proceeds would be reinvested into housing programs.

“It is clear, government investment alone cannot keep pace with the growing demand,” Pon claimed in a Nov. 1 news conference.

“I know some people may say we are taking a step to privatization, let me be clear this is not true.”

Alberta officials would not provide any details on the number of units for sale, when they would be listed or how much the government is hoping to collect.

But Pon’s plan is flawed, a local advocate told CTV News Edmonton.

Erick Ambtman, who runs End Poverty Edmonton, said for-profit companies aren’t interested in entering the social housing market, unless they can make money.

“The only way to incentivize private businesses to operate below market housing is to pay the difference. In a lot of ways they are just not incentivized to be in that game,” Ambtman argued.

“There are a lot of families in need, I think we can say this is a crisis.”

Ambtman estimates there are about 10,000 Edmontonians waiting for affordable housing.

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