An MHA on the west coast, an area which is also experiencing a housing crunch, says government is sitting on dozens of units which could be made available in a relatively short time. But, he says they have been coming up with excuses for the past few years.

Eddie Joyce, who sits as an independent, says he has been told by the minister that the provincial government has its share of the funding ready but won’t proceed without the federal component. So instead of building 32 units, he says it should go ahead with half now.

Joyce also says Newfoundland and Labrador Housing has another 30 units which are not on the market because they need repairs. Yet, Joyce says government is spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on hotel bills in the Corner Brook area for people who cannot find lodging.

Joyce says recent housing announcements in St. John’s and Gander are well and good, but the minister should have continued on to Corner Brook.