MAPLE RIDGE, B.C.—Prime Minister Justin Trudeau touted efforts by the Liberal government to help first-time homebuyers put more down on their mortgages during a visit to a region of the country today that is facing a housing squeeze. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, second left, walks with first-time home buyers Marcus Malone, third left, and Bree Firth, fourth left, and MPs Dan Ruimy, left, and Ron McKinnon, right, before a post-budget housing announcement at a townhouse development in Maple Ridge, B.C., on Monday March 25, 2019. During a visit today to Maple Ridge, B.C., Trudeau said the budget contains measures to help first-time buyers by allowing them to withdraw $35,000 from their RRSPs, up from $25,000, to help lower their borrowing costs. “We just can’t treat the symptoms of sky-high housing prices,” he added. As well, Trudeau said Ottawa is helping the Canada Revenue Agency go after tax fraud and money laundering, which have also been blamed for driving up housing prices in British Columbia.

Source: thestar March 25, 2019 19:07 UTC