Canada can’t afford to waste any more time on housing affordability

Canadians expect governments to make smart investments, reduce administrative and regulatory burdens, and get units built in a manner that won’t trump quality and quantity.
Quebec mayors dismayed with Poilievre’s accusations of incompetence, but pollsters say Conservative leader ‘doesn’t have much to lose’ by going on attack

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre ‘is looking at people to blame for problems that exist in the big cities,’ but the challenge is how to be relevant in Quebec, said pollster Greg Lyle.
Revamped design catalogue aims to grow more than just Canada’s affordable housing stock, says Minister Fraser

The housing design catalogue is a welcome ‘blast from the past,’ but the way in which new homes are built doesn’t have to be, says CHRA’s Ray Sullivan.
Gun control and affordability legislation provides much-needed ‘arrow in the quiver’ for Liberals going into 2024, say political strategists

Bills that received royal assent on Dec. 15 as the House wrapped up its work for 2023 include Bill C-21, the Liberals’ gun control legislation; and Bill C-56, the Affordable Housing and Groceries Act.
Union urges public sector pension fund not to pursue rent increases, mass evictions at Toronto apartment buildings

The Public Sector Pension Investment Board and Starlight Investments are moving to evict up to 100 tenants who have been withholding payments in protest against proposed rent increases.
Greater investment needed in municipal infrastructure to accommodate housing demand, says FCM

A local infrastructure investment of about $600-billion will be needed to handle construction of 5.8 million housing units by 2030, according to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.
Tenants describe ‘dramatic erosion’ of existing affordable housing, call on feds to take action

A House Human Resources Committee report called for a fund to help non-profits acquire affordable housing. The Nov. 21 fiscal update did not include such a fund, but advocates call for one to be created in the next federal budget.
Fixing Canada’s problems will remain an uphill struggle until voters start holding provinces accountable

The provinces have been unwilling to step in and use their authority over municipalities to fix the housing problem, and now they’re worried about being shown up by the federal minister.
‘Everything is not going right for them’: feds’ confusing messaging on pause on home heating oil carbon pricing puts them ‘on the defensive,’ says Nanos

It could be difficult for the Liberal Party to outflank the Conservatives on affordability issues and to recover in the polls, says president and Innovative Research Group founder Greg Lyle.
Don’t let the housing crisis fan flames of xenophobia

We must hold our governments accountable for their role in the housing crisis instead of laying the blame at the feet of hard-working new Canadians.