It’s as if the government had failed to understand that housing—like any other product or service in the economy—does not get produced without capital. This budget confirmed that lack of understanding.
Ford has reaffirmed his NIMBY credentials by shutting down a proposal that would have allowed gentle intensification of neighbourhoods across the province.
Whether under the leadership of a Poilievre federal government or simply when it comes time for a renegotiation with the provinces, conservative leaders at both levels of government need to push back against this misguided policy that is showing early and severe signs of failure.
If we’re going to add one million people to our country every year, let’s build them homes in our core cities. This is the right thing to do for the environment and for this new generation of home buyers and newcomers.
The priority today must be to unblock the restrictions at all levels of government that prevent our private sector from building. That’s it. In many cases, those restrictions come packaged in policies called “green standards” or “sustainable design requirements”, but these all add up to more bureaucracy, more costs, and fewer units of housing getting built.
Rewind 25 years and try to imagine the industries made possible by the modern internet. A similar economic shift is coming, and humanity will stand to greatly benefit if we take full advantage.
If we want to get serious about building an innovative Canadian future we can be proud of, our governments at all levels need to realize that they’re the obstacles, not the solutions.
While the mayoral races in most major Canadian cities are being framed around questions of cost of living and housing affordability, there’s a very different race playing out in Brampton.
For the class of talent that contributes to our most innovative and entrepreneurial companies, they should be given lots of latitude. This type of person already naturally thrives in an environment with less structure and more accountability.
Here’s some advice to Canadian politicians: Please don’t fall into the age-old trap that so many other politicians have before you. Stop referencing Canada’s brilliant historic successes as proof that…
