Affordable Housing in Canada is Like that Old Joke That Goes......

[HuronZephyr]

You know, the joke that goes, "If the army had wanted you to have it, it would have issued you one."

Except with affordable housing in Canada, it's "If the government had actually wanted you to have affordable housing, it would have made sure you got it."

[Snark]

Originally Posted by HuronZephyr

You know, the joke that goes, "If the army had wanted you to have it, it would have issued you one."

Except with affordable housing in Canada, it's "If the government had actually wanted you to have affordable housing, it would have made sure you got it."

So, the "government" (however that's defined) is intentionally working to deny you affordable housing (however that's defined) much like the military denying soldiers equipment that they don't need?

[HuronZephyr]

Originally Posted by Snark

So, the "government" (however that's defined) is intentionally working to deny you affordable housing (however that's defined) much like the military denying soldiers equipment that they don't need?

It seems to be intentionally working to effectively deny affordable housing to people who need it through its glacial response to the problem, and chronic nibbling around the edges rather than directly addressing it. That is the crux of my argument.

One reason why this is happening is that many politicians are landlords and own one or more rental properties. They want to see home values stay high and continue to increase so they don't get voted out of office by well-off people, and by extension want to see rents remain high so they can fund cushy retirements when they leave office.

We have a housing crisis, and we need a wartime effort to fix it. Governments at all levels aren't doing nearly enough. They don't really want to, anyway.

[jaradthescot]

Your blame towards "the government" would more accurately be placed on "the electorate." People say they want affordable housing but then are routinely up in arms about any policy that will actually make housing more affordable. Sometimes general NIMBYism, sometimes it's due to social concerns, sometimes it's financial. The vast majority of Canadians are homeowners so when they realise 'housing affordability' means that their largest asset will decrease in value, their viewpoint shifts dramatically. "The government" and politicians are beholden to their constituents and a brave politician with a backbone is a rare thing these days.

[Snark]

Originally Posted by HuronZephyr

It seems to be intentionally working to effectively deny affordable housing to people who need it through its glacial response to the problem, and chronic nibbling around the edges rather than directly addressing it. That is the crux of my argument.

One reason why this is happening is that many politicians are landlords and own one or more rental properties. They want to see home values stay high and continue to increase so they don't get voted out of office by well-off people, and by extension want to see rents remain high so they can fund cushy retirements when they leave office.

So, (1) it's a big conspiracy by the elite (regardless of political stripes) against the proletariat?

(2) to address this anyone who wants to get into politics (regardless of at what level) must disinvest themselves of owning anything other than the home(s) they live in, prior to running for office?

Originally Posted by HuronZephyr

We have a housing crisis, and we need a wartime effort to fix it. Governments at all levels aren't doing nearly enough. They don't really want to, anyway.

So, what would you do? Residential land development has traditionally been the purview of the private sector. A 'wartime effort" would imply a massive government capital investment and then perhaps ongoing ownership in real estate.