For a long time it looked like the 2025 election was going to mostly be about housing, and of course I understand why that’s changed, but we do still need to build a shitload of housing, and any political party that wants to run the country still ought to have a serious housing plan. - ThreadSky

draglikepull.bsky.social • 7 days ago

For a long time it looked like the 2025 election was going to mostly be about housing, and of course I understand why that’s changed, but we do still need to build a shitload of housing, and any political party that wants to run the country still ought to have a serious housing plan.

Comments

dsm721.bsky.social•7 days ago

I think people need to understand that political will to address housing prices doesn't actually exist, and it is against every party's best interests to actually address the issue. Start there, cause everything is just words until people understand that.

draglikepull.bsky.social•7 days ago

I don't think it's that straight forward. Halifax passed a good housing plan last year. Edmonton has better housing policy than a lot of cities. Quebec builds way more apartments than other provinces do. There are vested interests everywhere, but that doesn't mean change is impossible.

dsm721.bsky.social•7 days ago

That's municipal politics. The point was about the federal election. Make no mistake, federal leaders are aware that voting demographics are almost exclusively people whose net worth is entirely tied to the value of their home. The backlash from actually lowering housing prices would be biblical.

draglikepull.bsky.social•7 days ago

That's also true (probably even more true) of municipal politics.

dsm721.bsky.social•7 days ago

The effect is there but I don't think the consequences are. I doubt most people tie those things to municipal politics in their minds.

cdesche.bsky.social•7 days ago

Housing is provincial....
Just saying.

67sound.bsky.social•7 days ago

The honest truth is that housing policy is overwhelmingly a provincial/local matter. It’s principally about zoning reform. Parking minimums, setbacks, multi family dwellings, etc etc.

Feds have some impact on demand through immigration but very little on supply.

draglikepull.bsky.social•7 days ago

True to a large degree, but feds are far from powerless, and Chretien effectively ending public housing is a big reason things have gotten so bad.

faredge.bsky.social•7 days ago

Reporting from the city council really makes it seem like they are planning on federal support ending on the assumption that CPC wins. The city took some good steps to get that accelerator money, but movement conservatives got elected and are prepping the way.

faredge.bsky.social•7 days ago

*our city council

67sound.bsky.social•7 days ago

I’d say it’s a contributing factor but zoning and NIMBY local laws are a much bigger reason. Lots of places, even in the US, do a much better job even without public housing.

fourthlinemagic.bsky.social•7 days ago

The biggest single impact that could be made for housing availability is a high speed rail line that gives reasonable commuter access to major cities from what is now 2-3hrs away.

draglikepull.bsky.social•7 days ago

High speed rail is great but it isn't going to get housing built.

fourthlinemagic.bsky.social•7 days ago

No. It's going to make more housing viable for people who work in major cities which should balance to some extent the cost difference seen between city areas and rural areas. 🤷

daveheikkila.bsky.social•7 days ago

I mean, the feds could have an impact on supply by investing in social housing, like they used to…

daveheikkila.bsky.social•7 days ago

Also the fact that they regulate mortgage lengths and CMHC insurance requirements, plus the fact that they’ve made hosting the only financial instrument that’s tax exempt means immigration isn’t the only demand lever they can pull

hockeyanalysis.com•7 days ago

They could do the same arm twisting they do with health care, dental care, and affordable day care by provide funding to provinces who invest in new social/affordable housing.

thrubeniuk.bsky.social•7 days ago

While true, the Feds can definitely provide incentives for municipal and provincial governments to change.

The Liberals Housing Fund requirements have 100% pushed Winnipeg to change zoning rules, improve transit, and prioritize some infill.

smokecityfc.bsky.social•7 days ago

They need to focus on how they are not only going to fund it but how they will work with all levels of government to address the problem. Housing is largely a municipal issue which means that level of government needs to be directly involved in any solution to a problem they largely created.

crookswood.bsky.social•7 days ago

We also need the change the way we build houses. So many unnecessary things in houses now (,stone counters, expensive fixtures, crazy roofs) the government should hold a contest to design like 3-5 "Canadian houses" that can be built cheaply, en masse

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