CityTalk Canada

What will it take to finally end Canada’s housing crisis?

Jul 31, 2025
Murtaza Haider, Executive Director at the Cities Institute, and Carolyn Whitzman, senior housing researcher at the University of Toronto, dive deep into Canada’s pressing housing crisis. They discuss historical roots and the gap between income and soaring housing prices. The conversation touches on obstacles posed by local politics and groups opposing housing development. They propose innovative solutions like upzoning, regulatory reform, and the Housing Accelerator Fund's role in driving municipal changes to ensure affordable housing for all.
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INSIGHT

Canada's Widespread Housing Crisis

  • Canada's housing crisis affects homeowners, renters, and the homeless due to income and housing cost mismatch.
  • Rising anxiety spans mortgage holders and renters facing tenure insecurity and affordability challenges.
INSIGHT

Decades of Underbuilding Crisis

  • Canada has faced a housing crisis for over 50 years because it has not built enough housing.
  • This problem is global, affecting Western economies due to persistent underbuilding of housing supply.
INSIGHT

Housing Commodification via Tax Policy

  • The 1972 capital gains tax exempted principal residences, making homes primary retirement investments.
  • This exemption increased land prices and commodified housing, leading to speculative investment.
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