Angry Mortgage Special Guest Ben Woodfinden | EP. 156
Jan 13, 2026
In this engaging discussion, Ben Woodfinden, a senior advisor at MBP Intelligence with a rich background in federal housing policy, tackles the housing crisis in Canada. He reveals how municipal fees contribute to skyrocketing home prices, making it hard for young Canadians to buy homes. Ben also highlights the struggle between federal and municipal policies, the demand-supply mismatch exacerbated by immigration, and the generational divide in homeownership opportunities. The conversation dives into the anger surrounding these issues and explores the potential paths forward.
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Federal Money Alone Won't Fix Housing
- Ben Woodfinden argues federal housing agencies ignore the real bottlenecks: municipal and provincial rules that stop building.
- He says money alone (federal grants) won't fix housing without using sticks and removing local barriers.
Cut Development Fees To Boost Supply
- Reduce development charges and municipal fees to lower new-home costs and boost building supply.
- Ben says cutting those levies is the clearest, fastest way to make homes more affordable.
Market Built Profitable Boxes, Not Family Homes
- Developers build the most profitable product, which in recent years meant tiny condos and investment units.
- That left a shortage of family-sized homes people actually want to live in, not just invest in.