The Missing Middle with Mike Moffatt and Cara Stern

Ontario Sucks at Building Homes

Nov 27, 2024

Ontario's housing crisis deepens as the province struggles to build homes despite rapid population growth. Analysts spotlight the lack of family-sized units and the effectiveness of local politicians tackling homelessness. They scrutinize how Ontario’s policies lag behind those in British Columbia and Quebec, highlighting bureaucratic inefficiencies. The discussion emphasizes the need for a comprehensive strategy to address both housing supply and political accountability. The urgency for change is palpable with an impending election on the horizon.

20:48

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Quick takeaways

Ontario's rapid population growth has not been matched by home construction, reflecting a severe systemic housing crisis in the province.

Political inaction from municipal leaders, focusing on superficial measures instead of effective housing policies, exacerbates the ongoing homelessness issue in Ontario.

Deep dives

Ontario's Housing Crisis Conundrum

Ontario is facing a severe housing crisis, particularly concerning the construction of new homes relative to its growing population. Recent data from the last six years shows that, despite record population growth, Ontario has fallen into the bottom half of provinces for home construction per capita. This discrepancy has resulted in a situation where not only are there not enough homes being built, but municipalities are also struggling to address the needs of their populations, highlighting a systemic issue of inadequate housing supply. The lack of coherent policy from the provincial government exacerbates the situation, leading to uncertainty and ineffective strategies in tackling these challenges.

Intro

3min

Ontario's Housing Crisis: A Clashing Reality

7min

Frustrations Over Housing Solutions and Political Inaction

3min

Housing Policy Showdown: BC, Quebec, and Ontario

4min

The Urgency of Addressing Ontario's Housing Crisis

5min

Ontario is by far the province with the biggest population, and is growing fast, but it’s the second worst when it comes to building homes.

In this conversation, journalist Cara Stern and economist Mike Moffatt discuss the severe housing crisis in Ontario, highlighting the province's poor performance in building new homes relative to its population growth. They analyze the types of homes being constructed, the impact of homelessness, and the responses from municipal leaders. The discussion also compares Ontario's housing policies with those of British Columbia and Quebec, emphasizing the wild increase of development charges and zoning regulations. Cara and Mike think a provincial election is imminent and that political accountability is needed. Ontario’s home building record is dismal and the Ford government is ignoring its own housing promises.

Links:

Ontario Communities Falling Behind on Homebuilding

Ontario will build 1.5 million homes, housing minister promises as projections slump

Hotdog meme - we’re all trying to find the guy who did this

Four Pathways To Housing Affordability

Mass Timber Can Get Homes Built Faster

Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern

Produced by Meredith Martin

This podcast is funded by the Neptis Foundation and brought to you by the Smart Prosperity Institute.