When Canada’s sleeping giant (in this case, its federal government) finally awoke to a variety of housing crises in 2017, it did so with a 10 year, 40 billion dollar housing strategy. It was gratefully received (though not uncritically) by subordinate governments, the building industry and housing activists.
One of the concerns voiced about the new federal strategy was a funding focus on helping the ‘hard-working’ middle class climb aboard the housing ownership ladder, rather than the population with an equal or greater need for housing support. The federal government has a long history of supporting homeowners. But Canadian municipalities have found themselves struggling with other housing challenges they find just as pressing.
With hopes that the federal government, regardless of which political party wins the national elections this fall, will flesh out its housing strategy with extra support for those even more housing-burdened than the ‘hard-working’ middle class, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities has called upon the federal government to increase funding for several population groups: including the chronically homeless, indigenous peoples, senior citizens and those who cannot afford to purchase housing.
Read more about the ideas from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities:
Election 2019: Housing Affordability — Backgrounder
