If politicians want to solve the housing crisis, make it less political
Canada’s housing crisis is the result of a chronic shortage of homes in the locations where people want and need to live. This is not a new problem, nor is it a particularly complex one.
Yet, every election cycle, we see a wave of policy announcements, promises and campaign slogans that suggest the solution lies in financial incentives or one-off programs.
In reality, the single most impactful step politicians could take is to make housing delivery less political.
The real barrier: Local governance and NIMBYism
At the root of the housing crisis is a governance structure that gives disproportionate influence to a small segment of the population: those who oppose change in their own neighbourhoods. Municipal councils — tasked with approving new housing — are often more responsive to vocal opposition than to long-term planning goals or demographic needs.
Projects that align with an official plan can take years to approve, often facing delays, redesigns and appeals. In practice, this means that even well-intentioned policies at the federal or provincial levels are routinely undermined by municipal processes that are highly susceptible to political pressure and short-term local interests. …[Continue Reading]