All Levels of Government Must Act to Solve Canada's Longstanding Housing Crisis

Municipalities have a responsibility to help solve the housing crisis, but provinces and the federal government may need to override local jurisdictions to accelerate construction.

New federal housing programs will help but likely not make a big difference in the short-term; more significant efforts needed to build the required number of units.

Provinces could claim some municipal authority over land use and zoning to increase housing supply by allowing more densification and greenfield development.

Cities should facilitate more intensive use of existing housing stock through policies like allowing unrelated people to live together.

Housing has been unaffordable for decades, not just recently, but construction has lagged behind other countries; mindset change needed to admit and address the reality.