It is an old game in Canadian politics—blame the other guy. When it comes to solving our nation’s housing crisis, the province points the finger at the federal government, the federal government lobs back saying it’s the province’s bailiwick. The province then says it’s the municipalities that are placing roadblocks in the way of the virtual tsunami of new building that would come if not for municipal red tape and intransigence. Meanwhile, housing remains far out of reach of most as demand far outstrips supply as the politicians fiddle.
Talk is cheap, far cheaper than having to step up to do something about the issue—and so those whom we have entrusted to lead choose to stand still and prevaricate. Instead of rolling up their sleeves and making the tough decisions, they talk tough, or find ways to funnel the commons into their respective political war chests—maybe even their children’s doweries.
There are two main streams of this housing crisis: one tributary is middle class affordability, the other is tackling the homelessness crisis. Together, those two streams are a major threat to our collective wellbeing.
The sight of tent communities nestled in the green spaces of our urban (and even some more rural) communities during the brutal Canadian winter is baffling to the boomer generation. “How did this come to pass?” they ask. Developers will point to government interference in the natural forces of the market-rent controls, red tape and “ridiculous” insistence on the preservation of green spaces, agricultural land and wetlands; populists will point to the influx of immigrants and refugees playing on people’s worst instincts, but in the end, this is just more finger-pointing and deflection.
One thing is certain—the homeless crisis is not a challenge that can be met on the backs of local ratepayers. While municipalities can, and do, build social housing, it is plainly demonstrable that they cannot build sufficient housing for the vulnerable without the heavy lifting power of the upper tiers of government. Property taxes are not a golden goose suitable for that banquet.
It can be argued that the current middle-class muddle will come to resolution through market forces, but that cannot be said when it comes to housing the homeless. Both upper levels of government must stop ragging the puck and start working together as a team to solve this issue—we are currently heading into overtime and the clock is running out. Desperate people do desperate things and crime will inevitably rise unless something is done and done soon.
It is in the interests of society, both ethically and economically. It costs far more to house people in our prisons than to supply them with a decent roof over their heads in social housing. Yes, it will take resources to do so, but it comes down to a question of ‘where is money to be best spent?’ Better to place people where they can begin to rebuild their lives and, in turn, add value to the economy than send them off to “crime college” where they can become more efficient drags on society.
The federal and provincial governments have to stop bickering over who is responsible for dealing with the current housing crisis and set their sights on the ultimate goal laid out in our constitution—that of ensuring peace, order and good government.
