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Major political parties have not properly addressed Canada’s affordability issues in the campaign, and voters should demand that politicians address issues such as rising living costs, housing shortages, and slowing economic growth. The house says.
According to a Maru Public Opinion poll released on August 19, the biggest problem for Canadians (28%) in the election is that the government “improves the living costs and affordability of themselves and their families.” is.
Dan McTig, Canadian Affordable Energy President and former Liberal Party lawmaker, however, said none of the major parties were addressing the issue of affordability, but rather “skillfully avoided it.” ..
“Everyone tends to have great creative ideas about how to spend money, but few are in a responsible position to realize that living costs have risen dramatically. Supply chain results. No one seems to see him under great pressure, “McTeague told The Epoch Times.
Ian Lee, an associate professor of business at Carleton University, says major political parties are not addressing the issue of generating economic growth to pay rising costs.
“My criticism of this campaign was the silent assumption that all stories, all the focus was on the redistribution of money, all the money came in on its own and the economy grew on its own.” Said in an interview.
“If we’re going to talk about spending and redistribution of money, we have to talk about growing the economy to make money …. we have to ask each leader. [party] Leader: What are you proposing to grow the Canadian economy and create jobs in the future? “
Rising costs
As a result of many years of government focus on “one or two issues led by the political elite,” McTeig said costs in the food, energy, heating and housing sectors have all risen.
He says that even the Conservatives, which traditionally emphasize fiscal prudence, support energy policies that can lead to further increases in costs.
“The Conservatives aren’t aware that these green policies are a mirror image of what they’ve seen here in Ontario with green energy, which triples electricity costs and puts the state’s finances down. I’m free, “he said.
A survey by Angus Reid, published in June, found that Canadians are increasing the cost of their daily lives due to inflation. Respondents said over the past six months, home remodeling improved homes (96%), new home purchases (95%), tank filling (93%), and grocery purchases were more expensive. I am. Pay their household (92%) and rent (56%).
Shortage of national housing
Lee says one of the affordable problems facing Canadians, especially the younger generation, is the lack of housing units that are pushing up housing costs.
According to a Scotiabank survey released in May, Canada’s housing units are well below other G7 countries with an average housing unit per 1,000 inhabitants of 471. To achieve this level of housing supply, Canada will need to build additional housing. According to the survey, 1.8 million homes.
Lee said the main reason for the lack of housing was “in cities, towns and big cities across Canada … with various ordinances restricting the construction of new suburbs and new homes by city councils and mayors concerned about urban sprawl. The rules are passed. ” It will be harmful to the environment.
Urban sprawl, which is the rapid expansion of cities and towns to respond to population growth, is a “negative priority for growth” and to avoid it, local governments are reluctant to add housing. , Leads to a shortage of housing. In turn push up the price.
“I believe there is growing public awareness that the main problem with the housing crisis is … the lack of housing built,” he said.
Both the Liberal Party and the Conservative Party have promised to build more than a million new homes if elected, but haven’t worked hard enough to solve the root cause of housing shortages, Lee said.
“The Government of Canada provides significant financial support to municipalities throughout Canada. They use that support to conditionize, provide municipal financial support such as mass transit, and build more homes. Can be a condition, “he said.
“Similarly, state governments can use leverage against these municipalities that are deliberately trying to limit their housing supply.”
Another complication is that there is no “positive environment” for foreign investors. This reduced business capital investment in Canada. This is necessary to generate economic growth.
“It’s useless for Canada,” he said. “We need to create an environment that encourages countries to invest in Canada, rather than discouraging companies from investing.”
Issues such as bureaucratic formalism and “hostile ideology” targeting specific sectors such as the fossil fuel and pharmaceutical industries have also driven foreign investors and businesses out of Canada, Lee said.
Andrew is a Toronto-based reporter.
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