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A Nation Grappling Canada’s housing crisis has reached staggering proportions

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5 months ago

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BY SIMONE J. SMITH

In the bustling streets of Toronto, where skyscrapers scrape the sky and dreams find their footing, a harsh reality looms large: the city’s housing crisis has reached staggering proportions. Across Canada, the echoes of this crisis reverberate, painting a sobering picture of a nation grappling with affordability woes and homelessness struggles.

Look around. Just a few years ago, you wouldn’t see this many people on the streets like that. A series of makeshift shelters, pieced together from cardboard and tattered blankets, line the sidewalks, offering shelter to the city’s homeless. It’s like a whole new neighborhood popping up overnight, and it’s not just the shelters. Think about all the times you come off the highway and see people begging for change.

When I can, I will offer what I have; I feel bad when I see their eyes downcast as they hold up cardboard signs, their desperation palpable even from the confines of my car. It’s heartbreaking. It’s easy to turn a blind eye when it’s not right in front of you, but we can’t ignore it. These are real people, with real struggles. As a newspaper, we have to continue to raise awareness. The more people know, the more we can do to help.

What is truly disturbing are the alarming statistics emanating from Toronto that truly punctuate the urgency of the situation. As we delve into the depths of this crisis, it becomes abundantly clear that understanding these numbers isn’t just a matter of curiosity—it’s a vital step towards crafting solutions and offering hope to those caught in the grip of uncertainty.

The gravity of Canada’s housing crisis, particularly the alarming rise in homelessness, casts a shadow over the nation’s social fabric and moral conscience. With each passing day, more individuals and families find themselves without stable shelter, confronting the harsh reality of life on the streets. Behind these stark statistics lie stories of human struggle, vulnerability, and despair, as people grapple with the fundamental need for a safe and dignified place to call home. The crisis not only undermines the basic human right to housing, but also exacerbates existing inequalities, pushing marginalized communities further to the margins.

This week, I have to share with you some very sobering stats on the state of Canada’s housing crisis, and especially alarming numbers coming out of Toronto after eight years of having Justin Trudeau as our Prime Minister.

As of October 2023, Toronto was sheltering 10,700 people and turning away approximately 275 others on a daily basis. Gord Tanner, the city’s Director of homelessness initiatives shared, “About 40% of the people in shelters are refugee claimants.”

There are a growing number of homeless people turning to ERs for shelter and warmth in Ontario. In Toronto hospitals specifically, those cold-weather ER visits by homeless people skyrocketed by 68%. The study (authored by Dr. Carolyn Snider) examined data that had been collected from hospitals across Ontario, documenting ER visits from the winter of 2018-19 through to last winter, ending March 31st, 2023.

City data shows the number of tents in ravines, parks and under bridges is more than double last spring’s count. To understand why camps have grown, Greg Cook — an outreach worker — says it’s as simple as looking at the numbers. “A rising number of people are losing the roofs over their heads, with 1,056 people entering shelters in February versus the 864 who moved out. An average of 158 people each day that month called to find a bed but were turned away. It’s a similar story month after month.”

In 2023, nearly two million Canadians accessed food banks and one million more Canadians are expected to use a food bank for the first time this year. This staggering demand is playing out at food banks and other food programs across the country. A report from Food Banks Canada found that with the cost-of-living skyrocketing, food bank usage rose to its highest level since the survey started in 1989. Anyone who works in any kind of food-security programming knows that things have gotten astonishingly worse.

What has the Canadian government been doing to handle this depressing situation? Well, the Liberals have promised to repurpose federal lands for housing multiple times, and they have not followed through, or delivered on this promise after nearly a decade. In 2015, the Liberal party promised that: “We will conduct an inventory of all available federal lands and buildings that could be repurposed and make some of these lands available at low cost for affordable housing.”

They also stated in the 2017 Liberal budget, “We are going to be making more federal lands available for the development of affordable housing.” Again, in the 2024 Budget “The federal government is conducting a rapid review of its entire federal lands portfolio to identify more land for housing.” Promises, promises, promises.

Okay, so what if you are not homeless; you work a great job, and make good money; how is life for the so-called average Canadian? According to the  RBC Housing Affordability Report, in Toronto, a household earning a median income needed to spend 84.8% of their income to cover the costs of owning an average home at market price. This metric has “Reached its worst level ever.” Nationally, it now takes 63.5% of income to buy an average priced home compared to 2015 when the same measure was 39.3%.

According to the Canadian Real Estate Association, the benchmark price of a home in Greater Toronto was $1,089,800 in February 2024, compared to $601,800 in October 2015. According to National Bank, it now takes 25 years to save for a down payment in Toronto. RBC reports show that housing affordability is at a historic low. Just 26% can afford a single-family home, down from 40% four years ago.

A new study from Zoocasa shows a major gap in housing affordability compared to the United States. Toronto and Dallas have nearly identical median incomes however when comparing the median home price and maximum affordability, “In Toronto, the gap more than triples that of Dallas. Households earning the median income in Toronto can afford homes costing around $355,892, which is $362,627 less than the median home price.”

Paying rent; life isn’t easy for you either. According to Ratehub.ca, the income required to purchase a home in Toronto rose by $11,100 in 2023, to a total of $218,100. According to Rentseeker.ca, the average two-bedroom asking rent in Toronto was $1,288 in the Fall of 2015, compared to $2,671 today, an increase of 107%. The February Rentals.ca report, showed that the average asking rents for residential properties hit a record high of $2,196 in January. This is an increase of 10% from just this time last year.

Thanks to our government’s inflationary, interest rate hiking policies, mortgage delinquencies are up 50%. The number of delinquencies are even more stark in Ontario and British Columbia, where they are up 135% and 62% respectively.

A new CIBC poll finds that entry to the housing market feels out of reach for the majority (76%) of Canadians who don’t own property.” (CIBC poll, April 11th, 2024).

Over the last ten years, average monthly mortgage payments increased in every city analyzed, with the majority of cities’ mortgage payments increasing by more than $1,000 and four cities increasing by more than $3,000 since 2013.

According to the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation, Canada will have fewer housing starts in 2024 than in the previous year, and housing starts in 2025 – 2026 will still be lower than they were in 2020 – 2021. As a result of this, the CMHC has forecasted that demand will push housing prices “Beyond previous peak levels. This indicates a lack of short-term affordability improvement.”

As the problem deepens, it demands urgent and comprehensive action from policymakers, community leaders, and society at large to address root causes, expand affordable housing options, and provide support services for those in need. Only through concerted efforts and a shared commitment to compassion and social justice can Canada begin to alleviate the burden of homelessness and build a more inclusive and equitable society for all its citizens.

REFERENCES:

https://cpcmedia.nationbuilder.com/r?u=z1MYsohZnacMa0C2pNbQTZ8Br4zmrqZWlIb5NHQdfVAnkAyUtMiS2zvgNvCRKpHsGqKTLIrjhaI3jdeDdfkvlSEPWGu-6_nN_NiG8HjUTJyfmCeOxfTfMGzIUUDLCrwyo9UgIHXB4LBfvP_qbFszs4Rh_4M0cXL2k7jkfofihzWv4Sv7MGjZhAY3q2Tqq0iXN5uJVgg2APu9lkZg3rsquiE3dHszcV6xzv2bFeMPDKorSnQc31mZd7YJmWWfRzEDtA8Oq-bI3E98jc4nWfIM1wbQ661izyVKEd9dBWeFlhwrukuVJ0pQLkjIwFgKd34o&e=5a252b0821f7b129acb52c9e05714e33&utm_source=cpcmedia&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=housingpbojtfeng&n=2&test_email=1

https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/homeownership-feels-out-of-reach-for-76-per-cent-of-canadians-who-don-t-own-property-cibc-poll-891938267.html

https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/mortgage-holders-bc-ontario-missing-payments-q4-equifax-1.7134085

https://rentals.ca/blog/rentals-ca-february-2023-rent-report

https://www.nbc.ca/content/dam/bnc/taux-analyses/analyse-eco/logement/housing-affordability.pdf

https://www.rentseeker.ca/average-rent-prices-canada

https://www.crea.ca/housing-market-stats/mls-home-price-index/hpi-tool/

https://www.ratehub.ca/blog/2023-marks-a-terrible-year-for-home-affordability/

New Rental Data Shows the Average Cost of Rents across Canada

How Much More Affordable is Housing in the US Compared to Canada?

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We, as humans are guaranteed certain things in life: stressors, taxes, bills and death are the first thoughts that pop to mind. It is not uncommon that many people find a hard time dealing with these daily life stressors, and at times will find themselves losing control over their lives. Simone Jennifer Smith’s great passion is using the gifts that have been given to her, to help educate her clients on how to live meaningful lives. The Hear to Help Team consists of powerfully motivated individuals, who like Simone, see that there is a need in this world; a need for real connection. As the founder and Director of Hear 2 Help, Simone leads a team that goes out into the community day to day, servicing families with their educational, legal and mental health needs.Her dedication shows in her Toronto Caribbean newspaper articles, and in her role as a host on the TCN TV Network.

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Community News

Hidden Agendas – Bill C-293: The silent Bill being passed right under our noses

Published

1 day ago

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October 3, 2024

By

BY SIMONE J. SMITH

Greetings everyone.

It is always fascinating, isn’t it? How some things dominate the news, get talked about endlessly on our social media feeds, debated over dinner tables, and dissected in countless articles and op-eds, but what about the things that do not make headlines? What about the decisions that happen quietly, in the background, while we are busy discussing everything else?

This edition, I want to shed light on something that has been happening right under our noses. A bill, being crafted, debated, and—unless we take action—soon to be passed by the Canadian government, without most of us even knowing it exists. By the time it hits the public radar, it might just be too late.

Now, I know some of you may be thinking, “What bill? I haven’t heard about any major legislation.” That is exactly the point. While we are kept busy with all the newsworthy controversies, this bill is being shaped in the shadows.

Why hasn’t this bill gotten the same attention? Why isn’t it making headlines? Is it not important enough, or is there something else at play? What this bill will do is undermine Canadian sovereignty by shifting power to unelected, non-Canadian organizations like the WHO and WEF.

You see, it is always the quiet ones, the bills that fly under the radar, that often carry the biggest consequences. The laws that: reshuffle power dynamics, alter rights, or change the very fabric of our society without any of us having a say. By the time we are aware, the decisions have been made, the ink has dried, and we’re left wondering, “How did this happen?”

So today, as I share the details of this bill, I want you to think critically. Ask yourselves why it has not been brought to our attention sooner. Why has it been kept quiet? Most importantly, what can we do as a community to ensure that we are no longer kept in the dark?

It is a move that willfully hands over control of your food, your privacy, and your rights to globalist agendas. You have likely heard of the hard work Citizengo is doing around the world to stop the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Pandemic Treaty.  A treaty that would have countries sign away their national sovereignty and become servantent states under unelected globalist rule, whenever and however the next “pandemic” is called. If this goes through we will see the World Health Organization’s “One Health Initiative” rolled out in Canada. This has dire consequences and will essentially usher in a technocratic surveillance state under the guise of safety and preparedness.

What if I told you that Canada, thanks to Justin Trudeau’s Liberals and Jagmeet Singh’s New Democratic Party, have already hatched a plan to surrender our national sovereignty to their authoritarian globalist friends. Let me introduce you to Bill C-293, the Pandemic Prevention and Preparedness Act, introduced by Liberal MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith. Currently, the bill is awaiting its 2nd Reading in The Senate, under the very noses of every-single Canadian, and this is news for some of our readers right now.

I only just learned about this Pandemic Treaty Bill myself when the team at CitizenGo reached out to me. Shortly thereafter, LifeSiteNews released their article, and I was truly shocked by what I read. “Included in Bill C-293 are provisions to ‘regulate commercial activities that can contribute to pandemic risk, including industrial animal agriculture,’ produce ‘alternative proteins,’ and ‘enable contact tracing of persons.”

In other words, if Bill C-293 passes, The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), The World Health Organization (WHO), The World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH), and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and other unelected globalist international bodies will have unprecedented control over Canada’s sovereignty.

If this bill is allowed to ascend into Canadian law, the federal government would have to listen to these globalist agencies “guidelines” in regulating our agriculture industry all under the guise of something called “pandemic prevention.”

Guess what else falls under this vague label? Promoting alternative proteins like insects while phasing out traditional meat production. Even more alarming, the bill allows for contact tracing, raising serious privacy concerns and enabling government overreach. How many more digital applications are you going to have to pay for, like ArriveCAN, if you decide to travel abroad, or even throughout Canada?

Here’s how Canadian sovereignty will be lost:

  • Global Regulation of Industrial Agriculture will target meat production and give international bodies influence over what Canadians can produce and consume.
  • Promoting Alternative Proteins through the pushing of lab-grown meats and insect farms designed to devastate local farmers and meat producers.
  • Implementing Contact Tracing to intrude upon every aspect of your life. Without privacy, digital IDs and contact tracing tools grant significant power to the government to control individuals’ behaviour, including where you can go through the usage of mandatory lockdowns and “social distancing” style policies.
  • Ceding Control to Global Institutions were Canada’s pandemic response and industries would be 100% subjected to international oversight, ending our national autonomy as a democratic nation that values individuals’ Human Rights and Freedoms.

The Senate was set to resume its business on September 17th, 2024, but here is the reality: this is not an accident. Certain policies are designed to be kept quiet, tucked away, and only brought to light when there is no turning back. Whether it is the complexity of the bill, or the deliberate silence around it, it is clear—the less we know, the less we can protest.

It is not just this one bill. It is a pattern. While we are being distracted by the flashy stories, we miss the subtler, yet often more impactful, moves happening right beneath the surface. What is the strategy behind this? Silence. Secrecy. Control. Before we know it, we are living with the consequences of decisions we never had a chance to discuss, let alone oppose.

Now, I am not here to incite fear. I’m here to inspire awareness, because we still have a say. We still have time. We must start paying attention to these quieter moves by our government. We need to ask the hard questions, demand transparency, and hold those in power accountable for the decisions they make in the shadows.

If we don’t, we’ll continue to wake up to laws that we had no idea were even in the works. We’ll continue to have: rights, freedoms, and choices taken away without our consent. And that, my friends, is a dangerous place to be.

Democracy doesn’t just live in the loud, public moments—it thrives when we shine a light on the quiet ones too.

REFERENCES:

https://www.onehealthcommission.org/en/why_one_health/what_is_one_health/

https://www.citizengo.org/en-ca

https://www.parl.ca/documentviewer/en/44-1/bill/C-293/third-reading

https://em.citizengo.org/OTA3LU9EWS0wNTEAAAGVic6AghmKYA6VL35jcL7JwEYFvRucjLnneADAZGHY-8NrORLPoh1N5xgY_bNvOwh7xoMLCzs=

Bill C-293 (International Pandemic Treaty) Revisited: Concerns Raised Over Food Supply

 

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Community News

The drug manufacturer and pusher man: Off with their heads

Published

1 day ago

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October 3, 2024

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BY STEVEN KASZAB

Victims of the opioid epidemic have been shouting aloud to the: authorities, addiction/mental health emergency providers, and local governments for help. Asking, pleading, and when action does not happen quick enough protesting the apparent inaction of those who are supposed to be protecting society. There will always be excuses as to why those who manufacture and sell these drugs are not in prison right now. Their legal rights, the police’s inability to soundly find proof necessary to have them arrested, the federal government cannot stop the importation of these illegal drugs illegally, nor the domestic manufacturing of this poison. Aboriginal Rights, personal and privacy rights, international domains, lack of response from India and China’s Security Apparatus in stopping those in their country.

It comes down to the question, if you are addicted to drugs, are you of sound mind and body? Can you think for yourself, or must a public judicator force the addict into rehabilitative care? Often war does not have rules, and the war on drugs has been one sided for a very long time. Those nations that allow illicit drugs to be made in their territory, or transported from should feel the effects of powerful embargos. Let the Foreign Affairs Office do something useful by placing: Mexico, China, Columbia, Burma, and others on an embargo list not allowing them to ship or sell their products to Canada.

Long ago sanitariums were set aside, considered politically incorrect. Now, these same institutions of medical rehabilitation are necessary to hold involuntarily addicts for a three-to-six-month period, where their healthcare, mental health, and addiction therapy can be carried out. Inviting the church organizations to assist with their historical experience can be an asset.

Our society must take the war seriously, or hundreds of thousands of our citizens will perish. Take no prisoners, as those who manufacture and sell this poison know exactly: what they are doing, who they are harming, and what the end game truly will be.

For all those who have not seen someone dying of addiction, being poisoned long term, or it was their very first try…wake up. Decide whose side you are on, the victims and their families, the society you live in that is possibly the best that can exist, or you’re on the side of evil, people who make a living by poisoning and killing others.

Choose, and choose well.

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Community News

Canadian Congress on Inclusive Diversity and Workplace Equity 4th Annual Canada Leadership Summit and Nations Building Award

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1 day ago

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October 3, 2024

By

BY PAUL JUNOR

There will be much to look forward to at the 4th Annual Canada Leadership Summit and Nations Building Award which will be held on Friday, October 4th, and Saturday, October 5th, 2024, at the Hilton Toronto Airport Hotel. The event will be hosted by the Canadian Congress on Inclusive Diversity and Workplace Equity and along with several partners such as: International School of Greatness (ISG), Diversity Institute located at TMU and other strategic partners who have been integral.

The CIDWE is described as the premier global event that gathers leaders from diverse backgrounds, all united by a shared dedication to transformational leadership and tackling today’s most urgent issues through networking, advocacy, and steadfast commitment. An integral mission of the summit is the goal of inspiring participants to rise above: personal, professional, and corporate challenges, and their aim is to ignite the spirit of leadership in everyone and transform those in positions of authority into nation builders.

On Friday, October 4th, 2024, there will be an evening of networking. It is intended to inspire critical dialogue and action on a global scale through strategic learning and networking opportunities.

On Saturday, October 5th, 2024, there will be a Business Breakfast Forum followed by the Leadership and Diversity workshops. There will be a Business Branding and Profitable Growth Workshop. Participants will learn about the Seven Laws of Exponential Growth and how to leverage the Psychology of Sales and Marketing to build generational wealth and achieve global impact.

These series of workshops will focus on: Transformational Leadership, Strategic Management, Social Justice, and Community Development. Some of the speakers include Dr. Wendy Cukier, Dr. Ardavan Eizadirad, Dr. Upiomoh Osholene, Dr. Mary Grogan, Alethia O’Hara Stephenson, and others.

The Nation Builders Award will be given to thirteen inspirational and motivational individuals who have distinguished themselves in a variety of fields such as: government, academia, business, and community service. A nation builder is understood in very specific terms as  someone who actively contributes to the development and strengthening of their country. In addition, nation builders take responsibility for their country’s future, working to create: systems, policies, and cultural practices that lead to long-term success and prosperity. They are visionaries who understand that the strength of a nation depends on the collective efforts of its people, and they work to: inspire, lead and empower others to participate in this important work.

In an email, Nosakhare Alex Ihama mentioned, “Our dedicated committee meticulously selected the 2024 nominees, ensuring that the awardees exemplify outstanding leadership and community service across our nation. With about 100: speakers, panelists, entertainers, sponsors, and strategic partners involved; we are proud to be recognized as a leading platform for national transformation. We congratulate the distinguished 2024 award recipients and eagerly anticipate learning from their insights while celebrating their collective achievements in making Canada truly North and Free.”

Participants will be able to network with the speakers and Nation Builder Award winners. They will have an opportunity to engage with thought leaders and policymakers and be part of meaningful conversations that will shape our collective future.

The titles of the awards and the names of the thirteen recipients are:

  • Nation Builders Lifetime Leadership Award: Senator Wando Thomas
  • Nation Builders Award for Excellence in Black Community Development: Dr. Winston LaRose
  • Nation Builders Legacy Award: Honorable Dr. Jean Augustine
  • Nation Builders Award for Inclusive Government & Policies: Greg Fergus
  • Nation Builders Award in Education & Academia: Dr. Gervan Fearon
  • Social Justice Icon Award: Honourable Michaelle Jean
  • Nation Business Award for Business Excellence: Harriet Thornhill
  • Nation Builders Rising Star Award for Social Justice: Nicholas Marcus Thompson
  • Nation Builders Global Humanitarian Award: Kamala Jean Gopie
  • Nation Builders Award for Inclusive & Equitable Sports: Rowan Barrett
  • Nation Builders Award for National Unity & Harmony: Senator Murray Sinclair
  • Nation Builders Award for Media, Arts & Entertainment: Patricia Babia
  • Nation Builders Award for Law and Justice: Hon. Justice Donald McLeod
  • Nation Builders Award for Youth Empowerment: Diana Alli D’Souza

There is much to expect from the upcoming Leadership Summit and Nation Builders Award. No doubt, there will be many moments of: empowerment, inspiration, motivation, and engagement.

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