Affordable housing is a human right, right? The rich get richer; the working person buys a tent

BY STEVEN KASZAB

The government and that of Ontario’s Ford administration have made efforts to promote building starts in Canada. They are attempting to cut the red tape and regulation of their own governments upon the developers who seem to be responsible for building more houses. Well that is a good start, but these political moves only assist those who can afford million dollar homes. These politicians are helping their friends in the real estate and development sectors only, as well as the wealthy who can afford the costly homes we presently have to choose from. Limiting foreign corporations and individuals to buy existing and future homes only helps those who have the funds to invest in these costly homes.

Developers will continue to build expensive homes. Let me rephrase that. Developers will continue to price new homes at high prices because they can. That’s what they are in business for, to make profits. The real estate sector and those who presently own homes will also continue to escalate home prices.

That is a given. Passive investors care only about the profits they will make, and not about Ontarians or Canadians ability to afford that which many are competing for, a home to live in.

Homebuyers, and more importantly potential renters of apartment style homes are unimportant casualties of the present day buying frenzy. On the right side we find those who sell and build have no intention of creating affordable housing. On the left side are those with no imagination on knowing how to assist those in the middle, those looking for a place to live. Canadians have had thousands of Syrian refugee’s coming into Canada, and in the near future thousands of Ukrainian refugees who will be added to the competition of home locations, home acquisition. Where are these people going to live?

Canada’s economic system, in relation to the real estate and development sector are in need of drastic changes. The system they have created has caused the ballooning of housing potentials in all of Canada’s larger cities. They drive up prices and their commissions too, and also build mass housing that will be over priced to meet the market prices they have set. No real help from this sector can be found.

The government wants to use this sector to fulfil its pledges to create affordable housing, but every time, they are hoodwinked by the sector. The very way we view housing needs to be changed. In Europe, Asia and most of the world renting an apartment is commonly done, and has no social stigma attached to it, while in Canada the “Canadian and American Dream” of home ownership is still promoted by the developers, the real estate sector and our governments.

The various governments of Canada have ownership of land being unused. Build apartment buildings that will stand the challenges of time and rent these out to people as starter homes, permanent homes, but not investments. A two-bedroom apartment should not go for more than a thousand dollars a month. Fill our empty fields with well-made apartment buildings owned by municipal or provincial governments.

End the dictatorship over housing starts, controlled not by the people, but by groups and corporations of the real estate and developers. Yes, this is limiting every one of us from finding a place to live. They buy up scarce land all over the place, and leave this land undeveloped. A falsely created scarcity of housing is developed, driving up prices across our nation. Price fixing is a crime, yet this group of business people are allowed to do the same thing.

Canadians need to look into the relationship that is found between the real estate/developers sector and our various governments. Should there be any shenanigans found, it would explain why Canadians cannot find affordable or assessable housing. We must put an end to the Housing Cartels reaching into your pockets, as well as those of our elected officials. Do developers and real estate giants donate to politicians? I will let you think about that.

In Ontario, we have Hwy 413, where the developers are committing highway robbery. They are making a bundle, and their friends of the Conservatives presently. In Regina this February, the mayoral candidates received large donations from the developers of the region. In 2016 it was land developers who helped raise $12.9 Million for the Ontario Conservative Party. The Ontario Liberals of the past were also well known to accept donations from these sectors.

What to do about Canada’s housing portfolio?

• Governments need to become directly involved in the financing and building of affordable homes, apartment buildings and large housing unit structures across the nation.
• The influence of the real estate and developers’ sector must be ended. Appropriate taxation of these sectors must be applied. Unused land must be taxed, raising needed revenue and inspiring the industry to build for the future.
• End financial donations directed to political parties by this real estate and developer’s sector. Greasing the politician’s hands must end.
• Imaginative and affordable housing styles must be developed and introduced in Canada. In Woodbridge, Ontario there is a firm that develops, builds, and sells globally built portable winterized homes, easily assembled and long lasting. Why not in Canada.
• Our expectations of a home must change. North American society is a privileged society. Young people want what their parents were able to acquire in time. An approach rooted in need is required here. Massive residential houses are for the rich. Durable liveable spaces are what are required.

The Government has spent massive amounts of revenue trying to grow the economy, most of this revenue borrowed. Building affordable housing starts in whatever style is needed seems the appropriate plan for the future. Every lifestyle and income needs to be considered. Housing is a human right!