CALGARY IS NO LONGER AFFORADABLE | The Effects Of Mass Immigration With No Rent Control

Calgary used to be considered one of the most affordable cities to live in Canada... not any more! In 2023 Calgary broke national records in interprovincial migration, as well as having its total population increase by 6% which is HUGE for a 1 year span. Understandably, this has created a major strain on social services and greatly lowered the vacancy rate for real estate, while simultaneously sky rocketing the price of rentals. Alberta has not had rental control for a very long time and while it may have actually been a good thing before 2020, it is now being abused by many landlords and forcing long time tenants out of their homes. If you are thinking of moving to Alberta, but primarily Calgary, please think long and hard if this is definitely the province for you because it is very likely that prices will continue to increase for quite a long time.
Support my journey on Patreon: / alinamcleod
Paypal Account: [e-mail]
My Google Map Travel Guides (more coming soon!): www.alinamcleod.com/travel-gu...
The Travel Medical Insurance I Use And Recommend:
SafetyWing: safetywing.com/nomad-insuranc...
Luggage I Travel With: Level8
www.clkmg.com/LEVEL8/AlinaMcLeod
Use code MCLEOD10 for 10% OFF
Best Travel Credit Card - Amex Platinum (get 10,000 extra points by using my referral link!): americanexpress.com/en-ca/ref...
Where I Primarily Book My Hotels/Hostels: booking.tp.st/2lP4Jjcu
Ayana Resort Discount: ayanaresorts.pxf.io/DKxAzy
Best E-sim cards for travel: airalo.tp.st/wHCallXk
Use code ALINA3 for $3 OFF
1 FREE AUDIOBOOK FROM AUDIBLE (I loooooove this service): www.audibletrial.com/alinamcleod
Best Way To Send Money Abroad (link gets you discount) - Wise.com: wise.com/invite/u/alinam371
The Music I Use In My Videos - Epidemic Sound
Get a 30 Day FREE TRIAL by using my referral link: www.epidemicsound.com/referra...
**************************************************************
- Equipment I Use To Film Videos -
Main Video Camera - DJI Osmo Pocket 3 Creator Combo: click.dji.com/AKSrpmHC6F1hsZT...
Action Camera - DJI Action 4 Creator Combo: click.dji.com/AOMnS-ewR59g4eZ...
Photography + Sit down camera: Sony a6400 - amzn.to/3cSYaMK
Gimbal for Sony: DJI Ronin RSC 2 - click.dji.com/ADCjatxPUwRDPRl...
Drone - DJI Mini 3 Pro: click.dji.com/ANpWpJ7RXeEOoYd...
Microphone - Rode Wireless Pro: brandstore.rode.com/products/...
Livestreaming Equipment - DJI Mobile 6: click.dji.com/AHxW2cgdL-lgBEs...
** FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA **
Instagram - / alinamcleod
TikTok: / alinamcleod
Facebook - alinamcleodo...
WEBSITE - www.alinamcleod.com/
Мой русскоязычный канал / My Russian Speaking Channel: / @user-yz5kc7ip7f
**************************************************************
** I USE AFFILIATE LINKS **
Affiliate links do not cost you as the consumer any more than you would normally pay, but it does offer a kickback to the person who initiated the sale. This allows me to financially continue to be able to make content for you and I only endorse products I genuinely love. Any sponsored content will be stated as so.
Contact me: [e-mail]
Lots of love xx
Alina

[@luvaholic]

As a legal immigrant to Canada (who 'landed' here with an IT job from a Canadian company) more than 25 years ago, the Canada of today is unrecognizable. Parts of the GTA and even other cities in Canada look more like an Indian or Pakistani slum. That's not what I came to Canada for. It's a shame and it's not racist to point that out. I say that as someone with Pakistani heritage. We came here to be Canadians first and assimilate and contribute to this country. Now people are short-circuiting the system coming in as fake students by the 100s of thousands. It's shameful what the government has allowed.

[@gizemlikisi6213]

whats the gta?

[@luvaholic]

@@gizemlikisi6213 Greater Toronto Area

[@gizemlikisi6213]

@@luvaholic thanks

[@stephey808]

Indian or Pakistani slum yes this is what happens wherever they go

[@sam76861]

Thank you for saying that.

[@shpeen8835]

Corporations should not be allowed to buy housing.

[@dereksbooks]

And government shouldn't be allowed anywhere near the supposedly free market. You whine about unsustainable immigration numbers and not enough housing (all caused by politicians), and you want to give the government more power to control market pricing? There wouldn't be a housing crisis if not for insane immigration and bureaucracy that caused this! Trust the arsonists to put out the fires that they ignited! Corporate greed wouldn't even matter if you had reasonable immigration, and if building permits, along with insane inflation caused by the government didn't put us in this mess to begin with! There would be an overabundance of houses, and corporations wouldn't be able to give the houses away.

[@markscott5257]

My sisters Rent went from $1450 a month to $2000. That is insane and her place is small

[@Poppagee69]

Don't fret Calgarian's , Trudeau has a master plan to start renting grave sites to the homeless to pitch tents with no cost to the deceased when winter makes them expire and will make even more available housing for immigrants .

[@lihong1623]

Hard to believe!

[@InDahoodYooo]

Your sister can rent my condo and cheaper

[@ReelEC]

That's messed up! Sorry to hear.

[@Mikemm-un3lb]

Not only that, the price of some popular items in grocery stores is increasing every 2-3 weeks. Either the price is up, or they just shrink the package to make it smaller

[@Peter-sz1sn]

You should not be empathetic to the new management company. As a big company, they knew what they were getting involved in. It is absolutely outrageous! It should be illegal.

[@JimMork-r9u]

Solid points there, Peter.

[@laid07]

Being a landlord should be illegal, in any capacity, should be illegal.

[@JimMork-r9u]

@@laid07 Maybe now. Maybe in Canada. My last two landlords were the most ethical and most likable. I own a house and question my sanity for abandoning renting when I was having an amazing experience.

[@AaronMT]

Fact is Canada has become unaffordable and I don’t think the trend will ever reverse again.

[@NO-px2ys]

this country is done

[@JimMork-r9u]

Maybe not. But if that prediction comes true, blame the adoption of the absurd English election system. A lot wrong in the USA can be traced to fighting for independence, but then installing a dysfunctional English set of election practices. Does any WELL run country elect the way North America does? Name one.

[@investguy46]

@@AaronMT sadly it’s not just Canada that has become unaffordable now, most Western countries are struggling with high food, utilities and rental costs pushing many in the street.

[@stoned_at_the_nail_salon]

I've said the same thing recently. This will never reverse course. It's done.

[@margaret3153]

Every country around the globe is going through the same thing.

[@johnm2879]

Thanks for calling out mass immigration. This is the policy put in place over decades by the developer/speculator/bank lobby. Their front organization is the Century Initiative whose goal is to triple Canada's population to over 100 million. All this to make the wealthy wealthier with real estate inflation and an endless supply of cheap labour.

[@AlinaMcleod]

Yeah immigration is necessary, but not in the way they've gone about it.

[@johnm2879]

@@AlinaMcleod Immigration has been sold by the corporate media as being vital for the "economy" but from the point of people and the land it has been a disaster. We need to invest in Canadians and lower housing costs and environmental stress.

[@robertguay3773]

@@AlinaMcleod It really isn't this infinite growth model just ends in Collapse. If no immigrants moved here housing would drop fast and jobs would pay more allowing more people to have babies who can not afford it right now. It would just balance itself out. The majority of Canadians not having children is a monetary choice. You need a family income over 200k to have kids, a small house and a family vacation in most of Canada unless you plan to live off government subsidies. The government is flat broke and about to lose the ability to create debt as interest payments continue to climb ever higher. So if you plan for the government to pay your way good luck you got 3 years tops.

[@onemanturret1641]

I’m of the opinion that Canada needs a 0 immigration for 10 years. With the exception of medical or if you build your own place in the middle of no where. We do not need more Indian bankers and foreign students. Also businesses get grants for hiring foreigners. By our tax dollars. So it’s not fair to local Canadians.

[@Travel-sh6yb]

Canada is a lobotomized and castrated society when it comes to controlling its immigration. For decades the Left Wing in this country has mouthed-off and indoctrinated the population that immigration to Canada is the RIGHT of everyone else in the so-called third world, even though they had almost nothing to do with building this country for 450 years up to 1970 into a country that is one of the richest, safest, healthiest, most educated, most democratic and most functional countries anywhere. The right wing likes mass immigration too for its economic benefits, already discussed in previous comments. It won't be long before European-descended Canadians (called "whites" in the news-media) are the VISIBLE MINORITY in this country, and when that happens, they will have even LESS POWER politically, socially and culturally than they do already.

[@abway8799]

Thanks for speaking up about this. Everyone is struggling but afraid to say why it's happening.

[@stevestruthers6180]

The housing crisis is now beginning to spread to areas that were once affordable. Since the housing crisis will never be solved (hint: the politicians and their greedy corporate and developer backers don't want it to be solved), this country is headed for economic collapse. You can't expect people to pay more than they can afford for housing and expect that kind of arrangement to be sustainable. And the RCMP are worried that we might soon be headed for mass civil unrest. There is no reason why, in a wealthy, technologically advanced country like Canada with all the land and natural resources it has, that there should even be a housing crisis. Except greed and sadism on the part of the people who are profiting so handsomely from the crisis.

[@wrestlingterrier8366]

It's not only greed. There's more to it. It's happening all over the Western World, but maybe faster in North America and even faster in Canada. They are pulling the plug on us. It's part of a much larger agenda.

[@JimMork-r9u]

I'm hearing rumbles of 2008, when the world collapsed due to real estate speculation. Could be mistaken, but housing is a massive bubble in Canada.

[@stevestruthers6180]

@@JimMork-r9u It is a bubble, but somehow the government and its bankster henchmen have somehow prevened the bubble from popping.

[@kghovanlou]

UK has had two years in a row of over 650,000 net migration, most of which will go to London and the south east. It’s becoming a problem everywhere.

[@JimMork-r9u]

Saw somewhere that people just showed up in Republic of Ireland. Now Irish are protesting that Ireland is threatened culturally. They want Ireland back.

[@mmeade9402]

I dont think its a coincidence or an accident. After Brexit and Trump in the mid 2010's, they've seen that some of the policies they enact are not popular, and that it can cause a voter backlash. They've full on thrown the doors open in the hopes of just replacing the voter base. This is what dispossession looks like. "If you vote for the wrong things, we're not going to change our policies, we'll just change the voters"

[@wigsontop]

we should have never stopped colonization. whites could have built better countries than blacks and browns

[@jamesmacyntyre562]

UK deserves to be invaded after its history

[@WanderingWolf365]

I thought US real estate inflation was crazy... but then I saw Canada's real estate chart. Now THAT'S crazy!!! - WW

[@DailyWisdom37]

Canadians would all move to the US if we can. If only US can open the door for hard working Canadians rather than illegal aliens.

[@jasongill5390]

​@@DailyWisdom37🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 USA USA USA

[@JimMork-r9u]

@@DailyWisdom37 Pretty sure if Trump wins, NOBODY gets in. And Biden is being forced to retreat from a welcoming policy. Be real. NOBODY can just swallow a giant foreign population. Violence in places like Venezuela is creating refugees. Need something between Trump and Biden. Call it New Realism.

[@brendamarie7627]

Yup, it's about to pop

[@24kmetal99]

@@DailyWisdom37 Cost of living and home price will rise in the US if that’s the case. 😂

[@speedyfeint]

alberta is calling.... calling to fk you up.

[@JimMork-r9u]

Indeed. :D

[@billyt3130]

💯

[@aanttz4803]

Alberta is 5x bigger than England - last year 700,000 migrants came to England (mostly from India, Pakistan, China and Nigeria). = Life here is becoming hell.

[@kghovanlou]

Don’t forget the 700k in the year before that

[@ro33west]

Emergency situation for sure, yuck

[@guderian7795]

The UK is being overrun by immigrants. Your government is trying to erase you.

[@somebodyintheworld5036]

Which is ironic considering the UK did the biggest political move of the century leaving the EU to "have greater control over immigration".

[@Paul-gf9fc]

It's all being done on purpose.

[@Busybeeee]

Calgary is not the only city in Canada that is experiencing higher costs of living. Even Saskatchewan, the most affordable province in Canada is seeing crazy inflation. Excessive immigration is driving up the cost of everything including accommodation. We can thank Trudeau for that . I work across Canada, currently in the NWT. I am seeing this everywhere. Even remote cities are unrecognizable due to excessive immigration. . I don’t feel like I’m in Canada anymore. Canadians don’t even have enough jobs or housing. Why are we accepting so many immigrants like it’s a free-for-all? We can’t even take care of our own.😢 This is no longer the Canada that I loved..

[@Aristaifly]

I'm a legal immigrant to BC and yes Canada becomes unrecognizable. My theory is that the unprofessionalism, greed and incompetence is the cause for it. Decision makers don't have a solution where to employ probably close to a million individuals employed in immigration services and adjacent fields. The blood of every country is manufacturing, yet Canada wants to stay green and replace the blood with tourist and education money. Do you see a lot of manufacturing? The ones are there produce products with higher prices given less logistic costs. Mass migration is a secondary problem, your first problem is incompetent decision makers.

[@psytic]

Doesn't help that the provincial UCP have been running ads in Ontario and BC telling people to come here either. It used to be a best kept secret.

[@JimMork-r9u]

Right now, there is a difference between provinces, but that can't be maintained if financial economics for the whole country aren't improved. Take a look at Japan, where inflation is the most under control. Their central bank is rationally run, I would surmise.

[@JimMork-r9u]

@@Aristaifly What of any significance does Canada domestically produce anymore. I had a Canadian make Toyota once. What probability is there I could find one now?

[@Aristaifly]

@@JimMork-r9u good question! I came up with couple brand names but then remembered that either materials or product itself is made somewhere else. I once worked at the window factory, glass was local but the frame material came from Germany (the owner was German). Dairy companies perhaps?

[@jps0117]

Congratulations for using your platform for a good and necessary cause, Alina.

[@markamd1]

Agreed 100%!!

[@crystalclear111]

Yah now that she has to go home because travel.vlogs aren't paying anymore.

[@JimMork-r9u]

And to her credit, she admitted her past expectations were false. But she didn't graduate in poli sci or economics. Therefore, didn't add up the government policies that are disastrous. Now ME, I was totally convinced it was money laundering. But mafias aren't the ONLY people whose goals conflict with the larger society. City of London ignores what is good for UK. Panama Papers documented City of London's practices.

[@minimaxmiaandme.4971]

I am so sick of the mass immigration....it is too much! I downsized to a condo townhouse development and half of the people don't speak English....my neighbour brought his pregnant wife over to have her baby....took the baby back to China for months and neither of them work. Dual citizenship should be outlawed..if you want to live here, don't just live here to take advantage of our system and not contribute...lived and worked here all my life.....my doctor retired and it took me over a year to find new doctor....I have paid my dues....they haven't.

[@rohitguptac]

Man, this is very disturbing, the government is brining in immigrants (me being one of them) into the country and putting a strain on housing. Now we are in a situation where we left and spent a lot of money to come here and and can’t go back at the same time we feel bad for the Canadians.

[@AlinaMcleod]

Exactly. It's terrible for both Canadians and immigrants. I feel very sorry for all the people who probably spent their life savings moving to Canada, uprooting their whole families and then are more than likely disappointed that life here is not as stable and prosperous as the media makes it out to be.

[@eggheadegghead]

Only increased by 55k in population but the average house price went from $450k to $650k? WTH is going on here? Is this for real?

[@AlinaMcleod]

55,000 is interprovincial migration for all of Alberta. I said 200,000 people moved to Alberta in 2023 and almost 100,000 of them went to Calgary.

[@abcdjhffkuggf]

Inelastic demand meets finite supply. Economics in action

[@silviapopa1121]

And we have added approximately 400,000 more people to Calgary since the 2021 census. 1.3 M in 2021 vs. 1.7 now, and it's only going up! What a train wreck!

[@larrybxl5406]

excactly this is nt due solely to influx

[@noseboop4354]

@@silviapopa1121 holy moly, within a decade Calgary will surpass Montreal and Toronto in population

[@pebblepod30]

Thank you. Stating the facts about the negative effects of mass migration or pop increase is not the same as blaming indivdual immigrants. It is Corporate Donor Class and Trudeu who are to blame.

[@AlinaMcleod]

Yeah I have absolutely nothing against the immigrants coming here, actually feel sorry for them since our country is kind of in shambles. I'm angry at the government who created these policies and is not adept at managing a budget.

[@TheTroyc1982]

@@AlinaMcleod So you are angry with the Alberta government which is the one most responsible for the situation in Calgary now?

[@Flavor_Flav]

​@@TheTroyc1982The Alberta government is not the most responsible for the situation in Calgary, the federal government is, but the Alberta government definitely made the situation worse.

[@pebblepod30]

@@AlinaMcleod Thanks again Alina, I knew you knew the difference. And best of luck for your channel. But may I suggest if you care about this topic, you make some videos about the notion that one day there will be more Voters who want the housing crisis to end, than who want it to continue (thinking it benefits them financially)? In recent times, Politicians perceived the Voter numbers on this as being the opposite. Note that we don't really know the voter numbers on this. For example, I own my own home, as do my sisters and my mother. But the housing crisis is most important to me bc my friends & dance teachers, and younger extended family are all currently or in the future, going to endure the wretchedness of the housing crisis. A best mate of mine also suicided in 2023, with housing as a major determining factor. And there must be many more like me!

[@AlinaMcleod]

@@TheTroyc1982 The Federal government is primarily is responsible for immigration.

[@saskagopher7319]

I used to think that it is a big world and there is room for all of us. I am wrong.

[@markamd1]

After 28 years of living in Calgary, I had to leave this city... my rent went up by 38% in April. Our city is now a drug infested city, we have the largest influx of immigrants in Canada and my bellowed city of Calgary is no more. We are living in a Fascist state folks and it will only get worse from here on. Thank you Alina for covering this. Stay strong everyone!

[@dirtlump]

I BAILED awhile ago.... the Calgary I knew is gone and now it's just a giant sh*t-hole full of immigrants with values that to be perfectly blunt here.... are just completely foreign to me and NOT conducive to my upbringing and morals. Attago Mr. Trudeau..... for successfully importing/transplanting 3rd world values/norms/lawlessness to Canada

[@karimkalache712]

Never thought to get on the property ladder in all that time?

[@markamd1]

@@karimkalache712 I'm not going to get into the details on this with you, Karim. Have a good day.

[@Healthycow]

@@markamd1 No he's right. I'm 34 and I did it. What's your excuse?

[@dirtlump]

@@karimkalache712 I had property(s) in Alberta..... just divested the last one recently. My timing seems to have been perfect as Calgary is now rolling over with the immigrants now stuck with the premium valuations..... and I wish them the best of luck because the Bow Glacier feeding the Bow and Elbow rivers is done... fini... and within 5 years Calgary will be a giant sh*t-hole of over-developed dropping valuation Real Estate as water rationing ensues. Nice City of 800,000.... completely unsustainable at 1.4 million people LOL !

[@michaelhoran407]

Don’t allow anyone to enter Canada. Writing from Colorado.

[@samq1004]

As someone who used to live in Calgary but no longer, I feeling like I dodged a bullet. I live in the prairies and it's affordable here. Got a couple houses, car, family, a good job and zero debt.

[@EthanD1997]

That won't last unfortunately.

[@DanOneOne]

"Coming to prairies near you!" :) Congrats, but this whole concept of Canada is just a scam.

[@HMangat7]

Wonder how long that affordability will last, only a matter of time before people start moving to smaller towns

[@EmilyDiCaprio17channel]

I moved to the prairies 2 years ago and the prices are going up here too but luckily in MB there is rent control

[@davidpristupa1629]

I'm going to be living on a fixed. Income. I'm going to Soacha Colombia

[@baolnguyen442]

Thanks for sharing another great video! Housing and rent have become such a mess in Canada, in every big city, it's discouraging.

[@winstonw2020]

Great video Alina. I'm dealing with similar issues here in Toronto. Landlords trying to ask for 30% increases even though it would technically be illegal. Wishing you and your mother all the best.

[@ro33west]

Suits!!!!!!!

[@JimMork-r9u]

I don't wish to depress anyone, but when I was a teenager, my employer laid me off. I told the sweet guy managing my building I had no income, I'd have to give up my apartment. Toronto renters will shake their heads. He said "Don't leave something will turn up, you can go a while rent free" I think people like him are totally extinct!

[@JimMork-r9u]

@@ro33west Succinct but true!

[@erinb4919]

What is happening to Calgary is truly depressing. I moved here in 2011 from Ontario and the city now is difficult to recognize. Fortunately my landlord hasnt jacked my rent to the sky yet. But I can't move and I can't afford to buy anything. And the change in Calgary and Canada is engineered by our governments, both provincial (with the Alberta is calling ads Still running in BC!!! 😭) and federal. It is sad - funny that the Trudeau government for a time tried to argue that immigration "wasn't the problem" in regards to the housing crisis. Like dumping a few extra million people into a country already with a huge housing shortage isn't going to exacerbate the problem?? Not to mention the lack of social infrastructure to support all these people! Health care system designed for 1.3 million in Calgary now supports 1.6+ with no increased capacity! Policing, transit etc etc - all stretched to the breaking point. And we haven't even talked about the WATER! supply yet 😭. I am not anti immigration at all, but immigration that further compounds the multiple layers of crises in this country makes zero sense and is also a disservice to the people who pay a tonne of money to move here, and then find they have been sold a pipe dream. The only power we have left is to vote in another direction. But the problem, is even if we do, where to move? There seems nowhere left in Canada that is reasonably affordable, where people have had their wages adjusted for inflation and housing isn't insane. Big business profits (because they have the money to lobby the government for policies that benefit them) >>>>> wins over regular people. Standard of living in Canada is in freefall since 2020 and it doesn't look like anyone is going to put the brakes on soon.

[@AlinaMcleod]

Absolutely agree. Sadly that is the predicament and our government does not seem to want to acknowledge their mistakes and take drastic action to make it better.

[@Notavlogger817]

Damn. It's like this everywhere and getting worse

[@RodRuth]

This problem isn't just with Calgary, it is all across Canada. Also, it not only effects housing, it has detrimental impact on the job market creating a situation of severe unemployment. There are simply not enough jobs available to absorb this mass immigrant migration.

[@AlinaMcleod]

For sure. Plus all other social services. You can't just drop a million people into a country and expect the healthcare and judicial system to cope, especially post covid. Just idiotic policy.

[@jesso-bn4tk]

but many immigrants get job easily though

[@teekbooy4467]

@@jesso-bn4tkthose are survival jobs. Jobs intended for highschoolers. Now teens are affected

[@beaware6487]

Well said. Liberals got excited by Merkle's 1 million immigrant experiment in Germany

[@jesso-bn4tk]

@@teekbooy4467 go and look government , psw ,tech ,bank and networking

[@sandragirardau1887]

Politicians always screw things up.

[@larrybxl5406]

especially the right wing nutjobs in Alberta!!

[@lambofan2024]

Politicians have to be voted in by somebody. Blame all the woke liberals/socialists/progressives who've been voting for diversity and inclusion since Pierre Trudeau took office. Import the third world to the first world and you will not have a first world nation anymore.

[@larrybxl5406]

@@lambofan2024 rent control and the property market is a PROVINCIAL repsonsibility! No rent cntrol in Alberta. This has evertthing to do wth the IDIOTS who voted for Danelle Smith at the last AB election!!

[@Poppagee69]

Don't fret Calgarian's , Trudeau has a master plan to star renting grave sites to the homeless to pitch tents with no cost to the deceased when winter makes them expire and will make even more available housing for immigrants .

[@Poppagee69]

Don't fret Calgarian's , Trudeau has a master plan to start renting grave sites to the homeless to pitch tents with no cost to the deceased when winter makes them expire and will make even more available housing for immigrants .

[@Sharon-pf2te]

My grandson and his girlfriend’s rent went up 400, which they were very hard pressed to pay. This is outrageous that Daniel smith is allowing this to happen. People are desperately just trying to stay afloat and if the government doesn’t step in and put a cap on rents what’s going to happen. Single moms homeless on the street with their children, come on where is the humanity here.

[@mt-bd9wi]

she cares to pander to her corporate buddies with cheap labor

[@12rmoreau]

Many seniors looking at relocating outside Canada…that’s why many of us know who you are we’ve watched your videos

[@brianbee]

I'll be 58 soon and will be retiring in 2 years and it's something I'm thinking about.

[@cynthiabrown5468]

Same. I'm looking at a country where the monthly expenses including rent, is less than just rent here.

[@margaret3153]

And that's creating a problem in other countries.

[@Reporterfy]

This is a great video Alina

[@karanmodi4626]

Groceries, Gas, Utilities everything have gone up. My apartment in Northwest Calgary went from $1800 to $2250 this year. I am considering to leave canada by end of this year. I cant afford to live here anymore.

[@AlinaMcleod]

Sorry to hear that.

[@woody2970]

My parents building was bought out by "Avenue Living" last year, there rent went up last year $350 and now once again another $350 where they can no longer afford to live where they can they are both 76 seniors and now cant afford to live in an apartment or anywhere else in Calgary its Beyond ridiculous. They are seniors and are now going to be homeless.

[@AlinaMcleod]

So sorry to hear it happened to them as well.

[@laureenbrandon7209]

They want to empty the buildings,avenue living is owned by Chinese investor's, it's what they did to Vancouver

[@zhubobofu]

Anthony Giuffre is founder, CEO, and executive chairman of Avenue Living.

[@albykov]

Thank you for speaking out. And actually spending some time to talk to their management. Nice review showing both sides.

[@patrickfitzgerald4650]

This happened to me in Denver Colorado back in 2016. A large corporation named WEIDNER bought out a property where I had been living for a few years and jacked up the rent over 40%. I was evicted and my credit was destroyed. It took me almost 6 years to get my credit good enough again to even be able to rent a property. I was not alone unless and this was not exclusive to Denver, it happened to millions of people, good hard-working people....

[@DirtyDog995]

And that is still happening across the USA

[@zell863]

Similar happened to me in Mpls MN area. Paid rent at time for 21 years and get one rent late for one month and get evicted. I'm in ok shape like carpenter contractor even no so many houses build now. Paid to that landlord countless time rent in advance and after get late on rent get envicted. Will sue.

[@user-bx6sf8ye9l]

Every single renter has had their rent go up 20-40% year over year for the last two or three years. It’s ridiculous

[@Rottimail]

What's also shocking is that they're not allowed to raise it more than 3% or something to that affect.

[@kittyswanson3611]

@@Rottimail Wrong. There are no rent controls here.

[@Rottimail]

@@kittyswanson3611 OMG! I apologize. At one time there was a restriction on how much a landlord could increase the rent.

[@JB-td4ei]

I worked for Avenue Living a decade ago, they are evil and must be broken up.

[@SERGEO43]

This is called the class struggle of the workers against their capitalists (oppressors). This is what Marx wrote about, and then Lenin. The domination of monopolies in the era of capitalism in the stage of imperialism.

[@stephen_ne8406]

Thanks for speaking out on this ❤️ it’s a huge issue and unless radical change happens it will only get worse

[@lambofan2024]

Mass deportations is the only solution which will never happen as all the current politicians are globalists.

[@stevestruthers6180]

Things always get worse before they ever get better.

[@Mark-ry3ij]

This is what Calgary's solution to counter the mass migration coming from other provinces especially from Vancouver and Toronto

[@leona369]

I absolutely love immigrants like this woman who is organizing this I'll tell you something right now is that I have a landlady who is Filipino I moved to a one bedroom basement suite that originally started at 11:00, by the end of 2 years I am now paying $1,700 for a one bedroom basement suite and I am on disability, she charges me more more than one of her tenants who has a three-bedroom because she doesn't want him to move she knows she can charge me more because I have a 200 lb Cane Corso try finding a place without a dog now add a dog not just a dog but a very large dog she knows darn well that I won't find anything so here I am, I'm paying more than the lady that has the two bedroom upstairs I'm paying more than the guy in the three bedroom the other guy in the basement pays almost $800 a month how is this fair that she can gouge one person but not the other oh by the way I thought I would let you know that I'm the only white tenant that she has so that could be one of the factors as well don't you think but it's all good because I'm white you can't be racist against white people, I feel sick to my stomach, very it's just getting so hard I don't know, before I wasn't able to do anything on disability now I have to choose between rent or food so of course I choose rent I live on food banks, and whatever is in kitchen cupboards around the area I live in, half of the people in this area are immigrants, I cry everyday because I don't understand how things were able to get this bad, I was born and raised in the city, I become irritated because I'm 43 years old now I'm not some spring chicken maybe if I was younger I would be able to handle the stress, but I keep telling myself at least I don't live in North Korea at least I don't live in Gaza or Israel or I live in Iraq and Iran, or at least I don't live in Pakistan but having said that sometimes I take a look around and I wonder,

[@meohmy7086]

I know it's tough renting anyway if you have a dog. I do sincerely hope you manage to keep a roof over your and your dogs head. Vancouver is more expensive but at least we have rent control so the rent increases are going up but kept in line if you are an existing tenant. Besides excessive immigration driving the demand through the roof... the blame has to be placed on those responsible for this outrageous gouging and that's the Land Lord's. Whether they are corporations (the worst) or private home owners who are using their good fortune to screw over their less fortunate neighbours, shame on them!

[@JimMork-r9u]

@@meohmy7086 Laissez-faire is accommodation of the already rich. The majority needs government control to survive. But if the politician says rent control is a solution to reckless immigration, that's a lie. Way too many very poor people all over the planet. Borders must mean something. Or democracy ceases to mean anything.

[@alexrubin5955]

Which city are you in? No rent control?

[@zell863]

Try to share an apartment/house with someone. I'm a carpenter contractor 60 years old here in USA. I found too expensive to rent alone. One guy was advertising a room for rent in 2-bedroom apartment. He is on welfare, I'm not but it works for me. My expense there is 700 with electricity and it is next to nothing for me. Find right person to rent together.

[@jimross7648]

The joy's of trying to get by in Canada. I've been watching every big city in Alberta grow as unemployment grew in many area's, while specific skill set jobs couldn't be filled. Residential construction soared, but somehow were sold. The population grew, government grew, the cost of living increased. People's wages either stagnated or fell but taxation increased, to pay for new better paid government employees and politicians. The governments all claimed they made life better, cheaper for all. Homelessness grew, addiction grew, crime grew.and people just tried to make it through the day. Until they were affected most people didn't know or care. Canada 2024 still better than most, but not as good as it was. Calgary's benefits are still obvious, but the less obvious negatives are starting to become visible to everyone. You are one of those pointing these less hidden negatives, as those who can take advantage of these circumstances to profit, do. Well done report on the real effects on real people in Calgary, Alberta, and Canada as a whole.

[@AlinaMcleod]

Yeah that’s exactly it. Canada is still a great place to live but it could be SO MUCH BETTER if it was managed properly and grown at a sustainable rate.

[@alphabravo0]

Interesting, I just checked and see that minimum wage was increasing every year in every province except in Alberta where it's stuck at 2018 level. Hm...

[@gk6199]

Have 2 rentals in Edmonton. Tenants are great. Haven't raised rent in 8 years(and won't despite the costs going way up). The secret is good Tenants then everyone is happy.

[@AlinaMcleod]

Thank you for providing stable housing!

[@icevoss9917]

Also, get an army of renters together, everyone stop paying rent, put the rent into a special account so you have it for after the strike, then you guys will bring the big companies to their knees. Then the government will listen and change will be made. Call for a rent strike all over Calgary and Alberta

[@captainvanaroo1729]

Corrupt landlord fight back gut the buildings like Detroit before moving out start a miniature Home Depot on your front lawn we have furnace and water heater pipies copper kitchen sinks bath tubes for sale it’s the American way small businesss home extraction services.👍

[@JudyButterfield-ed9tu]

In the U.S. home repair prices are way higher. I got a roof 20 years ago it cost 3000 dollars. Now the same roof is 20000. Water heaters were 300 dollars 15 years ago, now the energy efficient one is 3000.

[@christopherbuckley7544]

...AND: Don't forget to thank former Mayor Nenshi for turning Calgary into an over sized over priced Ant Colony all full of "hustle and bustle"...I'll bet he's real pleased with himself!!!

[@IntelligentDude-fm4eh]

The mayor of Calgary is an Indian not nenshi.

[@hakimbey6270]

My question is, where is the government? What is the role of government, it's to protect citizens if they can't why we are having government then ?

[@lynb1022]

40% of Canadian MPs and MLAs are real estate "investors" and/or landlords. This was all by design.

[@haroldlypshytz3351]

What was Kennedy's most famous quote? Kennedy's inaugural address inspired children and adults to see the importance of civic action and public service. His historic words, “Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country,” challenged every American to contribute in some way to the public good.

[@CZac2k12]

Yeah, I agree Alina. We need to cut down the number of refugees. Calgary real estate is way too expensive as more people from Toronto and Vancouver move in.

[@AjayRohaz]

I live in in the St. Louis area about 35 miles from downtown, we had a 38% increase in our property tax in just one year and now pay $408 more per month to live where we have for 16 years. In less than 5 years I am selling off everything and moving overseas. I planned on retiring in 12 years, but making it 5 now since I may not be able to live here even on 6 figure salary. That $4800+ I pay more now a year takes that money from what I would have put into investments or going out to dinners....very sad

[@cityboyis2]

Good idea, best to do the move before they build the wall to keep people in instead of out.

[@AlinaMcleod]

I'm very sorry to hear that.

[@BikeHelmetMk2]

Ours jumped from $4200 to $6900 in 2 years. +64%. Yowsa. (BC, Canada)

[@alexrubin5955]

Is there a place named St. Louis in Alberta? Can't find it on the map.

[@Wkumar07]

​@@alexrubin5955he's probably talking about Missouri?

[@coreysgarden6169]

"Rent control" just makes housing worse, look at NY. We need a stop to allowing new people showing up and depressing wages and pushing up inflation. I know this will not make the rich happy, but it will help the rest of us normal working class poor.

[@trapOrdoom]

@@coreysgarden6169 doesn’t Vancouver have rent control? Lol it’s useless. Shit Toronto had it or has it now too right? Literally more expensive than NYC when factoring wages. I haven’t seen rent control work that well for the regular people.

[@asmongoldsmouth9839]

*You know what the government says this immigration is doing? "Strengthening our labour force."* *Yah... Right!! It is ruining real-estate values. Supply and demand ratios are jacked now.* 😑

[@oosterhuisd]

We don’t have crazy high interest rates now, check out the ‘80’s stats.

[@froggerc625]

Correct in history before 2008 the rates were the same or higher than now. Low rates made housing prices boom in international cities since then.

[@corybuckle944]

5% on half a million is a lot compared to 15% on 100 thousand..do the math geez

[@freecanadaplease]

Irony is some of these properties companies are owned by Canadian Pension Plan.

[@JimMork-r9u]

Really? Pensions can't invest in growing productivity, just in squeezing renters? I know hedge funds will buy commercial property, so rent rises are to make THOSE investments more lucrative.

[@freecanadaplease]

@@JimMork-r9u CBC did a story on it. They would reno the building ,up the rents. It was before interest rates hikes. Know they dont even have to do the renos.

[@JimMork-r9u]

@@freecanadaplease British and American greed is now the religion of the wealthy Canadian class. Welcome to "our world". Money, money, money. Which to me makes the Christian churches a lost cause. Modern Jesus wouldn't chase the money lenders out of the temple.

[@stan_doucet]

Thank you for exposing this issue Alina. Politicians rarely listen to citizens these days, but someone has to start a real conversation about this and why not let it be you.

[@stevebottrell9154]

In Lethbridge, the listings on Kijiji for rental properties are almost 100% private equity companies. They have increased the rents in this small city astronomically.

[@CerealforProtein]

To the Progressive voters and Conservatives-in-name-only, y'all voted for more people and now you got it. Actions have consequences - enjoy! If you want out of this downward spiral, get your premier to do a 180 on her policies.

[@kylekrow5637]

It’s intentional.

[@ROMA--AETERNA]

It certainly is, all across the Western World. Perhaps Alina is beginning to wake up, which is good. Realizing how many lies we've been told for generations will be a hard pill to swallow for anyone.

[@ROMA--AETERNA]

@@TheClaudio7078 , “countries”…? The context is *Canada* (& The West), in case you completely missed that.

[@TheClaudio7078]

@@ROMA--AETERNA yes I misread it

[@paulantoniuk3503]

25 years ago Boardwalk properties were doing the exact same thing in Edmonton and Calgary. I avoided using that management company as much as I could. 20 years ago I rented an apartment just north of Chinook Mall, stayed there for 10 years. They started jacking up my rent, so I bought the house I am currently in Chestermere, been here 10 years. Not much has changed for me, my mortgage goes up $200 next month, natural gas and electricity has gone up, but I installed solar panels to help with that. I work with many new Canadians, and 2 of them have stated they think Canada is worse than where they came from, and they are planning to move back. I work for a big company, and many people have moved from BC and Ontario because of the costs of living. They are building a lot of new condos and houses in East Hills and Chestermere, but who can afford these places when rent is so high?

[@AgeCobra]

Thanks Alina welcome back home .hope you are having a great time with your mom .

[@fiveforbiting]

Government leaves necessity of life up to corporate interests which control a captive market. Then give them the flimsy supply/demand scapegoats with endless immigration.

[@ervinsmoviecorner8748]

A very great video!❤❤

[@LSP1988]

Hey Alina, I hate how overcrowding Calgary has become. Especially with all the massive influx of immigrants in the last year

[@Maldives2025]

same in Australia, we have people living in tents in the park now

[@urmeetuppal4231]

Australia has ocean and nice beaches. People can live there. Also Australia has great weather.

[@InDahoodYooo]

You don't have winter and -40 C 😅

[@Maldives2025]

@@InDahoodYooo still not ideal to live in a tent. a beach doesn't help if you have no food or shelter. some places go into the minus in winter time. the point is no one should be homeless in our rich countries.

[@BC250]

I agree with Alina. Something needs to change

[@SaltyShaman]

I think we're all going to have to come together and figure something out. Nobody else is going to do it for us.

[@TheGremlin825]

i live in Calgary my landlord just gave use a 3 month eviction so that they can jack the rent from the 1900 we are paying to 2500 that the market say they can get

[@castlerock58]

Canada needs to pause immigration for a decade except for specialists that are not available in Canada. Trudeau has destroyed this country.

[@islakay]

don't forget Poilievre - he wants the limitless immigration to continue at an increased pace

[@scott80ca]

Don't forget it was Harper that really went "all in" on the temporary foreign workers well before Trudeau. Canada needs immigrants-look at our birth rate- the problem is it was too many too quickly these past 2 years especially.

[@R1j0hn]

I unfortunately live in a building controlled by Avenue Living, and have previously lived in a building taken over by Boardwalk. Both are HORRIBLE landlords... We paid $1750/month for a 3 bdrm privately owned HOUSE (only 7 y/o when we moved in, circa 2018) with detached 2-car garage in Auburn Bay / Calgary. Now we live in Red Deer, and pay $1800 for a 2 bdrm apartment with an underground parking stall & no storage... Our rent jumped $60/mo when we renewed last month. We can all thank TRUDEAU for this... Alberta would've been able to handle the influx of Provincial migration, but not dumping 1,500,000 people into the country in 4 yrs.

[@urmeetuppal4231]

Also thank Danielle Smith for those fake ads Alberta is calling. Alberta is falling nit calling 😂😂😂

[@-Ordinary-Average-Guy]

Karma will be when these landlords have to pay out the huge capital gains taxes when they eventually sell.

[@anthonymathews3872]

I can rent a 4 bed apartment in Nanning, China for $875.oo (Can.) a month. No property tax to pay and a small management fee.

[@ladyjade6446]

Who wants to live in communist China?

[@day863of3dayspecialoperation]

now tell us the average chinese income 🤡

[@anthonymathews3872]

@@day863of3dayspecialoperation I have no idea without looking it up on Google.

[@ellest7741]

Thank you for speaking out about this very apparent issues!!

[@donstravelsandrants.]

It's an absolute disgrace, Alina. It's happening all over the world including here in Ireland. This is called selfish capitalist greed. 😡🇮🇪💙🇨🇦

[@guimend84]

They should listen the owner of the apartment, who may use the rent to complement his pention....

[@jbc22112]

This is not capitalist greed. All capitalist countries were able to maintain manageable numbers of immigrants for many decades. It's this new insane leftist ideology that drives mass immigration.

[@canadianamerican90]

i went and mowed my neighbors yard the other day becasue he couldn’t afford to buy a lawnmower . he bought his house 2 years ago that i know is at least 700k . him and his wife both make 20 dollars an hr . Go figure .

[@bigfan2452]

I am from Ottawa and I thought that Calgary and Alberta were cheap places to live in. Thanks 😊 alot for making this video even though it makes me sad 😢.

[@bellyhungry]

Alina, if you think Calgary is unaffordable. Toronto is practically unattainable for regular people, coupled with housing, it is made worse by traffic congestion, cost-of-living, and over-influx of uncontrollable population growth due to unchecked immigration and international students and the crimes resulted from them.

[@TheTroyc1982]

Since you don't need a car in Toronto it's more affordable than other Canadian cities where you need a car.

[@ROMA--AETERNA]

​@@TheTroyc1982, 🤣 keep trying to convince yourself of that.

[@corybuckle944]

Very true. However the jump has just begun in Calgary. Gonna get a lot worse with all the demand.

[@K.Lynchka]

Unfortunately, Calgary did this to itself. Everyone saying how great Alberta is lured so many people and now people are having demand for housing. This is the state of the world Unfortunately and an issue across North America.

[@cityboyis2]

Just because there was a marketing campaign to bring people to Alberta doesn't mean that was the reason people came. People were going to come to Calgary from Toronto no matter what. Prices were getting out of hand in Toronto and other cities in Ontario, the only option for many left was to come to Alberta, primarily Calgary, because of the milder winter temperature. No different than people moving from Calgary to places like Saskatchewan to find lower cost of living.

[@K.Lynchka]

@@cityboyis2 Right, I don't mean that 'people from Toronto are causing price increases' I mean that so many people from everywhere moved to Calgary and caused demand. Homes in my city went up 300k in a matter of five years as well and I live in a very mild beach town in Ontario. This is the eb and flow of life unfortunately and this kind of thing has been going on since the formation of organized towns.

[@anythingforabuck]

​@@cityboyis2I moved to Edmonton from Calgary over a year ago. No regrets, expense wise.

[@Mikhail-er8qr]

It’s interesting to me that some want to pretend that the problem is just migration and not the pretty blatant greed of corporations. People who just focus on that give themselves away.

[@islakay]

mass migration keeps wages low, has social work placement programs that make it beneficial to hire new immigrants over citizens, and also drives up rent prices due to government subsidizing for new immigrants and a surge in housing demand. the corporations are just the vultures of the carcasses

[@scottarchibaldmusic]

Montreal still has lower rents than the other bigger cities in Canada. I'm in a higher bracket of rent because I live downtown so I get a rent subsidy from the QC government. The catch is you need to have French to get a good job..albeit some exceptions. If you can work remotely then great. The lack of rent control in Calgary is unacceptable. At least Vancouver (my hometown) has rent control for old renters. But the average rent for a one bedroom there is now around $ 2700-2800. The most expensive rents in the country. There is simply no incentive for me to move back there. If things continue like this I'm considering Vietnam or somewhere like that lol.

[@AndySowyer]

Seems like Montreal rent now is cheaper than in Calgary..

[@scottarchibaldmusic]

@@AndySowyer yes it is on average.

[@alphabravo0]

Vive Montréal! Je paie $900/m pour un studio.

[@LiquidDemonsVIDS]

I hope it works out for your mom, Alina. It's got to be quite jarring for a senior to receive such an increased rent cost. It's downright criminal what the different levels of government have done to the well-being of ordinary Canadians. Surely they must have known that importing such vast quantities of people without an equal number of new home builds would be disasterous.

[@AlinaMcleod]

Our government hasn't made many great decisions, so sadly it's not surprising.

[@AellaMaude-oy9qn]

@LiquidDemonsVIDS Is Alina's Mom a Senior? Alina didn't state what age her mom was. Only that her mom still works. This makes me think her Mom is under 65. Did Alina's Mom didn't do any proper planning for the future or was she a "Martini Mommy" that didn't work most of her life when her kids were in school & she could have been working? (I'm just asking questions here not accusing). Perhaps it is "actually criminal" the choices that Canadians have made for themselves & what they expect for free or almost nothing. I agree that bringing in mass amounts of people who don't work or contribute to society is a huge problem. Alina also didn't address whether the immigrant single mom protestor works, how many children she has, why she is in Canada or how she contributes to the betterment of Canadian society. Lots to think about & ALL people need to examine & restructure their expectations & spending habits.

[@AlinaMcleod]

@@AellaMaude-oy9qn why in the world would I share people's super personal details when it's nobody else's business? The fact of the matter is that people from all age groups are not able to afford life in Canada even though they have good jobs. The fact young people say they can't afford to have kids tells you everything you need to know about the current state of the economy.

[@chiefenumclaw7960]

Thanks for helping out your fellow Canadians. You're the pride of Saskatoon!

[@AlinaMcleod]

Aw thanks!

[@carsonho9338]

During the downturn 2015 to 2021, the free market favours the tenants, after 2022 the free market favours the landlords

[@chrisstrikes]

Great video Alina! Kudos for covering this topic!

[@josered7986]

The problem is not about Alberta but about the Trudeau govt. For instance, Quebec has rent control but it still does not prevent it from having the same rental crisis. In Quebec, they use renoviction (renovation and eviction) to kick people out and then find people who are ready to pay a higher rent. Now the mass immigration problem. This has been caused by the Trudeau govt taking in 1 million people per year when we are not building the same quantity of houses. In Montreal, people are lining up to visit new apartments and often go into a bidding contest in order to obtain the apartment. There are no borders inside of Canada and people are free to move wherever they want. Alberta is only victim of its own success. What is crazy is that the bank of Canada keeps interest rates high to try counter inflation but this also does not encourage developers to build new houses while the Trudeau govt keeps putting gas on fire while increasing the number of immigrants who then compete with the locals for the same food and shelter. Remember- inflation = too much money chasing too few goods. Immigrants are bringing their money with them or getting money from the govt (that’s the too much money) and the shelters and other goods are too few. Now the Trudeau govt came with a new capital gains tax to discourage even more the moms and pops to invest into real estate. Now add carbon tax, Netflix tax. It seems like there’s no stop to how it can get worst when libs are in power.

[@arthurraymondniambe654]

I liked what you just said because no one is talking about Trudeau govt, they allow 1million people and people a blaming the 1million people. Crazy to see that population think Trudeau govt is doing right and the immigrants are the wrong guys.

[@DailyWisdom37]

She's stupid to talk about rent control as a solution. She should learn Econ 101 to know that would make things worse for the renters first and foremost. Trudy brings in millions of people in while makes it too expensive and hard to build homes, they have to go somewhere. Newcomers are offer 5k a month with hotels, foods... while disabled Canadians received 1k a month, talking about fairness, where our taxes go and create this crazy inflation. The NDP lib mob in Calgary keeps blaming Conservatives for this. I challenge them to move to somewhere that doesn't have the same issue under Trudy!

[@lynb1022]

The problem is ALL LEVELS of gov't pandering to parasitic "investors" over the past 20 years, including all the "moms & pops", most of whom are no less parasitic than the corporate REITs are. We have 2 elder generations relying on OTHER PEOPLE PAYING THEIR MORTGAGES in order to fund their retirements, giving zero f*cks about the chaos they're leaving behind for the rest of us.

[@John-go9xe]

O" Canada is becoming like where I live ' O California. Both Canada and California now have 40 million people and the problems are becoming somewhat similar. Looking at your chart on immigration--There is no rent control due to the massive levels of immigration -supply and demand. (Canadian and California women average less than 2 children each!).

[@davidbeise7385]

This is horrible what's happening to these tenants. The excuse that they didn't know the extra costs when they bought the place is bogus. These outfits are astute investors and know to within a few bucks what their hard costs are. As a former landlord this kind of thing really burns my bridge. That's a nice way of saying it #@%^es me right off. I really hope your Mom can find an affordable place to move to.

[@AlinaMcleod]

My thoughts exactly.

[@thebatman8895]

There is no way anyone is finding a single family home in Calgary for $623,000. Most listings are for $800,000 or more in July 2024.

[@carlkuna4544]

No government should allow a rent increase of more than 10%. Never, unless if it's a new tenant and major renovation are done for the apartment to be occupied by the new tenant. Increase 30% is a scam.

[@cooper1819]

Problem is not rent control. Try learn from Singapore on how they address housing for 80% of population, where the government not earn from land sales, provide affordable housing to citizens.... and increased housing prices instead create value for citizens for retirement. Its not about following Singapore, but key to find best practice. Let me know if any country can do better.

[@shaozhihao]

然而新加坡能这么做，是因为新加坡是西方嘴中的“独裁”国家。 就加拿大这种废物小政府，干不成这事

[@AlinaMcleod]

Singapore is on another level lol. It will be a while until/if Canada ever gets there.

[@renataferreira8829]

Also the drugs control. Singapore is the best

[@FinalAffliction]

guys the price will always rise over 10 years, even if you buy and it crashes its no big deal. price will always rise so do not get shocked when news says housing went up. its going to take a couple years for you to save just imagine how much you need being like 50k more.

[@robbiedaug]

Montreal always had low rents until several years ago. Back in the pre-'00s, we paid, on average, for a regular 4 and a 1/2, about $100.00 or LESS per room. In 1981 i had a 4 and a 1/2 and paid $168.00 with nothing included - i had a front and back balcony with a clothes-line on the third floor of a six-plex. In 2015, in another flat, i was then paying $595.00 for a 4 and a 1/2 with two balconies and a clothes-line on the second floor of a six-plex and i had lived there for 16 years. A small fire started on December 25, 2015 at around 4pm. Eight flats in the two adjoining six-plexes were totally water-damaged and were unliveable after the fire, and the remaining four flats on the third floor were burned up (no injuries). After renovations, my flat was rented out for $1,500.00 per month. The four, ground-level flats are being rented at about $2,500.00 per month. The four flats on the ground level have 5 and a 1/2 rooms and a basement. These prices are what a neighbor told me about maybe six years ago. So the rents have gone up since then. The greedy landlord drowned while swimming on holiday in China a year after after all the renovations were finally completed. So, around here, a "4 and a 1/2" apartment/flat is: a kitchen; a washroom; a living room; a bedroom; and another windowless room adjoining the living room that could be a bedroom or a dining room. I sing a song i wrote about the fire i experienced and made a slide show on KZbin. It's called, robbiedaug -Tailwind if anybody cares check that out. No pressure. All the immigration to Alberta didn't help Alberta as we can now see. I feel for you guys to be in this real-life Twilight Zone episode. The desperation and fear in your voices is eye-opening. Fight the fight. Revolt if you have to. Don't be "sheep". Sheep get slaughtered. I hope something good happens soon for all those affected by this greedy price-gouging. Good luck.

[@leona369]

Just imagine the elderly that don't have daughters like you the elderly that are on their own the elderly that get taken advantage of the elderly that have worked their entire lives to be able to have the right to at least live in some peace maybe able to afford where they live but nope these people are taxing them into oblivion hence capital gain they know darn well that baby boomers are retiring and that some of them have bought up land they know very well that the baby boomers are all retiring, it makes me sick

[@teddybear1968]

Edmonton too, I think has experienced higher cost of rent but not as Calgary yet. Edmonton is always less expensive than Calgary. I'm waiting for your Edmonton video.

[@BornRaisedCanadian]

It really not when you look at property taxes, wage and jobs.

[@urmeetuppal4231]

Edmonton has become as expensive as calgary

[@milowouldgo662]

Appreciate you speaking up and raising awareness of what’s happening to Canada.

[@dreww1818]

Thanks for this video, Alina! People need to hold their elected politicians accountable for the lack of rent controls and lack of affordable housing being built. As well, it is clear that the rate of new housing being built falls way behind the number of newcombers entering Canada. Politicians make these policies - and we the people need to hold them accountable with our votes.

[@AlinaMcleod]

Absolutely. The government should be well aware of how many people we can comfortably support via immigration and the fact they have danced around why there isn’t more housing being built is embarrassing.

[@not2tees]

The last month, avenueliving just bought the apartment building we live in. Great. We're in SW Calgary. Rent has gone up and up every few months and food is up higher all the time. Well, what to do? I'm 80 next year and my wife and I live on pensions that slowly slowly increase, in a joking manner. Thanks for this, Alina!

[@chadklasens4927]

Same here! Wow it seems they have been heavily investing in buying up more and more. Consolidating, and monopolizing properties. Usually always a bad sign for the consumers, and in our case tenants.

[@not2tees]

@@chadklasens4927 I must say that my worries came to nothing (so far). avenueliving has NOT increased my rent at all and is letting me give them post-dated cheques for the remainder of my lease with the old landlord. And, they're kind of nice to deal with. Truth.

[@38below39]

They are Crooks

[@Doug-zl8nb]

There's so many crooks in the government and so many crooks that are on the street that they brought in

[@davidmartin7931]

Mass immigration = Upward pressure on rents + Downward pressure on wages It is mainly the poor and the lower middle classes (including citizens of recent immigration) who are squeezed.

[@Sarando1]

It’s straight up price gouging. Because they see all of the foreign travellers, some who get money from the government, and they are willing to pay in order to stay in Canada. These are predatory prices and these companies will pay for this. Karma.

[@jennifercaragianakos3075]

I moved from Toronto so the rents still seem lower but it is scary how fast it is changing here and what’s to stop it from becoming Toronto or Vancouver. They need some type of rent control since moving is so expensive on its own how can people who are struggling already suddenly afford to move again!

[@AlinaMcleod]

Absolutely and people need to realize that unlike Toronto or Vancouver, you almost for sure need to have a car living in Calgary and that is a HUGE expense.

[@silviapopa1121]

We actually need population control, is what we need! It's not just the housing marked that is breaking under the weight of all the new people literally flooding into our city and province. We are already seeing a strained electricity grid (see the AESO's electricity grid alerts starting from back in January and now we have another statement by them warning about unprecedented power demand province wide) and we just went through the watermain break in Calgary (and while investigation into the root cause are just getting started, what reasonable person wouldnt expect issues with our water supply system in light of this biblical flood of people?) Respectfully, this Calgarian resents you and others like you who are coming here and basically ruining this once wonderful city.

[@lindsman682]

Gutsy video Alina, nice work.

[@oshanipathirathne6771]

Hi Alina my family and I have been living in a condo for more than 3 years now. First we rented it for 2 years lease. And when it came for us to renew the lease, they sold to another company and the new owners increased our rent from $1500 - $2200. It was insane. And we didn’t even get the discount like the rest of the current tenants got either. Good thing we don’t have to worry about for another year. Cuz we leased it for two more years. But I’m afraid what will happened once the two years up. 😩😔. Thank you Alina for speaking out for such causes. Keep up the great work

[@AlinaMcleod]

I'm so sorry to hear that happened to you as well.