Our Crumbling Foundation - How We Solve Canada’s Housing Crisis: An Interview with Gregor Craigie

[@jacktoulouse5390]

You really can’t take this man that seriously with how cagey he becomes around immigration. Just completely bizarre. It’s fine to rattle on about social housing - but it’s not a solution to our current crisis. We’re looking at needing to triple or quadruple our current housing output just to keep affordability at current levels - not even reduce prices. 8% of our labour force is in construction- a solution would mean 24-32% of all workers would need to focus on building housing. The numbers are just not workable. What is becoming clearer and clearer is just how out of touch the older generation is to this problem- and how bizarrely attached they are to the idea of immigration. It’s almost emotional to this man. And he somehow wrote an entire book that sounds useless. It’d be great to get some guests on that present plausible solutions that can actually occur in a rational timeframe. Also, if a boomer brings up 3D printing one more time - I think I will go crazy. They are fine for climates that don’t need insulation - but spinning up a solid concrete home in the middle of Canada is not practical whatsoever. It’s a completely unserious solution that should be obvious to someone studying housing.

[@Jancan20]

Too many international students are looking for backdoor entry into Canada.

[@CanadianSon]

Canada has to get its housing in check. The consequences of an entire generation that can’t afford to own anything will create the types of social conflicts that take down a country.

[@shsal110]

Exactly, mismanagement of the current situation could lead to a backlash against immigration (which would be bad in the long run)

[@wapbarlow7945]

Three of the most dangerous words in Canada “The Government should” …

[@tomdonoghue8468]

Loved this conversation. Intelligent and positive.

[@johnnyboyvan]

Run for politics young lady. You are so astute.😊

[@MoveSmartly]

Thank you for watching and for the kind words of support! ~ Urmi

[@stephenfermoyle4578]

more talk

[@BColdsport]

Stop making houses a form of business. Tax owners of multiple houses to the point that it makes more sense for them to sell those extra houses instead of renting them out. No more speculation and corporate greed.

[@RishitKaila]

I think politicians should just accept that they won't be in office next term. We, the people, should not have to accept a lower standard of living. There is SOOO much land if you drive outside of city, yet they crowd us in the cities. In the states they have lots of cities, not here.

[@dirtlump]

Easy.... only allow speculators to utilize 50% of Mortgage "interest" to be used as a write-off against rent received on revenue properties.

[@tombrodzinski157]

BC leftist. Shame he is actually from AB. Good entertainment. Host is amazing.

[@PatrickNovotny]

Sorry, there is no housing crisis. Canada has added over 1,680,000 new home owners in the past 10 years. In BC alone in 2020, 25,000 first time home buyers purchased out of 80,000 residential purchases. 31% RBC claims 1/2 of their mortgages since 2014 are to first time home buyers.

[@marcoalbanese8221]

Great show Urmi and Gregor!! Will definitely buy this book. My only issue is how big a house has to be and what they need to be built with for people, struggling or otherwise, to be satisfied. It’s almost reverse NIMBYism. Let’s please realize that most of the struggle to gently densify our cities (what we need to be doing more of), comes at the hands of people that challenge and battle the proposals that would be helpful. I know this first hand because I’m in the financing and construction space for ADU’s. And don’t get me wrong, I believe every neighbour and neighbourhood has the right to know what and how ADU’s, 4plexes, or whatever are built with but, if the proposals and designs are within the guidelines out there, we can’t say no to people wanting to build what will be helpful for more people in the community. On the flip side, arguing whether 600, 700, 1000 sq/ft is adequate when the tragic alternative is a Walmart parking lot is crazy. Affordable housing is possible only with government incentives to developers who would build more densely populated buildings with lower interest rates and modern building technologies that will also promote “better” affordability. And let’s not forget that our city bureaucracy is first and foremost to blame for this decades old housing strategy. Let’s not call housing a crisis. This problem is 1000% known from those in city councils perpetuating this problem over many years. Wishing you all a great weekend!!

[@MoveSmartly]

Thanks for watching and for your dedicated support - always enjoy hearing your views! ~ Urmi

[@marcoalbanese8221]

@@MoveSmartly Thank you Urmi! I do my best to contribute to what is exceptional work you guys do!

[@michaellawrence3513]

This guy is full of it

[@janiceho6034]

You know what problem is Canadian . They live in Canada for many years but they love to Spend money for foods and restaurants, and not save money to buy the house when they were young. Only like to rent that makes problem now .

[@nofavors]

It is stupid how a country with so much of land would start thinking of building multiplex homes and condos? Condos and row houses are more profitable to developers and does not provide much return when sold by home owners. Why cant we use the land?? Why cant there be more homes built by developers? Invite foreign builders. This is doable but needs intent from the government.

[@tilleytristan]

I served in the Navy in Esquimalt for years, and every morning I would hear Gregor on the CBC show On The Island. Great guy, chill vibes, good journalism too.

[@VK-ds2dw]

Sorry but micro units are NOT the solution. We're in this mess because of irresponsible immigration policies because we're not having enough kids. Micro units don't solve that. I'm an immigrant and shame on him for not being willing to criticize it in any way. Canadians never asked to be priced out of their own communities. As an immigrant I can't stand people like this who won't correctly assess the problem because they don't want to be rude.

[@fretstain]

I agree that its not the solution (and frankly I think he spent too much time talking about it) but I don't think we have the luxury of not attacking this from all sides. I think most people would choose a micro unit over homelessness.

[@helenqu980]

I used to live in a 450 square feet apartment (no balcony): 2 adults + dog. It would be my dream to land in one of those small Victorian rowhouses. I can't fathom living in a large house with a bathroom for every room, like many Canadians grew up in.

[@patcampbell9367]

Purchased book 😊

[@latananderson3289]

Great guest. Great interview. Too bad there isn't any actual political will at any level of government to fix the issue. Just bandaids over a problem that needs open heart surgery

[@MoveSmartly]

Thank you for watching and for your support! I can relate - it is depressing at times to be so engaged on Canadian housing policy, but perhaps we are starting to see some signs that perhaps the powers that be are listening? We'll be covering new developments on both demand and supply fronts as they evolve here on Move Smartly ~ Urmi