Housing is a direct federal responsibility, contrary to what Trudeau said. Here’s how his government can do better.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated that “housing isn’t a primary federal responsibility” at a funding announcement in Hamilton, Ont.
- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated that “housing isn’t a primary federal responsibility” at a funding announcement in Hamilton, Ont.
- The right to housing — which Canada has promised to enforce in numerous international covenants — was enshrined in Canadian law by the current government in 2019.
History of federal housing engagement
- Trudeau seems to have forgotten about the federal government’s previous involvement in housing.
- The production of non-market housing fell off a cliff in 1992 when the federal government downloaded responsibility for affordable housing to provinces.
- The housing crisis has its roots in the federal government’s neglect of affordable housing over decades.
Five priorities for the federal government
- Rather than dodging responsibility, the federal government should pursue five priorities.
- First, the federal government must return to using a single income-based definition of affordable housing in its programs, as it did from the 1940s to the 1990s.
- Taxation reform and offering long-term, low-cost financing for purpose-built rental homes are both federal government responsibilities.
Provinces and municipalities must step up
- Provinces must improve residential tenancy protections to stop the rising tide of evictions and double-digit rent increases.
- Municipalities need to revise zoning codes to allow four- to six-storey buildings in all residential areas and 10- to 30-storey buildings close to rapid transit stations.
- By amending the federal building code, municipalities could scale up smaller, affordable, accessible and energy-efficient apartment buildings with family-sized units.