Canada’s housing minister says the federal government isn’t ruling out changes to its ambitious immigration targets, but maintains the country should also focus on what it can do to increase housing supply when it comes to addressing current housing challenges.
Finally. This is a message that needed to happen weeks ago. It’s acknowledging the concerns many are having, while remaining even-keeled enough to not look reactive and hasty.
I think this is a good proposal, and renews federal interest in ensuring that housing is taken care of. It’ll give an internal motivation for the federal government to push provinces and cities into zoning residential to meet our needs and regulating developers to ensure they are building enough of the right kind of housing. It means if a federal government is interested in high levels of immigration, they also have to ensure there are enough residences to absorb those people. It is win-win for Canadians.
I really hope they carry through with this kind of policy shift.