Housing news & insights

Canada’s addiction to high and rising home prices has made our country lazy when it comes to planning for economic growth. This has hurt the finances of younger Canadians and newcomers, while ballooning the wealth of older homeowners.

Our research identifies low-interest rates as a contributing force driving the run-up in home prices. So we were not surprised to see the market cool off when The Bank of Canada increased interest rates, undermining the cheap credit system that helped buyers bid up home prices. The Bank of Canada managed to do the unthinkable - cool off one of the world's hottest housing markets - by raising interest rates. So why do they rarely ever mention this?

At a time when politicians are decrying Canada’s housing affordability crisis, it may come as a surprise that we choose to subsidize so generously many of the most securely housed Canadians through a home ownership tax shelter. A new study by Generation Squeeze Founder, Dr. Paul Kershaw, published by the Canadian Tax Journal revisits the Principal Residence Exemption (PRE), along with public support for reducing the home ownership tax shelter.

Watching the natural world transform around us is a welcome reminder that change is possible, especially during these precarious times. This spring has brought with it a wave of interest in our work, making it even more inspiring than usual for us at Gen Squeeze. 

On April 3, the BC government released its latest housing action plan. This plan makes some important and bold moves. It also misses some key opportunities.

2023 Federal Budget is choosing to beef up the retirement security of seniors more than the financial or climate security of those who follow them

Is the Ontario 2023 Budget really 'working for you'? We bring you seven key takeaways you won't hear in the talking points.

It’s scary to think that we’ve only managed to slow down our out-of-control housing market as a side effect of our attempts to deal with the rising cost of other smaller purchases. If it weren’t for the pandemic-driven supply shortages, The Bank of Canada likely would have continued to allow housing price inflation to run rampant by keeping interest rates low – fueling what we at Gen Squeeze call the cheap credit system.

More than 400 people attended "Housing in the GTA: What's at Stake?," organized by Generation Squeeze, Habitat for Humanity GTA and the Aga Khan Council for Canada’s Future Ready Initiative, hosted at The Ismaili Centre. Check out the recording of the event and an action guide to tackling the housing crisis.