News & Insights

When it comes to housing in Canada, the status-quo has created inequality and complacency. Inequality, because rising housing prices lead to wealth windfalls for some while eroding affordability for others, which limits their chances to live up to their potential and enjoy life.  Complacency, because some homeowners reap wealth windfalls from skyrocketing prices without recognizing that their gains help to keep many others on the outside looking in.  It’s time for creative disruption to this status quo. It’s time to break Canada’s addiction to high and rising home values, by rebuilding our housing system around the concept of “Homes First. Investments Second.” 

[Article written in French] Le statu quo sur les enjeux de logement au Canada a engendré d’importantes inégalités, ainsi qu’une complaisance préoccupante. Des inégalités, parce que l’augmentation des prix de l’immobilier permet à certaines personnes de s’enrichir tout en réduisant l’accessibilité des maisons pour d’autres, ce qui limite leurs chances de réaliser leur plein potentiel et de profiter de la vie.

As a force for intergenerational fairness, Generation Squeeze is a unique but mighty powerhouse in the world of politics. That we are right in the thick of things is reflected in the fact that key issues of intergenerational justice are front and centre in the throne speech – housing affordability, family affordability (especially child care), and climate change.

Climate change features in the platforms of all parties in the federal election, though the breadth and depth of their commitments vary. So how do you know if the actions to which parties are committing will really move us towards the goal of holding climate change to 1.5 degree Celsius, as agreed to by Canada in the Paris Agreement?

It’s great to see the parties upping their game when it comes to housing policy. All recognize that we have a dire problem. All appear to know that there is no “silver bullet” policy that will save the day. And all instead are proposing something more akin to “silver buckshot” by recommending changes to a variety of policy levers.

Tax credits cover ANY kind of paid child care that supports parental employment. It could be licensed child care in a centre or home, but it could be an unlicensed neighbourhood sitter or a nanny or care provided by a relative if that relative is paid. So tax credits offer less opportunity to influence the quality of services.

The pandemic has shown us how fortunate we are to enjoy publicly funded medical care, strong health infrastructure, and a committed and resilient health work force. Unfortunately, it has also highlighted the gaps and inequities that we knew existed prior to COVID-19 – but which we have been far too slow to address.

After decades of research, planning, demonstrations and struggles, the financial squeeze on young families trying to afford child care may finally ease. All of us, including the public and government officials, need to make sure we don’t let young families and their children down this time.

To ease this squeeze, our organization began recommending a “$10 a day” national child care system. In partnership with the "$10 a day" movement that ran with this idea in BC, along with the national advocacy of Child Care Now, the 2021 Federal Budget takes a massive step toward ensuring child care never again costs as much as rent or the mortgage!